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Mudbug

Administrator emeritus
Original poster
Jun 28, 2002
3,849
1
North Central Colorado
http://www.griffintechnology.com/products/powermate/

Nothing more than a simple yet elegant 'button' for your desktop that wires into your machine via USB. It feels very much like a tuning wheel on a very nice HiFi stereo tuner, with a very smooth action and easy one-finger manipulation. The button works for roll left, roll right, push, push & hold, push & hold left, & push & hold right. Each position can be customized to do a specific function either system-wide, or specific to whatever program your working in at the time. Customization is easy with a straightforward Prefs Pane for the system preferences.

Available in brushed aluminum finish (what I got to match my G5) or in a powdercoated black finish. Both are currently US$39.99.

I got this thing for my birthday from my mother-in-law. I have an online birthday/christmas wish list that I did a year or so ago so that I could remember what I wanted throughout the year when people asked me closer to time. She found that, thought the price was right, and ordered. When she gave it to me and I unwrapped it, she said "I can't believe I gave you a knob for your birthday." She was right, and at the time I didn't really know what the extent of the knob was - just that I thought it looked cool with the glowing blue light underneath.

Of all the functions that this thing is great for, the coolest of the bunch is in Photoshop, if you're a power-user like me. Being able to have it change brush sizes on the fly with a simple twist of the knob is just about the coolest thing since sliced bread. Combine that with the power of a pressure-sensitive pen tool, and you'll never want to use Photoshop any other way again.

*****

con - the attached USB cord is too short for use, unless your machine is on your desktop next to it (mine isn't) - but they're nice enough to include a USB extension cable for that very reason. :)
 

FlamDrag

macrumors 6502
Jan 8, 2003
425
0
Western Hemisphere
Yes, these things rule. They are infinitely more useful than I had ever imagined. Just one more input device to help ease carpel tunnel advancement.

I hadn't even used it for brush sizes in PS yet. Sheesh!
 

dotnina

macrumors 6502a
Aug 19, 2004
856
0
Glad you're enjoying your Powermate. I've been thinking about one myself, but I'd probably use it to just scroll through documents. :)

It seems like it's capable of doing some neat things, though. I noticed the PowerMate Pulse widget for Konfabulator the other day -- it pulses to indicate you have new mail.

Anyway, enjoy!
 
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