Customer Reviews

Griffin 1100-PWRMTS PowerMate/USB Multimedia Controller and Input Device

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

The PowerMate is mechanically excellent. It feels and looks great. The included software is basic, but OK.

I only give two stars, though, because they've really messed the USB interface up. If you try to use it with other macro software, it doesn't work. Even if you write your own code, it doesn't work.

The problem is that the PowerMate's internal configuration information claims that its wheel is an "absolute" device, sending a value that's a number for the position of the wheel, but what it really sends is _how_ _far_ the wheel has turned since the last time. That makes it a "relative" device, sending relative information. It seems like a small difference, but on Windows, MacOS X and the Linux varients I've checked, that means that it basically won't work right with any software other than Griffin's because the system suppresses redundant readings. If it really was absolute, a second reading with the same value would just be saying the wheel is sitting in the same place, but since it's sending _movement_ values, the system is suppressing info about the wheel _moving_ at a constant speed. A program can't even keep track of the position manually.

It's really too bad; it could have been a great product. If you want to use it for _exactly_ what the included software does, it probably still is a pretty good product. But if you're a power user or have some other package for handling inputs and automating operation, this is not the device for you.

I've had a PowerMate knob for about 2 years. But now that Griffin has released their 2.0.1 driver software for Windows that allows multiple knobs I bought a second PowerMate. I disconnected my existing powermate, uninstalled the previous software (version 1.5), installed the new software from the Griffin website (version 2.0.1 for Windows), then plugged in both knobs.

With the 1.5 driver software, I had a problem with the knob not working on boot-up and the powermate knob needed to be unplugged then replugged to get it to work. The net is filled with other people that have the same problem so it is not just isolated to my specific hardware. And it seemed that I needed to do this USB unplug/replug most of the time. I was hopeful that they had fixed the problem with the 2.0.1 software, but it also has similar problems (more details below).

From a hardware standpoint, the powermate is great and is why I purchased a 2nd unit. Both knobs are connected to my HTPC and so I use it as a volume and mute knob for watching HDTV or DVD's in the computer. Each knob is on each end of the couch so it is easy to just turn the knob to change the volume from either end and it works great. The knobs are solid, have a blue light in the base that changes brightness according to the volume setting, and is weighty so it doesn't slide around on the table. The knob also can be used to control other applications in various user-defined ways, but I just use it to control the computer's volume.

But the driver software continues to be a problem though, so I looked into more details about how to kludge a solution to avoid the unplug/replug issue using Microsoft's free devcon.exe utility to control the DeviceManager from the command line (or batch files). Griffin apparently has been working on solving this unplug/replug problem for years without success so I've given up expecting a solution from them.

The bottom line is that this is a nice piece of hardware. But the driver software has problems. On the plus side, Windows users can now install multiple powermates, but we have to either unplug/replug at boot-up or use the devcon.exe kludge to disable/enable the knob's USB entries in DeviceManager at bootup.

I bought the Griffin Powermate to use as a simple volume control for my desktop PC. The knob itself is built fine, although the movement could be smoother. However the functionality of the knob is rendered useless by the poorly written drivers and buggy application included. Instead of using the included CD I downloaded the latest version of drivers from the Griffin website, and they installed fine. But every time the computer hibernates or is restarted the drivers are lost, or in one case caused a blue screen. This makes the knob worthless.

Pros:
It works well with Windows XP 32-bit and version 1 of the software.

Cons:
Could not get it to run under Windows & 64-bit with either version 1 or version 2.

Other thoughts:
After going to Griffin's site to get the latest software/driver, I noticed it hasn't moved from 2.0.x, and is only supported up to Vista (32-bit). If you're planning on buying this for a 64-bit version of Windows, I would highly recommend against it, and to find an alternative (B0001DBEKG (large) or B000LB7G00 (expensive)) to save yourself the trouble. I have not tested this with Mac OS X 10.6 64-bit, so I am not sure of the compatibility.

