Most people view 3DConnexion's devices as accessories to certain 3D applications, but my perception is broader as I work with it like a second mouse. Or at least I would loved to.
Below, is quoted text I made in the Ubuntu Forums.
I am aware that it has very little value, as someone needs to do the work and certainly someone for every application, but in any case, I thought it would be relevant at the official 3DConnexion Forums.
I hope some day, the device will get the position it deserves and take over the hand from the keyboard.
I got one lately and it has become an important tool in my computer graphics work. Too bad its not very much supported across the system, even though the code is there for all to work with.
Its exactly like having a second mouse, one can even eliminate the keyboard in many cases, or cut down its use to a minimum. Any graphic artist can see the advantage of that.
In general its very much like playing a musical instrument: you use both hands. Imagine trying to play a guitar or piano with just one; possible, but you limit your music. Or for the gamers, like playing an FPS with just one hand...
The Navigator compliments the Mouse and they work at the same time.
I believe that its use could be well defined and embedded in many computer applications and it well become an important tool in one's computer experience, an input device as important as the mouse and the keyboard. Its analog sensitivity, many directions of movement and comfort of use are exactly what one needs to compliment the mouse.
Here's a list of ideas; applications it could have (and not even mentioning 3D apps):
Desktop
Pan around the desktop, move around filenames, zoom in/out, switch viewports, control the cube, move and resize windows, control cursor in CLI/forms
Word Processor/DTP
Move the cursor/object, zoom in/out, pan view/scroll page(s)
Web Browser
Pan view, zoom in/out, scroll through forms
Image Viewer
Pan larger that screen/window image, zoom in/out, flip through images
Photo/Graphics Editor (bitmap, vector)
Pan view, zoom in/out, move/scale/transform object, control amount of transformation/filter/etc
Music/Video Player
Start/Pause/Stop Buttons, Next/Previous track/video, move position in track/video, control volume
Video Editor
A/B Roll-like Editing controls
Games
Control movement of character (instead of AWSD in FPS), control weapons, pan view, zoom in/out (analog movement in FPS, natural control for arcade/puzzle games, view and control at the same time in RTS, move character and aim their weapons in RTS and RPG, etc)
etc, etc...
The possibilities are endless, the code is out there, it is an important input device, so it HAS to be supported.