3Dconnexion SpacePilot - 3D motion controller w/ LCD display - optical - 21 but

by 3DConnexion

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 132 x 99 x 48 inches ; 2.6 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B0009MG6FW
• Item model number: 0133031000
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank:
  • #63 in Electronics > Computers & Add-Ons > Computer Accessories > Keyboards, Mice & Input Devices > Trackballs
• Date first available at Amazon.com: July 7, 2004

Product Description

3D Connexion SpacePilot

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars jerry -- 3d designer, January 19, 2008

By 

Jerry S. Thomas (utah) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: 3Dconnexion SpacePilot - 3D motion controller w/ LCD display - optical - 21 but (Personal Computers)

I've now owned my SpacePilot for about a year and use it principally with Autodesk Inventor. I am at my computer all day, every day. I don't know how I ever worked without it. Everything they say about improved productivity is true and in fact may be something of an understated claim.

I seldom use the programmable buttons but I use the orientation buttons (to right of controller knob) and the function keys (to the left of controller knob) all the time. It is robust and has withstood thousands of hours of use with no sign of any wear.

It took no time to become second nature. It is so intuitive that within days it became an extension of my hand. It is ergonomically very comfortable. Between the SpacePilot and my programmable MX Revolution mouse I have most of everything I need in my two hands at all times. I've moved the keyboard back under the monitor and placed the SpacePilot and mouse directly in front of me. For number entry I've placed a number keypad/calculator immediately to the right of my mouse and I seldom need to go to the keyboard.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars New SpacePilot has nice features, May 16, 2008

By 

Layne Howard - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: 3Dconnexion SpacePilot - 3D motion controller w/ LCD display - optical - 21 but (Personal Computers)

When Solidworks went to version 2008, I sadly had to say goodby to my classic Spacemouse--an unsupported serial device. The replacement, the 3Dconnexion SpacePilot, is a welcome replacement. The puck control has less mechanical travel than the Spacemouse, which was easy to get used to. The quality of the device is better than I expected from seeing the images. But the most useful improvement to me is the application-context-sensitive button mapping. When you change applications, the SpacePilot updates its LCD screen to show you how the buttons have been remapped for that application. When you go to Solidworks assembly mode, for example, the buttons change so that you can easily go to insert, mate, rotate, etc. Also there is a special button specifically for "Fit", which is a zoom-all command. Very nice, overall, and as with other 3D mice, facilitates two-handed CAD actions.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great addition to your workflow for anyone who works in 3D., January 25, 2008

By 

Robin Boling (Moscow ID USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: 3Dconnexion SpacePilot - 3D motion controller w/ LCD display - optical - 21 but (Personal Computers)

I work in 3D Studio Max and the space pilot nearly doubles my navigation speed as compared to using the keyboard/mouse. The customizable buttons are nice, I have a regular preset, a rigging preset, and a modeling preset so far. So when I'm rigging a character I can easily pan around the model and select verticies, adjusting their weights using the programable buttons.

The button placements aren't as good as they could be but bearable, you can actually remap ALL buttons on the device for every configuration you have so you might find it easier to remap the ctrl,shift,alt,esc buttons to custom commands.. or the viewport buttons as those are easier to reach while navigating.

Of course for pure fun factor flying around in google earth with it is a joy, but for that you might as well buy the $60 space navigator.

If you need customizable keys for your work as I do then its definatly worth it and makes navigation a breeze.

I got mine here on amazon for only $270, too bad the price is higher now.

Edit: Looks like the price dropped to 220 now, not bad!
Still lacking ZBrush and Mudbox support, hopefully will get one of those soon, probably Mudbox.