Macworld »
Business Center

Unconventional (but useful) input devices

In this slideshow, we present to you several input devices that are a lot different from the mouse (or laptop trackpad) and keyboard used on a daily basis.

DIGG
tweet
email

Macworld Staff

All Images
Related Articles

Expo: Papershow to make interactive presentations possible
Global IP Solutions offers video-chat technology to app makers
Five sites for smart consumers
Review: Epson Workforce Pro GT-S50 document scanner
Report: Google to make Gmail more social

3Dconnexion SpaceNavigator for Notebooks 1 of 8

When shopping for a new keyboard or mouse (with the help of our keyboard and mice buying guides, of course), sometimes it pays to look to an unconventional solution. In this slideshow, we present to you several input devices that are a lot different from the mouse (or laptop trackpad) and keyboard used on a daily basis.

For starters, take the 3Dconnexion SpaceNavigator for Notebooks. One might call it a 3D mouse, where it allows you to move which lets you move horizontally, vertically, and in a third dimension of depth within a 3D space on your Mac’s screen. It works with a variety of 3D applications, such as Autodesk Maya, Google Earth, Maxon Cinema 4D, Second Life, and Smith Micro Poser.

The SpaceNavigator for Notebooks isn’t meant to replace your mouse; it’s specifically for moving through 3D programs. After a bit of practice, you’ll float though the air with the greatest of ease, instead of laboring with a never-ending series of clicks and drags or inadequate on-screen controls. Read the full review. [$129 (Get best current price); 3Dconnexion]

Evoluent VerticalMouse 3 Wireless

The VerticalMouse 3 Wireless is an odd-looking beast, somewhat resembling the dorsal fin of an obese shark. You grasp the VerticalMouse with your forearm in a hand-shaking position, a more natural angle for your arm. When using the mouse, you may find that you’ll experience comfort and control you never thought possible.

The biggest drawback isn’t in the VerticalMouse’s industrial design. It’s that Evoluent doesn’t provide an OS X-compatible driver—a shame, really, because without drivers, you’re limited to two of the VerticalMouse’s three finger-operated buttons and its scroll wheel. In order to use the third finger button, thumb button, and scroll-wheel buttons, you need to spend an additional $20 on third-party software by USB Overdrive or SteerMouse. Read the full review. [$120; Evoluent]

Kensington SlimBlade Trackball

Trackballs that use a large ball offer ergonomic benefits by letting you move your computer’s cursor with larger arm motions rather than the fine wrist and finger movements that can lead to strain and pain. The SlimBlade Trackball features a relatively heavy billiard-size ball surrounded by four large buttons that have set functions and aren’t customizable.

The SlimBlade Trackball has three different modes: Cursor, View, and Media. In Cursor mode, the trackball controls the motion of the onscreen cursor, the lower two buttons act as primary and secondary mouse buttons. In View mode, you can zoom, pan, and scroll in a document. In Media mode, you use the trackball and buttons to control iTunes.

If you spend a lot of time working in documents or in iTunes, the SlimBlade Trackball is worth considering. Read the full review. [$130 (Get best current price); Kensington]

Logitech diNovo Keyboard Mac Edition

Simply put, the diNovo Keyboard Mac Edition is one of the best keyboards around. It starts with the PerfectStroke keys that are a bit thicker than laptop keys but don’t require much pressure to push and register. The diNovo is quite compact for a full-size keyboard and has a comfortable, low profile.

All but two of the 19 F-keys have special alternate functions when you have the Logitech driver software installed, and many of these functions are similar to the functions found on Apple’s keyboards, such as brightness, volume, invoke Exposé, and more.

The diNovo Mac Edition may look like a basic keyboard, but its combination of outstanding key feel, a low profile, reliable wireless connectivity, a slew of programmable F-keys, and an attractive design make it one of the best keyboards on the market for Mac users. Read the full review. [$100 (Get best current price); Logitech]

Microsoft Arc Mouse

As the Apple Magic Mouse reminds us, mice come in all shapes and sizes. The Arc Mouse is, well, shaped like an arc. It’s lightweight with a spare body, and it folds so it’s easier to stash in a bag.

Despite its unique look and fold-up function, the Arc Mouse acts like most other mice. It has a classic three-button setup for the left and right buttons, plus a ratchet scroll wheel that also acts as a button. An additional left-side button operates with either your thumb or, for left-handed mousers, the third or fourth fingers.

The Arc Mouse is available in Black, Red, Marine Blue, Deep Olive Green, Eggplant Purple, and Frost White. You can download Snow Leopard-compatible drivers from Microsoft’s Web site. Read the full review. [$50 (Get best current price); Microsoft]

Targus Bluetooth Presenter for Mac

If giving presentations is one of your primary duties, the Targus Bluetooth Presenter for Mac is a more-capable alternative to the Apple Remote. The Presenter has two modes, Presenter and Mouse. In Presenter mode, the controls focus on slide presentations-start the presentation, forward, back, and blank the screen. There’s also a built-in laser pointer.

In Mouse mode, a touch-sensitive control pad lets you move the cursor on the screen, and the left and right arrow buttons act as mouse buttons. If you’re a Keynote or PowerPoint user, the Presenter is definitely worth checking out. Read the full review. [$80 (Get best current price); Targus]

Wacom Bamboo Pen & Touch

For years, Wacom’s graphics tablets have let digital artists and others dispense with a mouse in favor of an intuitive, precise pen. The Bamboo Pen & Touch tablet has a 5.8 by 3.6-inch work area that functions like a giant multitouch laptop touchpad. You can use finger taps and swipes to move the cursor, scroll, zoom, and more.

The pen input is an unbeatable option for graphical work. The included pens now boast 1,024 levels of pressure sensitivity—double the sensitivity of earlier models, and valuable for creating subtle effects in the bundled apps and other software that supports pressure sensitivity. Read the full review. [$99 (Get best current price); Wacom]

X-Arcade TankStick + Trackball

The TankStick + Trackball is X-Arcade’s most elaborate and impressive game controller. It weighs about 20 pounds and measures almost 30 inches across. Across the front are more than a dozen buttons, arranged in two clusters around heavy-duty eight-way joysticks. There are two start buttons (for one or two players) and a great big Missile Command-style trackball in the middle.

The Tankstick does require you to spend some time to get it to work with your games. X-Arcade doesn’t include any software to help program the device. You link the Tankstick’s buttons to your keyboard’s buttons, which is a time consuming and arduous process. But if you’re looking for the most authentic coin-op experience possible on your Mac, this is right up your alley. Read the full review. [$200 (Get best current price); X-Arcade]