Frikkin gimmicks!!!!????
Well, actually nope.
I had the chance to try out the new range of Spaceballs (oh no... spaceballs! Damn, there goes the planet) while I was in Taiwan. Not to shabby, actually. Though I wouldnt say 'rush out and buy these invaluable tools', I would say... 'hot damn... this is kinda funky'.
Whats cool about them? Well, its just being able to zoom, pan and tumble the view simaltaniously (rather than one operation at a time) this gives you better spacial understanding for the scene. I found after ten minutes I was navigating like a pro and polymodelling quite well. The end result was not the advertised "30% speed increase" (you have to shift your hand to the keyboard too much for that) but a definate 30% improvement in the artistic results. The models I made just FELT better, more solid, more weighty. So yeah, actual results are better.
I wouldnt personally go for the space ball design... it forces your left hand (right hand if your a molliduker)into a claw shape, and causes a little strain on your outer tendons. Much better is the 'travelling' puck shaped spaceball (complete with funky blue led switches around the rim), which is instead held between thumb and finger. Being light and easy to 'tweak', as well as able to fit into a laptop case was coooool.
Since you have to pull the ball vertically to pan up, I found the thumb/finger configuration much better than the claw.
The price is inhibitive for studios, but if you get the chance do try one out for your home rig. Im personally adding one to my wish list... it fits right there between nvidea go fitted laptop and season seven of buffy.
Dave
Aaight... further info perhaps?
Sir! The radar, sir! It appears to be... Jammed!