newbee question: basic functionality in Win Vista 64-bit

[Morten Lund]

I realise this might be trivial; but I can't seem to find any definitive material on the subject anywhere:

I am looking into getting me a 3DSpaceNavigator, mostly because the device looks interesting (and I'm kinda fed up with the crappy drivers for my mouse/beginning mouse elbow), but what I'd like to know is:

Just for basic use of windows (Vista 64-bit), what functionality do I get?
Can I use it as a standard mouse on the desktop; what options do I have for assigning axis to different functions (back/forward in navigation, flip between windows, opening start menu, scrolling, etc)

And how is support for thunderbird and firefox - will it work as a normal mouse in those programs as well?

If someone coud point me in the right direction (I'm fairly certain I've missed it somewhere), or give the answers, that would be very nice

Thanks in advance,
Morten

[siberspace]

hallou, i`m just like u new but can give u some guidances ... like the name says itself any 3D device is pointed and in most cases used in the virtual 3D world and 3D applications. People use them also for 2D tasks / apps like drawing, painting applications, etc ... then also for other "general" tasks like google earth, maybe some game etc ...

Any 3D device itself is not built to replace the mouse but for complement it, and encourage use of the other hand so the "mouse hand" make smaller number of moves ...

The primary use of such devices is "navigating" views in specialised 3D applications which become "more human" and intuitive. The manufacturers claim up to 30% more productivity when using them, i`m still habituating so i think i`m just at the first < 10%

I think u shouldn`t have problems with Vista 64

good luck

[Morten Lund]

Thanks Siberspace;

So I take it you can use it a a normal mouse on the desktop, not only in specialised programs, like Google Earth, Abobe Illustrator, 3D Studio MAX, or MAYA?

how much can you customise the setup?

thanks,
Morten

[Bandito]

Sounds like you will be needing the unofficial mouse,joystick,keyboard driver. I havent tried it yet. The thread is here: viewtopic.php?t=336

[Morten Lund]

So it won't work as a normal mouse out of the box?

[Bandito]

No, not out of the box.

[Blocks]

Morten Lund: I came here looking to get the same sort of general functionality in Windows Vista x64. Unfortunately, 3dconnexion doesn't offer any support for this. The drivers linked in the topic above look like they work great in 32-bit Windows, but don't work at all in 64-bit Windows.

[Morten Lund]

Blocks: Thanks for the heads up; I'll have a think, then - I really like the idea of the gizmo, but if I can't get it to work like a normal moude on the desktop, I need to have a think about it

.Morten