Super Cheap 3D Connexion Device Coming Soon!

[gregl]

3DConnexion have announced a super cheap version of their SpacePilot controler. The new device is the Space Navigator and sells for $59 bucks for personal use or $99 for commercial use. I sure hope that someone either at 3DConnexion or Pixologic gets on the ball and gets some drivers issued for Zbrush integration.

http://www.3dconnexion.com/

[Jason Belec]

Well first you might want to do a poll on who might want it.

The you might find a better way to bring it to peoples attention.

You might want to post it in the right section of the forum.

If I was Pixologic, I'd be pissed. ;)

[gregl]

It's pretty big news. Just trying to be helpful, thanks for being nihlistic and petty.

[Jason Belec]

Right.

[gregl]

Plus I'm wondering why talking about a device to increase the productivity of Zbrush is a non-zbrush topic.

[TrapDoor]

Thanks for the link.

TD

[Angelstein]

Looks interesting, but I don't think (for myself at least) it would bring any significant advantages to sculpting in zbrush, which is the main thing. That link to a 'virtual sculpting' device someone posted here some months ago is the No.1 piece of essential hardware that would completely change the way you work in zbrush. I forget the name of the thing now!? Anyone remember?

[lemonnado]

First of all: It is of no use for ZB right now. The way it works I doubt it would be of any use.

Second: We own a couple of Space Pilots (expensive...). For C4D and XSI. The only thing which works is the view port navigation. If you try and use the quick buttons then commands start NOT to work any more as the keyboard driver is being hit badly, the web browser starts to zoom in and out and not scroll with the middle mouse button, polygon selections and other commands start to fail, Undo is gone, keyboards sequences exchanged.... Simple:Madness, leading to reboot. etc. etc. etc. Techsupport is the typical corporate american tech support with the usual run around on the web page, non functioning phones and no replies to emails. All this has the quality of the early Logitech Cameras. Install driver... re-install system soon.

So, if you need a tool to maneuver in a scene, fine. Maybe for 19.95$.

We got them with the 30 day money back offer. After 20 days we decided to return the Devices. No response to emails regarding an RMA number or anything equivalent. At day 31 a snippy reply regarding the fact that we are now past the return policy time. They know EXACTLY why they try and dump them onto the street for little money compared to their previous offers.

It's a neat idea, nice design, and the typical Logitech half assed software which comes with it.

You are either a plant posting for the manufacturer, or you should be careful what you advertise.

Would I recommend this, or buy again?
You're kidding right???.

My 2 cents....
Lemo

[SS810]

I think it is a fantastic offer for an incredibly useful tool.
I have been using a spacepilot to create 3d work for over a year, and I highly recommend it.
It is a very straightforward device.
It allows you to move and rotate a model with your left hand, whilst simultaniosly sculpting geometry with your right.
Any who has experience of realworld sculpting or modeling will immediately understand the advantages.
It's compatable with most major 3d modeling/animation and painting software. (but, unfortunatly not Zbrush, due to its current lack of perspective camera )
But for all other 3d work I find it essential.

Anyone who, . . .
A) Doesn't really do 3d modelling + doesn't really want to in the future.
or, .
B) Doesn't like newfangled technical gizmos, and prefers to work the 'old fashioned way',
Will probably ignore this offer.

[Jason Belec]

lemonnado's points are the most valid so far.

SS810, you are making assumptions for everyone. Not sure of your abilities, but if one is choosing tools, a Microscribe unit would be far more useful, as would several other products, like the Wacom Cintiq or any tablet.

Why should Zbrush put a tool used by a limited number of people into the mix? Perhaps so we can all pay more for this great software for no reason? As for the abilities you mention as valuable with this tool, you can do that now in Maya or XSI with some scripting and mouse/keyboard/tablet and in tablet cases probably without, so why buy a tool that has failings Lemmonnado points out. Perhaps hobbiest's have found more money to spend than in the past, in production environments this is a gimmick tool. Every 2 or 3 years these things pop up as the greatest thing since sliced bread, assuming people want sliced bread or assuming they must have sliced bread.

[lemonnado]

Zbrush and a haptic device would be crazy good. The unit I had my fingers on at SIGGRAPH which also had a force feedback when you hit the geometry with the tool was great and felt very natural.

I recently discovered that I can put the sensor strip on my Wacom to good use to simply spin stuff. Never used it before. Finally, the tablet starts to grow on me. Before that, the evil mouse sat on my shoulders and whispered 'all tablets are crap!' into my ear.

