ROGER_BOMBASSEI
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| 19 Jul 2007 08:11 AM |
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I was going to buy a new 3dconnexion SpaceBall, but found that they are discontinued.
Someone recommended the SpacePilot or SpaceExplorer.
Does anyone have experience with these? Please share your thoughts.
Thanks |
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Roger Bombassei - rbombassei@elcamino.edu
Online CATIA NC Instructor - El Camino College
http://www.elcamino.edu/faculty/rbombassei/ |
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RPERLMAN
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| 19 Jul 2007 12:37 PM |
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Roger - Don't ask me, I can't handle anything more complicated than a 2 button mouse. But the following is the opinion of one of our admins ...
Heck, I'll share my thoughts with all the product lines.
Note: these are ranked in order of cheapest to most expensive.
SpaceNavigator - also know as the puck. Cheapest of the product ($59-99), but also the most basic. The SN allows you to zoom, pan, and rotate only. You can not program with it.
SpaceTravelor - very similiar to the SpaceNavigator, but you are able to program some macros into this one. You are limited to the number of macros though (8). Price: $199.
SpaceExplorer - The most direct replacement of the spaceball. Instead of the ball, there is a puck now. You are limited to the number of macros though, just like the SpaceTravelor. Price: $299.
SpacePilot - The most expensive of the product line. Price: $399. You are not limited to the just 8 macros. You are able to program multiple macros because the SP utilizes macro sheets. Each macro sheet corresponds to a different process. Because of macro sheets being incorporated, the SP uses intuitive process to select which program sheet to load based on the application being access. The product also has an LCD screen which I find very unuseful since I have to look down (away from the screen) to select an action.
If you don't need any macros, then the SpaceNavigator is the way to go. If need some macro programming capability, then the SpaceNavigator or the SpaceTravelor would be my recommendation with the SpaceNavigator being my personal perference. I would never recommend the SpacePilot unless you need lots of macro programming capability. The SP just gives too many features that the average user doesn't need. |
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Rich Perlman
COE Member since 1989
COE Volunteer since 1992 |
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ROGER_BOMBASSEI
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| 19 Jul 2007 01:55 PM |
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Thanks for sharing that information Rich.
I have a SpaceTraveler that I use with my laptop but I find it to be much less comfortable to use compared to my Spaceball. |
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Roger Bombassei - rbombassei@elcamino.edu
Online CATIA NC Instructor - El Camino College
http://www.elcamino.edu/faculty/rbombassei/ |
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ROGER_BOMBASSEI
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| 20 Jul 2007 07:33 AM |
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I decided to give my Space Traveler another chance today. YUCK!!!!
That is unbearable.
Lucky for me, my boss is springing for a Space Pilot. I hope it works as good as my trusty old Spaceball did. |
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Roger Bombassei - rbombassei@elcamino.edu
Online CATIA NC Instructor - El Camino College
http://www.elcamino.edu/faculty/rbombassei/ |
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GSAUN
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| 23 Jul 2007 09:50 AM |
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I don't like the button placement on any of them. The buttons need to be on the front where my fingers can easily reach them like the Magellan Space Mouse. The puck looks too small as well. Hmm, maybe they are designed this way because they aren't meant to be used like the Space Mouse or Space Ball where the majority of your hand grips the puck or ball. Looks more like you're tuning an old radio.
Can anybody that has one of the new 3dConnexion products comment on their comfort? Looks like carpal tunnel syndrome to me. |
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Gary Saunders |
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tjs4689
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| 24 Jul 2007 08:41 AM |
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| I myself have large hands and find that the SpaceBall 2003 that I have the most usable of the products that they have made. It has been discontinued but I still use it. I palm the ball, laying my wrist on the base with my fingers along the 8 buttons. Placing my thumb under the edge of the ball to pull up. I also use the SpaceTravelor and find it usable but very small for lager hands. I rarely use the buttons on the SpaceTravelor and do not miss them. |
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Timothy J. Suhr
COE EME DPC Co-Chair
Technical Product Designer
The Boeing Company
Boeing - Phantom Works
Product, Process & Resource Definition (PPRD)
P.O. Box 3707 M/S 42-54
Seattle, WA 98124-2207 |
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DWHITE
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| 25 Jul 2007 09:55 AM |
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Does anyone have the Pilot or the Explorer? I am looking at purchasing about 5-7 for my department and am debating which way to go. Please help. Thanks.
