I recently wrote a review questioning the fact that the SpacePilot PRO is a control device with an LCD screen. As noted by my fellow blogger Jeff Mirisola of Jeff’s Tool Shed, 3D Connexion recently updated their drivers and software for the SpacePilot PRO. This update fixed a few bugs in the software related to the saving of settings. It should be noted that the problem I had with saving settings does not seem to be the same as others, and was minor by comparison. The problem I found was with my programmable key maps being saved. This issue was not fixed with the recent upgrade, but I’m not concerned because the workaround is already built-in. The possible cause of all this is the strange fact that there are more than one program used to control the key mappings. Since I know which program to use to save my key maps, I’m not terribly concerned with it not working in their second program. The second program doesn’t allow for as many functions to be assigned to the buttons too, which I find odd.
OK, back to the point. As said, I criticized the existence of an LCD screen on the SpacePilot PRO. I wondered why the device had one. It didn’t seem to be of much use. Well, with the recent update of the 3DConnexion drivers, I take this back. The LCD screen is now very useful to display key mapping in a very clear and much better organized method. Now obvious is the function programmed for a particular button. With this, I’m now able to get use out of the LCD screen, and I am more comfortable with the use of the programmable buttons too. It really expands the device’s user-friendliness. So, the only question left (besides making the secondary key mapping program work 100% as expected) is whether this device is worth the $500 price tag. The price does seem to be pushing the upper limit of what one might expect to pay for a control device, particularly one that doesn’t replace any other control devices (you’ll still need a mouse).
OK, I think I beat this dead horse long enough. I’ll just close with saying, if you have the need for a 3D mouse, then this is certainly the king of them all!
you can always send it to me if you don’t want it 😉
It’s good to hear that the screen is in fact useful…I wonder whether it would affect the price point to use a B/W screen instead. Or eInk, since the display would be static much of the time – not that power consumption is a big issue for something that’s always plugged in, but hey, eInk is trendy, don’t we have to at least consider putting it in everything? =)
Naw, I’m starting to get used to it. 😉