3D Connexion Space Navigator

Do you really need to fly over your maps in Google earth

Reviewer: Stuart Miles
Review Date: 7 June 2007
Manufacturer: 3D
Price as reviewed: £40
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Our score

8/10

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Full Review

7 June 2007 - Google Earth is great isn't it? I mean you can spend hours moving around the globe looking at where you live, where your friends live, where you went on holiday, where you are planning on going on holiday; the list is endless.

Trouble is navigating around Google Earth is a bit of a non-fluid experience especially if you just want to roam around rather than visit an address you've typed in.

Originally designed for working with 3D visualisation packages, the Space Navigator from 3D connexions has found its calling for the Google Earth and SketchUp fans among us.

Once plugged in, the £39.99 secondary mouse that works with Windows, Mac and Linux, allows you to glide over the terrain or your models with ease.

Working in a virtually identical way to the Logitech NuLOOQ (3D connexions is even a Logitech company) the device gives you the ability to control six axis of movement including zoom, tilt, pan and scroll and thus gives you the impression that you are flying over your chosen destination without having to get your regular mouse involved.

Of course if you want to do some work, the unit supports Adobe's Creative Suite 3 packages as well as others such as Autodesk, SolidWorks, and a couple of other more serious CAD looking packages, and you can use the Space Navigator to scroll and zoom quickly around images while you work on them with the mouse.

Verdict

For viewing Google Earth the Space Navigator is excellent, however you've got to question how much you use the package to warrant spending £40 on an accessory for it. Of course if you are heavily into your Photoshop editing then you can get better use of out it.

If you are looking for an even more professional offering with dedicated software that you can customise even further give the Logitech NuLOOQ a look.

Comments

Hello everyone, to give Australian users easier access to the 3Dconnexion 3D mouse products, you can get these items online at http://tip.com.au This is the Australian distributor and you can have them shipped overnight via express post. Hope this assist in being able to get them to your desktop faster.

CADUser Posted by gino, Australia
http://tip.com.au/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=24 Posted by gino, Australia

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3Dconnexion SpaceNavigator™ Personal Edition (3DX-700029) Mouse, Trackball
(Mouse, Trackball, Connectivity: Cable, Mouse Motion Type: Optical, Platform(s): PC)