I was very disappointed at this device. All I wanted was a really cool volume knob, that's it. I don't use it for any fancy program or professional, just VOLUME and MUTE! and it has a few problems

- There is really NO need for this thing to have a cable. It has such a simple function, it should just run on batteries and use Bluetooth or a USB wireless dongle

- The light on it looks good, but it would have been even cooler if it went brighter as I turn the volume up and dimmer as I turn it down (all the way down / mute turns the light completely off)

- Response time on this thing is BADDDD.. it doesn't feel instant, and the sensitivity is just not right no matter how much I tweak with it


In conclusion, I would NOT buy this again, unless they make it wireless, and improve the features.

I almost didn't purchase this product based on the many unfavorable reviews. Since the price is relatively low and against my better judgment I went ahead and ordered it anyway to find out for myself. To my delight, the product works like a charm. It was extremely easy to set up and immediately started doing what is supposed to do.

I use it mainly to control the video and audio timeline within Apple's Final Cut and iMovie. It moves one frame at a time; either forward or backwards, which allows me to exert greater control over my editing process. When I turn the knob either way I can move one frame at a time, when I turn the knob while keeping it pressed down, it moves at a faster pace. Great feature! Also pressing the knob down acts as a Play/Stop button.

I also use it to control the sound volume of the computer. I would never purchase any device to do just that, since the keys to control volume (at least in my computers) so perfectly do the job. However, now that I have the knob, I admit that it makes something easy to do, even easier. So now that I have it, I use it.

The same goes for web browsing. I like the precision control over long web pages and the speed at which it allows me to work. This product is quickly becoming an everyday tool in my work. I am very satisfy with its performance. (And I am pretty ruthless with my expectations with hardware; it hardly ever satisfies me).

The beautiful design, solid material and nice blue light that this product features would not be a deciding factor on me purchasing it. However, they are nice and I enjoy them as well. I like the minimalistic style and prefer not to have anything on my desk or workstation. This product helps with that since it is very appealing to the eye and do not bother me in any way.

Overall, I am happy with my purchase and wonder why many of the other reviewers had such bad experience. I used the knob on an Apple iMac, an Apple Mac Book Air and a Hewlett Packard Laptop. It works well on all three. So much so that I went ahead and ordered two additional units. I now have one at the office, one at home and keep the third one with me on my bag. I don't use the computer on the road that much but when I do it is for extended periods of time and the knob does helps me to expedite my work.

I had purchased this item perhaps a year ago now, and even though I edit video quite often, and have thought of many different applications where it might be useful, the PowerMate is just not responsive enough to perform when I need it. Aesthetically it is very clean and polished, and I think that's what caught my eye at the beginning. It is simply not worth it though. My suggestion is to try another, similar product.

This product keeps surprising me with it's flexibility. Customization requires a small amount of time and knowledge (easily attained through internet searches). Great for party guests to scroll through photos or music libraries without having to touch your computer! Video editors must have this tool. Wireless capabilities would have earned this item 5 stars.

I like the PowerMate, but I found very little information on how to program it to assist in editing video.
Eventually, I was able to make it work the way I wanted, but it just wasn't easy. Kudos on the materials and finish.

The Griffin PowerMate is a nicely-machined, smoothly operating device that can be of significant value when listening to or viewing media or operating devices attached to the computer. Movement of the knob is silky smooth and the non-slip material on the base keeps it in place on the desk.

The biggest downside of the PowerMate is the scanty documentation. The software is quite easy to use although it lacks elegance, as though it were version 1.0 right out of the door (which it is not) but the poor quality manual leaves the user scrambling to sort out how to program it for various applications. Once you figure it out, however, the device works like a charm. I use it with a Flex Radio 5000a transceiver and it greatly simplifies and speeds operation.

Pros:
Build quality
Smoothness of operation
Versatility

Cons:
USB cord is too short and can be lengthened only with an extension cable.
Software is relatively unsophisticated with respect to device command editing.
Documentation is telegraphically brief and can lead the user to resort to lots of trials-and-errors.

In summary, a very attractive, handy, and useful device that can reduce keystrokes and mouse clicks. Recommended.