spaceballs

[DaForce]

looks like a complete wank. I wouldnt waste $200usd on that. Use the money to get a better video card or something.

Geez rotating models in 3dsmax is hardly something that requires a $200 gadget. All you need to do is click on the rotate viewport tool and there you go, no need to move your hand off the keyboard or anything.

[Atafey]

I can see your point but I'd still like to hear from anybody acually using one.

[DaForce]

I think you are pulling at straws, i serisouly doubt if anyone will have one. But you never know, it is after all a big big world :-)

Good luck.

[heipei]

its hard to believe that really 200.000 people worldwide bought that .. thing. it looks nice and is an interesting approach, but that advertising shit "use both hands" is nonsense. when working with for example lightwave i already use my left hand for all the keyboard shortcuts, and panning/zooming/moving can be done via keyboard too. whats the point in having to pointing devices?
another problem would maybe be to coordinate two 2D movements with two hands at the same time.

but, i have to admit, id really like to give it a try, maybe it could be cool for some games, like flight simulators, although for those appliances joysticks already exist ;)

[dvornik]

Spaceball is an exellent device. Unfortunately it's driver (or rather the plugin that you need in addition to the driver) for 3ds max is problematic in my opinion. It creates a temporary camera and moves it around, rather than acting as max's viewport navigation tools. This slows down the interactivity considerably and makes subobject modelling somewhat more difficult since it can't arc-rotate selected for instance. However, some modellers do like the way it works in max. I think Equinoxx uses one, look on the max board.

Spaceball works really well with Rhyno. It works in LW layout (and NOT in the modeller) with a free 3d party plugin, I haven't tried it. It doesn't work in Maya. Generally 3dconnexion does not think there's enough market in the content creation for them to write drivers. It's more geard towards the cad apps.

For exact description of functionality in max download and install drivers and plugins and read the readme files that come with them.

It's a way-more-than-$200 gadget, but it would definitely worth it if it worked well.

[entertainment]

:hmm:

If you look in the down shot of the woman using the spaceball, her wrist looks really bent - not good for long hours of work man...

I use a Logitech Trackman FX (out of production, but there is a similar microsoft trackball)

It has a 2" ball you control with all 4 fingers, you can click with 2 finger buttons and 3 thumb buttons - it is shaped like a breast and is very easy (and nice) to cup your hand around. It also keeps your wrist more vertical (karate chop stlye) minimizing strain.

I spin that ball and my model spins, I can easily rotate while placing curves, or slicing polys or whatever - I could only assume max would work similarly, as does Lightwave

COST: $60.00 US

[loop29]

I do like the spacemouse a lot. It´s more comfortable than the spaceball and rotating and dragging comes more naturally. I´m using it mostly for mechanical engineering where I don´t have so much shortcuts on the keyboard. It is true that the Spaceball is not very ergonomic for the wrist.

regards

[jimcoldt]

Despite how old this thread is, I thought I'd add my 2 cents...

I've been using the Spaceball 5000 with 3dsmax and Maya for several weeks now. I previously had problems with carpal tunnel in my right hand (mouse hand) from all the clicking and moving. Now that I have the Spaceball, I do significantly fewer movements with my mouse hand. Also, being able to do more than one movement at a time, for example, zooming while rotating, has sped up my workflow considerably.

People who tell you it's a waste of money most likely haven't really tried one--or at least not for long enough to feel the difference. If you value your health, I highly recommend one. Also, speeding up your workflow means less time sitting at the computer in the long run...

Oh yeah...on the technical front: you CAN do sub-object arc-rotation with the latest drivers as well as adjusting sensitivity on every axis of movement and rotation.

I picked mine up for $200 at a conference where they were giving demos... Not sure if I would have spent $500 on it at the time. But now that I have one and can testify to its benefits, I can say that I would spend the money if I was able.

[dvornik]

It really is an old thread. They indeed improved the drivers and released a new generation of devices sinse then. It works in Maya now, too.

Now it's a really useful input device.

[CGTalk Moderation]

This thread has been automatically closed as it remained inactive for 12 months. If you wish to continue the discussion, please create a new thread in the appropriate forum.