Top of my gizmo list is the cintique. Hmmmm. But really pricey. I had cars which cost less 8-).

And to stay on topic, did the 3DConnexion device save us time. Nope.
Neat to start with but with the terrible driver it is not integrating the keyboard into it's design. So you start to use the mouse, the space mouse, and then the keyboard.

And to add insult to injury, 3DCoonexion dropped PhotoShop support... They clearly do not know what they are doing. The abilty to pan, zoom, change brush size and a few other attributes was really cool. Great that they dropped it, DOHHHHH. It seems they only support their 3d CAD customers and what artists do with it is mostly unknown or of little interest to them.

[wckedsunny]

I had this one plan to create such device which will help me to sculpt easily. rotation zooming and panning isnt that important...

This is probably something like Lemo has seen in Siagraph.

My visualization is to have a rubber or plastic model in a fixed plate or even which can be taken in your hand and with other hand having a pen of the tablet and using it to sculpt model directly in zbrush with out touching that mouse.

more like when you sculpt clay with your hands, or a stone carving with a chisel. Rotate it physically and it roates on the screen

If I ever get time and money I will create it atleast for myself.

need is the first cause of invention. ;)

[SS810]

I'm dissapointed that I have to post again, and defend what was meant to be a positive and helpful post.

Jason, . I was giving an opinion on a piece of hardware that I have used professionally with no problems, for along time.

I do not use it instead of other tools, (I also use a wacom for sculpting) and I agree there are lots of other other devices that are good,. . but this thread is about Spacepilot/navigator devices.

I'm sorry Lemo has had problems using it, but many of the issues stated involve 2d applications.
It is a 3D device, designed for navigating 3D space in 3d software (which incedently Lemo said it does quite well)

I genuinely believe that anyone who works in 3d, and wants to try it might find it useful.

I'm sorry you felt the need to denegrate my abilities and my opinions.

[JohnnyBoy]

lemonnado- Is this what you're talking about?
The Novint Falcon:

http://www.novint.com/

http://video.howstuffworks.com/hsw/player.htm?v=novint

I can't wait to get my hand on one of these!

[wckedsunny]

Ya that was it... pretty cool looking

[billrobertson42]

Anyone who, . . .
A) Doesn't really do 3d modelling + doesn't really want to in the future.
or, .
B) Doesn't like newfangled technical gizmos, and prefers to work the 'old fashioned way',
Will probably ignore this offer.


I'm dissapointed that I have to post again, and defend what was meant to be a positive and helpful post.

With all due respect SS810, your first post really makes it seem like you think that anybody who doesn't use one of these things is (or soon will be) obsolete and not worthy of doing "real" 3d. :)

You also said that you were trying to be positive, so I believe you when you say that your intentions are good.

I can see you you might read Jason's post and think that he's insulting your abilities, but that seems out of character for him. I can't speak for him, but I don't really think he meant that.

Thanks for listening.

[gregl]

lemonnado (member.php?u=36730), since the device works fine in 3dsMax8, and 9 if you have the beta drivers, I can only assume the problem with your 3d Connexion experience is the drivers....since drivers do not exist for Zbrush, one would hope perhaps that they would test them better than they did for the apps you use, and fix those in the meantime. Being able to rotate, zoom and tilt a model in Zbrush without using quick hiccuping mouse, key combos would speed up my modeling a great deal, but maybe I just dont like hiccups in the flow where some may.

[gregl]

Also Leamoado, I hadn't noticed your accusation that I'm a plant for the company. I would encourage you to come to my place of business and watch me create high polygon models for medical animations using Max and Zbrush. I use the space pilot with none of the problems you've described, and found it to be worth the $360 I paid for it. Now the company that makes that product releases a version that costs LESS than a video game, and I post a link and you go off calling me a plant. You email me at GregL@caesy.com and I'll give you my phone number if you want to discuss a visit to my company, or just to call my a company plant to my face.
Sorry you had a crappy experience with 3Dconnexion, fuok them for all I care, I was trying to be helpful to the community, dont buy their ****, I dont care, thought someone may have 60 bucks laying around and find that the thing works well for them. In fact, fuok me, you're right, I'm trying to sell people my crappy product, ahahaha, I got caught...thank god you set the community straight, your experience and insight is the right one, please, everyone avoid anything that leomando has had a bad experience with...i'm going to go try to find myself and quit accepting checks from 3dconnexion....praise be, all swear allegiance to leamonado....please don't buy anything from 3dconnexion, or anyone else leamonado has had a bad experience with. again, all hail leamonado.
I wont post on this forum again, please forgive me.

