SpacePilot™ Pro from 3dconnexion

[Duke-Nukem]

In today’s global economy, software companies must make their products more versatile and user friendly to survive. Hardware and peripheral companies also are right there with these leaders to provide solutions to keep up with the pace. In the world of engineering and 3D design, one product stands to make your daily tasks more enjoyable and easier than ever.

What is it?

Introducing the SpacePilot™ Pro from 3Dconnexion. It is a true 3D mouse and HID designed to add superior control and precision functionality in addition to your mouse and keyboard. It will enhance your control and performance by giving you direct input of available functions within the compatible software you use.



“The core technology inside all 3Dconnexion 3D mice has its roots in the field of robotics and space exploration. In 1993, a 3D controller was used on the space shuttle Columbia, manipulating the first robotic arm in space. This was the launching point for a family of 3D mice. A patented optical measuring system delivers unparalleled performance and a fundamental understanding of how designers and engineers work with their 3D software, drives the continual development of groundbreaking new products. “(From the 3Dconnexion website)

Packaging

The packaging for the unit was a vacuum formed clear plastic clamshell design in a sturdy double-wall black box. There is an excellent side profile picture on the top of the box in full color. Box contents and system compatibility is listed on the side as well.

Features

I am going to list the features as available directly from the 3dconnecion website.

LCD Workflow Assistant

The full-color LCD provides visual feedback on the function keys, navigation setting status and workflow applets ensuring quick access to important information without interrupting the user’s workflow. The SpacePilot™ Pro LCD is based on an open software architecture that encourages the development of customized applets.

3Dconnexion™ Applets

Applets are mini applications, specific to SpacePilot™ Pro that run on your computer and display on the LCD. Applets range in functionality from office productivity tools to feedback on function key assignment. The following applets are supplied by default: Function Keys, Outlook® Mail, Outlook® Calendar, Outlook® Tasks, and RSS Feeds.

Function Key Applet

The function key applet displays the commands that are assigned to the Intelligent Function Keys. SpacePilot™ Pro includes out-of-the-box function key profiles for leading 3D applications including: CATIA V5/V6, NX, SolidWorks, Inventor, Pro/ENGINEER, Solid Edge, 3ds Max, Maya, Softimage and SketchUp.

The Mail Applet

The mail applet retrieves information from Microsoft® Outlook® and displays the most recently received e-mails including the sender's name and the e-mail subject line. Pressing the LCD OK key on a selected e-mail opens the e-mail in Outlook on your main computer screen. You can also view information on tasks and calendar entries.

Intelligent Function Keys

Each MCAD application environment, such as sketch, part or assembly has its own set of tools and processes. SpacePilot™ Pro automatically recognizes the active application and environment and assigns 10 relevant application commands to its dual-function Intelligent Function Keys. Visual feedback on function key assignment is provided by the color LCD. This seamless process ensures the right tools are available at the right time and as there's no need to use the standard mouse or keyboard to select the commands, users experience a significantly streamlined workflow.

A short press activates the keys primary function (1 - 5).
Press and hold the key to activate its secondary function (6 - 10).

Users can easily customize the SpacePilot™ Pro Intelligent Function Keys to their own preference. In addition, all other function keys (excluding the LCD keys) can be customized giving users the opportunity to assign up to 31 commands.

Technical Specifications

• 3Dconnexion patented six-degrees-of-freedom (6DoF) sensor
• Color LCD Workflow Assistant
- Viewing area (WxH): 49.96mm x 37.72mm / 1.96" x 1.48"
- Resolution / color depth: 320x240 / 262,144
• Second Generation QuickView Navigation (32 standard views)
• 4 Navigation Setting Keys (Speed, Rotation, Pan/Zoom, Dominant)
• 5 dual-function Intelligent Function Keys (access to 10 commands)
• Keyboard Modifiers (Ctrl, Alt, Shift, Esc)
• 21 programmable keys in total (access to 31 commands)
• Full size advanced wrist rest design
• Dimensions (LxWxH): 231mm x 150mm x 58mm / 9.1" x 5.9" x 2.3"
• Weight: 880g / 1.94lb
• 3 year warranty

Minimum System Requirements

• Windows XP Professional SP2 (x86), Windows XP Professional x64 Edition
• Windows Vista (all editions)
• Windows 7 (all editions)
• Linux Redhat Enterprise WS 4, SuSE Linux 9.3
• Sun Solaris 8 (SPARC), Sun Solaris 10 (x64)
• Microsoft® Outlook® 2003 or later required on host PC for accessing email,
tasks and calendar information on LCD.

