3Dconnexion 3DX-700034 SpaceNavigator for Notebooks 3D Mouse

Pros:- very responsive- small and compact- easy to adjust settings and sensitivity- good program support- Travel pouchCons:- needs more weight (since this is the travel edition more weight seems counter-intuitive, but actually it is useful so the puck-like device doesn't slide on the surface which makes controlling it more difficult). The Desktop version of this has a larger base for more static use.I have had this 3D Navigator for over a year now, and it works extremely well. I do some work with 3D animation on the side, and it makes navigating 3D space a lot more intuitive, especially if you want a more controlled pan around objects than the hotkeys in programs like Autodesk Maya can support.It also seems to work well with many programs I have tried, including Maya, Google Earth, Blender, 3Ds Max, and some other software that can take multidimensional input.I would highly recommend this to anyone who does 3D work and needs to take it with them. For a desk-only usage scenario, I'd go for the desktop version since it has a bigger base which means more control and less slippage.

The product works well. It is well built, and works well with Solidworks. Because this is lighter than the other models it can be accidentally moved if you push or pull to hard in any given direction. Most of this is completely acceptable as the bottom has a very nice rubber bottom that keeps it in its spot given that the rubber does not get dirty.The reason for 3 stars - This is a notebook accessory - it is designed to be taken with you. That being said, the case they give you is made of a shedding fabric that gets the bottom rubber dirty. Obviously a major screwup on their part. The bottom can be cleaned with windex, but otherwise is rather difficult to clean if you don't have chemicals and a non shedding cloth available at your disposal. Forget about using the device with a dirty bottom - do yourself a favor and ditch the case.

Great for using on any Graphics program, I am a CATIA V5 programmer and this device just works fantastic, makes my programming in 3D much easier. It feels very comfortable in my left hand while I use the mouse in my right, I can get a lot more work accomplished with this device. Nice and heavy so it doesn't move around on the desk when applying pressure to manipulate your work on screen. Also you can adjust the sensitivity for your own feel. Price is very reasonable for what you can save in time working a project as you will save time in the long run. Also it looks great.

works exactly as advertised. Nice weight to it to make it usable in al axis, great feel of the plastic and soft-touch rubber on the knob. Great build quality, no problems so far at all.i just wish it would be compatible with more software and not so autodesk-centric (modo, etc.)i highly recommend it for heavy cad users (i use it primarily with inventor and has become essential to my workflow in less than a week!)

UPDATE:After four months without never leaving my desk the SpaceNavigator simply stopped working. It lights up but it no longer recognized as being connected. I've tried stopping/restarting the driver, running 3Dconnexion's test software and demos. "No supported device connected".This is with Two computers too. Neither of which have had any configuration changes. I'm very very disappointed. It was a great device while it lasted but I can't recommend a product that fails within 6 months. Especially considering how much this device costs.PREVIOUS REVIEW:The software is so-so but the hardware is a marvel of engineering. Once you get used to this you'll never want to go back. I wish there was more compatibility with various applications. And for applications that don't offer support, this thing should be able to emulate keyboard/mouse movements.

This 3D mouse works just as nice as the desk top version of the SpaceNavigator that I've used for years. It's much smaller and fits in my notebook bag as easy as any other mouse. The included zipper bag makes it easy to store and wind the cord around the knob so it doesn't go all over.I was worried about it sliding when pushing sideways, from other reviews. But I found the lower rubber foot ring is very sticky, much like a suction cup, So I never had trouble with it moving on me. I keep the plastic shield that came with shipping, and put it back on before putting into the case.I did notice my notebook battery life seems to have dropped a lot when this 3D mouse is plugged in. I haven't got exact numbers, but it seems to drop by 30-50%. Best to unplug the mouse when not using it on battery rather than wall plug.

Does not work well with the Mac. Driver is not well supported and does not start when applications start. Get the driver issues fixed and this would be a 4 star device (only 4 because it is a bit tricky to differentiate between some of the motions when it does work).

This is the notebook version (lighter) of the SpaceNavigator, used for meandering your way around 3D models. It is weighty enough to use even on a desktop computer though I appreciate the reduction in weight so I can carry it easily in my laptop case. I use it for both Solidworks and SketchUp and it works flawlessly (though the instructions are beyond vague). Ignore the CD with the driver, it will be out of date, but download the latest driver from the 3Dconnexion website. I have heard that the inner lining of the case is a problem, coming off onto the mouse, making the base slippery. I cut a round of card stock to put on the inside floor of the case to keep the fuzz from coming off onto the mouse base. Seems to work. You can buy 3rd party cases.