[wckedsunny]

Whats going wrong in this forum ? Suddenly everyone is fighting over for petty things ? :confused: :cry: :td:

[lemonnado]

Non -constructive comment- deleted.
Sorry for that.
Lemo

[TrapDoor]

Please continue your dispute via PM if necessary.

[phizikl]

i also dont understand why a topic like this has to become any problem, especially just because lemonade has had problems with it, but ive seen these kindsa problems in all kindsa forums :D

anyway back tothe topic,:p
i just bought my 3dconnexion and am lookin forward to using it when it comes next week!:lol: i used it once and knew right away what freedom it gives u! i had to have it! not just for maya, but especially zbrush it would be a great tool, i hate rotating in zbrush or in maya while modeling, and not having to use the keyboard would enable me to be free 3dimensionally, and have all my shortcuts on the 3dpilot! i think for zbrush it could be a HUGE BENEFIT and i would love to have support for it.. how much of the pilot can you customize manuually without support?:qu:

is anyone else interested in trying somehow to get support for it? maybe if theres enough we could get some help,
i love zbrush, and i loved the pilot! they could become best friends!!!! hand in hand with a pen and work becomes smoooth like butta!:tu:

[lemonnado]

I'm still trying to sell my pilot... no reasonable offer declined!
Lemo

[skullbeast]

I got one and it works great for maya photoshop and poser. What is the big deal. It is a left handed control devise that makes navigation easier. if you don't like it don't get one. Last time i checked we are all artists with the need to improve our work flow. Now, no fighting children or you'll have to sit in the corner. ............ this thread is unbelievably silly! :td: :qu: :td:

[Rojago]

I fail to understand how an alternate method for rotating around a model or otherwise manipulating your view or the model could possibly be a bad thing...

The Space Navigator works great with PS CS3 extended... Also works with Maya and Max and XSI software. Seems to me if all of these folks feel it's worth the time to write a driver for it there might be something to it.

As far as slamming Logitech, I've never had an issue with them. Not saying they are 100%, but also not nearly so bad as described, based upon my 12 or so years of experience with them. They just replaced a cordless mouse that I've used every day for 8 hours or so for nearly three years under the warranty. Didn't cost me a dime. Sorry Lemonnado had an issue, but I've not experienced anything but exemplary customer service from them. Been using their stuff wince windows 3.11 and have not experienced any major issues.

Obviously everyone has an opinion, but in my experience anything that makes working with the model in the round a less "mechanical" process would be a beneficial thing... that was exactly the sort of solution seeking that led to things like tablets, afterall.

I, for one, hope Pixologic continues to embrace new technologies and ways of addressing the creative process.

[phizikl]

jea man, the people that are beefin are silly :D
im using my 3d connexion for a month now, its awesome
i would never use maya or 3ds max without it!!!!
all it really is is the stupid rotate thing, all the buttons u can map already,
its like, we just need the driver to tell it to do ALT leftMOUSECLICK DRAG :D
it would be awesome!!!
PIXOLOGIC?!?! are u listening?? :D:D:D

[dehebo]

Just did a search because was looking to see if any support/work around allowed this product to function in zbrush.
first thread i read on this matter but im guessing it doesnt, havent really purchased the device for zbrush is more for 3D apps like maya/max, but i do have some comments about what was said earlier.

it was mentioned that anyone who may use this device for a professional application of 'skill' may be somewhat disappointed(a more polite phrasing i guess), personally i would disagree as that type of statement is too much of a gross generalisation.
I myself have worked in the past within the engineering industry using extremely highend programs like catia and some more run of the mill 3d apps depending on how cheap customers were and I can say that for me this type of device functions very well, it quickly becomes intuitive to use and it does the job that it says it will. it certainly works well within 3D appz, I actually only use it on a personal basis but can tell that I would of loved it as a structural designer when I was still within that industry.

dont discount it just because it aint what all the pr0's rave on about - i know plenty of artists who loathe the idea of using their talent on anything but traditional media. so what ever suits you.

it is by no means a miracle device, and it doesnt and probably never will fill a or any potential future gap in the general market. it is however worth a go if you like the sound of it - it does work if supported by the appz and makes navigation abit like driving with one hand. i purchased it on a wim and it does feel comfortable for me - i do however think it probabaly wouldnt to great in zbrush, but you never know.

anyway just my $0.02 that seemingly turned into $2

p.s. agreed on the above, cintiq is the ultimate graphics boy toy :)