Daniel |
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PRINCE
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| 25 Jul 2007 12:42 PM |
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I had a SpacePilot for a time and have since sent it off to another user. I found that while it was very cool with all the buttons and LCD display, I really only used a few functions. Certainly never tapping its potential.
I'm using a SpaceNavigator now and I like it quite a bit. Admittedly having only two customizable buttons is a limitation, but it also means I've narrowed it down to the two things I need most and don't ever change them.
We recently purchased about 10 SpaceNavigators for our team and haven't heard any complaints, but then no news isn't always good news. |
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Aaron | Current deployment: CATIA V5R16 SP07; SmarTeam V5R17 SP06 |
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ROGER_BOMBASSEI
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| 27 Jul 2007 08:31 AM |
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Well, I got the Space Pilot and it works well. Much better than the Space Traveler that I was struggling with.
One complaint I have which is minor is that the Space Pilot takes up a lot of desk space. If I was to order another, I would probably try the Space Explorer.
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Roger Bombassei - rbombassei@elcamino.edu
Online CATIA NC Instructor - El Camino College
http://www.elcamino.edu/faculty/rbombassei/ |
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CATPART
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| 30 Jul 2007 12:29 AM |
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| Few years back I worked with Space Mouse, now I'm working with Space Explorer and I am very satisfied... higly recommended! |
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ROGER_BOMBASSEI
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| 04 Oct 2008 01:57 AM |
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Guys, I start a new job in a couple weeks and I am going to request a Space Explorer. I had a Space Pilot at one of my previous jobs and it worked great. My only complaint was it's size. I hate to waste valuable desk space and I didn't use all of the Space Pilot's capibilities or the display anyway.
The Space Explorer looks to have been engineered for comfort and still gives some macro recording capibilities without hogging desk space.
Thanks for your input CATPART.
Does anyone else have more to add? |
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Roger Bombassei - rbombassei@elcamino.edu
Online CATIA NC Instructor - El Camino College
http://www.elcamino.edu/faculty/rbombassei/ |
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DFIORUCCI
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| 06 Oct 2008 04:59 PM |
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I've been using one of the Space Pilots since they came out and love it.
Couldn't envision using Catia without.
I'm a power user when it comes to this I assign everything to it wether it's macros or just to fill in a repetitive text string.
I have 4 different panels that I have assigned to Catia and withou the display I would probably get lost as to which panel was active at any given time.
Ergonomically the smaller cap works well because you are not meant to use your whol hand on it and it propely set up only requires a light touch to manipulate your model in space.
Since 1997 I'ved tested or used the following.
Space Mouse (original)
Space Ball FX300 ?(before the merger) hated it
Magellan
Space Pilot (My favorite so far couldn't work without)
Space Traveller
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ROGER_BOMBASSEI
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| 06 Oct 2008 08:00 PM |
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Thanks for your input DFIORUCCI,
I ended up ordering the SpaceExplorer with a free Logitech laser mouse from JourneyEd. I got an academic special for $149.
So far I have used-
SpaceBall
Magellan
Space Pilot
Space Traveller
I go nuts without some sort of SpaceBall. I'll report my SpaceExplorer experience soon.
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Roger Bombassei - rbombassei@elcamino.edu
Online CATIA NC Instructor - El Camino College
http://www.elcamino.edu/faculty/rbombassei/ |
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tjs4689
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| 10 Oct 2008 12:09 PM |
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| I personally own the SpaceNavigator and the SpacePilot. The SpaceNavigator I used during travel and the SpacePilot is used when at office or home office. I find both very usable. I have created macros for SpacePilot for application that it does not out of box know. In CATIA the buttons are an acceptable replacement to the LPFK and dials of years gone bye. I still have my Spacemouse 2003 and would love to talk with 3Dconnexion about re-engineering it to mix the SpaceMouse 2003 and the SpacePilot. |
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Timothy J. Suhr
COE EME DPC Co-Chair
Technical Product Designer
The Boeing Company
Boeing - Phantom Works
Product, Process & Resource Definition (PPRD)
P.O. Box 3707 M/S 42-54
Seattle, WA 98124-2207 |
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ROGER_BOMBASSEI
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| 13 Nov 2008 07:45 AM |
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The SpaceExplorer is my favorite.
I find it to be very comfortable and doesn't take up as much desk space as the SpacePilot. |
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Roger Bombassei - rbombassei@elcamino.edu
Online CATIA NC Instructor - El Camino College
http://www.elcamino.edu/faculty/rbombassei/ |
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