Outside of 3D Functionality...

[CJSteves]

Please forgive me for I am very new to the world of 3D mice, and I hope I am not polluting the forum by asking a question that has been asked 100 times. Unfortunately, I have not been able to find a very succinct answer to the general, far reaching question I am about to pose, so I thought this would be an appropriate place to ask it.....

I have read quite a bit on the use and application of these 3D mice, and think I understand the basics, but am still trying to get my bearings. I use Navisworks at work on a regular basis, and can't stand the navigation using a regular mouse, so I have pursued a 3D Connexion "mouse" recently.

One of the selling points was the new 3DxWare 10 drivers that would integrate some standard 2D mousing technology. Since I've experienced a bit of repetitive strain having been using a computer heavily for 10+ years now, this was a promising new feature that I thought might finally bring the 3D mouse to a point where I could use it for almost all of my mousing needs.

Of course, I made the decision to purchase the newest model, SpaceMouse Pro, thinking support for the 3DxWare drivers would soon come. Unfortunately, it has not yet arrived and I am struggling to justify my continued optimism that this may be a beneficial device for me.

I understand that historically the 3D mouse has been limited/restricted to being used in conjunction with a standard mouse, but is my understanding still valid? With the further development of the 3DxWare 10 software allow users to more or less abandon their standard mice if they so desire? Or is this assumption (hope really) wrong?

I'd love to be able to use my 3D mouse exclusively and switch between 3D applications and standard applications (i.e. Excel, which I use all day throughout the day, and navigating the full gamut of programs such as Outlook, Word, even down to iTunes and my web browser etc.).

Should I stop hoping this day will come, or is there hope that in the near future I may actually be able to do this with my 3D mouse?

Again, I'm sorry for my naivete, and I truly appreciate anyone who takes the time to thoughtfully and honestly respond. Thanks everyone!

[jwick]

CJSteves,

3DxWare 10 allows you to assign 3D mouse axes and buttons to 2D mouse axes and buttons. Does this make it a great 2D mouse? No, not in my opinion. The 2D mouse that you slide around the desktop is a nearly ideal device for 2D picking and interacting with 2D windows. Using a 3D mouse for that is more like using aTrackPoint that is in some ThinkPads. If you have a reason to use it (such as a RSI), it works ok.

The other complication is if you want to use your 3D mouse for 3D usage, you have to switch between 2D and 3D modes (which can be done with a device button). You can also have one 3D mouse assigned to 2D mouse usage, and a different one assigned to 3D mouse usage.

All this is a little awkward now. If we find some more interest in it, we will make it less awkward. People have been asking for it for years. That's why I put it into 3DxWare 10--on an experimental basis.

[suedonim]

I think what he's asking is, can we use the knob to control the pointer onscreen? If yes then we can abandon a traditional mouse for the SpacePilot and other 3d connexion products. That was my hope when I bought it. Right now it looks as if it's linited to scrolling up and down left and right. That can be assigned to a custom function button or possibly a combination (like alt+push down on the knob) so it's usefullness is not really in being able to do that. It seems as if the company is missing out on a HUGE market if it only concentrates on 3d applications. The hardware seems to be there but the software does not. So much time was spent on the ergonomics and layout and I think you nailed it, but you missed the mark entirely in it's functionality for the masses (especially researchers who spend a lot of time using their laptops). A traditional mouse just does not cut it. You have people willing to pay upwards of $300 for their units, that's how strong the demand is but they are abandoning the product when they learn it can't do what should be considered the simplest of tasks. I think a lot of people buy thinking, "Yeah of course it can do that. How could it not? THat would be dumb." If I was a programmer I'd take on the monumental task of trying to make the product more universal, but since I'm not I have to either wait for 3dconnexion to do it or I have to find another product that can. Someone mentioned LEAP and after reviewing it, it definitely looks promising. Hope you guys figure it out because I've been dying to use this thing as an ubermouse.

[jwick]

You can use the 2D Mouse Mode action to toggle between 3D and 2D modes.

[suedonim]

Yeah, this thread seems to be more comprehensive. viewtopic.php?f=36&t=4101