This.

Spacey.

From reading their blurb on the how it works page they suggest that you'd use that gizmo for navigation and a normal mouse for getting around.

 

Not sure what the exact work flow is to be honest, but I hear lots of people raving about them for 3d cad/modelling.

My concern is that I might not have the coordination required to move it and not twist at the same time. I never could get the hang of that on my Wigwam extreme. Actually, I wonder if I still have my Wigwam extreme - could use the motion components in that to make my own one to try out.

You're the Neil Buchanan of the tech world.

Snap! I read some people complaining about the clicky button things breaking but so far it's been fine for me. Can't remember if it's 2 or 3 years old.

I don't play lead guitar in a metal band, though.

That surprised me - I only found out he was in a band after googling the spelling of his name today. :J

Looks like they had an off period, not releasing an album between 1984 and 2010. That kinda coincides with his TV career. Selfish bugger, off promoting himself on TV, the rest of the band must have been looking on aghast.

If you think that's bad, just wait for the revival of D:Ream :| :| :|

To be fair, it can only get better.

 (pyfitg)

Yeah, mine lasted me years without problems which a mouse has never managed. Also popping the ball out and giving it a clean is strangely satisfying (YJ).

 :-((

I'd love a bigger desk - both at home and work (the latter being where I'm considering this for) - but neither is a possibility.

It's not just about space (though that will be an issue); I've been wanting to give one a try for a while.

Much better than Xen's picture. :]

Yep, there's even more fancy versions with buttons and screens and stuff:

I am curious to try one, but pretty sure they're overpriced for "enterprise" 3D places, and wouldn't have enough benefit for regular use to justify it.

I've seen plenty of people complain about the latest Logitech offering - after a bit motion becomes jittery - and lamenting that the previous discontinued version isn't available.

Since I'm already ordering from Scan I can save on delivery if I get a similar looking one by Speedlink (the only trackball Scan have):

Is a new product though and can't find any reviews. Other speedlink products get reasonable reviews though, so I'm thinking I'll probably go for it...

Yeah they get silly expensive pretty quickly. Would be interesting to try but the cost puts me off as I have serious doubts about my ability to use one properly, but at the same time I find my self swearing continously while navigating 3d software.

I also want one of those articulated sculpting pen things I saw on tomorrow's world 20 years ago and was promised would be mainstream 15 years ago.

These things : http://www.cgchannel.com/2014/10/3d-systems-launches-geomagic-sculpt-and-touch/

So basically the 3D version of a graphics tablet. Not sure how well I'd get on with it, but can definitely see it being a useful interface.

> ...was promised would be mainstream 15 years ago.

And that's why patents are evil and need to die...

They kinda did go mainstream but they didn't last long because they were fucking awful. And software like Zbrush came along and made them kinda unnecessary.

Also people just get good with a mouse. Ultimately no one wants to replace small movements with a mouse with large hand movements which become uncomfortable pretty quickly.