3Dconnexion SpaceNavigator Personal Edition review

The SpaceNavigator mouse may sound like something out of a1980s arcade game, but its roots are in the professional world of computer aided design (CAD), where 3D objects need to be zoomed, tilted and rotated till the cows come home.

You don't have to be an architect to appreciate the potential of 3D cursor control: anyone who's used Google Earth will know the limitations of a standard mouse as you try to navigate 2D maps while tilting and spinning a 3D globe.

The chunky rubberised control knob of the SpaceNavigator is seated on a weighty silver base, so it's really more like a joystick than a mouse. Along with the usual directions of movement, the control stick can be twisted, tilted and lifted. Each corresponds to a different control, and the supplied software lets you set the function and sensitivity. We were impressed with the firm feel of the device, and within half an hour it felt intuitive and precise, even with our weaker hand.

Google Earth was a more immersive experience with the SpaceNavigator: we glided above the Amazon river basin, tilting the camera to look at the scenery, without having to stop and clumsily rotate the globe. However, we still had to revert to a standard mouse to click on the icons and select different view modes.

The scope for computer games is obvious, and the SpaceNavigator is fully compatible with Second Life, but we were disappointed not to find more games alongside the serious CAD applications on 3Dconnexion's list (www.3dconnexion.com/solutions/cad/all_sup_app.php).

Much like the Bamboo Fun, the SpaceNavigator Personal Edition is essentially a professional tool that's been given a fun twist for the mainstream market. If you're a Second Life or Google Earth addict you may be tempted, but until the potential for use in 3D games starts to be realised, it's still only designers and video editors who are going to get their full money's worth out of a 3D mouse. The SpaceNavigator exudes quality, though, and more games may join the party in the future.