Construction

First, let’s talk about the look of the SpacePilot™ Pro. It’s aerodynamic, sleek, and looks like it came out of a Lockheed Martin F-35 fighter jet. It is also a device that will stay put on your desk or workstation. Weighing in at almost 2 pounds and having 6 large rubber grippers on the bottom, it will sit secure. Even if you are using this thing on the USS Ronald Regan, it won’t be sliding off your station during maneuvers. The quality of the Pro is the best I have seen in any peripheral. To sum it up in one phrase: “Rock Solid”. Switches are of the highest quality, and are very quiet when pressed. This does not affect the feel of operating the buttons. When you press any of them, you know you have activated it.
I also wanted to say “bravo” and point out a crucial bonus of how the Pro is powered. There is no power supply with it. You read that correctly friends, NO POWER SUPPLY! It gets its power strictly from a USB port 2.0 or greater and in my book that is huge. The last thing we need is another device to try to plug into an already cramped power strip. If you work in an office like mine, the modular power in the cubicles is scarce at best, so this is a big deal. Good job guys!

Performance

I work for a global software company as an information developer and the Pro is one of the tools I use with our NX software on a daily basis. NX is a next-generation digital product development system. With integrated, fully associative CAD/CAM/CAE applications, NX touches the full range of development processes in product design, manufacturing and simulation. 3Dconnexion has been a partner of NX for many years. I was first introduced to a Spaceball in 1996. As you can see from the pictures below, the technology has advanced and the look has changed. However the functionality and the user dependability make this a device that once you use it, you will wonder how you got by without it.



Now for software compatibility and performance I have listed those programs I have tested exclusively with the SpacePilot™ Pro. They are as follows:

• NX 8.0 and earlier
• Adobe Photoshop CS4
• Adobe Acrobat
• Google Earth

A complete list of compatible software is available here: http://www.3dconnexion.com/products/spacepilot-pro.html

The NX functionality makes navigating the NX environment as fluid as can be. Panning, rotating, and zooming all can be individually adjusted to as slow or as drastic as you like. This device is a must for the design engineer who wants more control of his compatible software application. Assigning shortcuts to keys in the software interface for the Pro is very easy. Customization is almost limitless with the ability to save custom profiles. You can set parameters to your liking for every program you use that is compatible. Even if it is not, you can still map keyboard functions to it as well for gaming, or just about anything that uses keyboard shortcuts and functions. The LCD display is simply awesome with Outlook and Windows Media Player. You get hands on controls and display of what is going on without the need to give up any of your precious monitor real estate.



Price

The SpacePilot™ Pro is available from the 3dconnexion website for $399. It can also be found at Amazon, Buy.com, CDW, Dell, and PC Mall. I know what some of you might be thinking, and to be honest I thought the retail price was a little high, until I began using it every day. If you are a designer or 3d modeling engineer, you can’t afford not to have one of these. Understand that this is the top of the line model they offer, so if it’s too rich for your checkbook, I suggest you take a look at some of the other models that have fewer features, but the same control and feel of the big dog. There are a wide variety of options; even if you are a notebook user they have the Space Navigator for Notebooks which is 50% lighter than the same desktop model.

Final Thoughts

I have been using the SpacePilot™ Pro for several months now. I have become dependent on it especially for my graphical design work with Adobe products, and wouldn’t trade it in for anything (except maybe a newer model when it becomes available!). It is difficult to explain just how much this product enhances your control of programs. Even navigating a large PDF document in Acrobat Reader makes a huge difference by making it possible to scroll and zoom with precise control. If you are a CAD user, you will find that any of the 3dconnexion products will make your life on your compatible software a whole lot easier to use. I would also be so bold as to say you definitely need one of them. The difficult part is up to you: Which one do you chose?


Steve - A.K.A. "Duke"



Additional Photos


Product Box



Clamshell Packaging



Contents



Back



Front





Credits

• 3dconnexion – For the privilege of reviewing their product and the use of images.
• Walt & Company - Mei Antonio who was the PR Representative for 3dconnexion and arranged the review and all the details to go with it. Thank you!
• Steve Jankowski – Review title banner, and additional product photos.

[Duke-Nukem]

Nudge nudge....

[Bei Fei]

I use the regular non pro version at work for Solidworks. I don't know how I could live without it.

[bamtan2]

I've spent the last 15 years trying to figure out why they haven't been used in game controllers since the original.

[Duke-Nukem]

I'd like to see it useable in flight sims, or space battle sims.