Sketchup and mouse questions

nbc1209

Let me introduce myself. I'm Berry in St. Paul, MN and I'm an amateur woodworker. I've always designed projects with paper and pencil. But I think I should join the 21st century.

I wondered if any of you regular users of Google SketchUp use a trackball mouse like this:

301 Moved Permanently

(www.logitech.com)

I'm just starting to learn GSU and I read that you should have a regular mouse with a scroll wheel to use all the shortcuts. The Logitech trackball devices I have doesn't have the scroll wheel.

Also I've read that 4 way scroll wheels don't work well on GSU.

Any comments or advice would be appreciated or if you've already beaten this topic to death perhaps you can direct me to the proper thread(s)?

Thanks and Happy New Year!

mitcorb

Solo is well versed in gear and modeling capabilities, and since I have used his name in vain, he may respond. Of course, Sketchup is so designed as not to make huge demands on the user in terms of hardware.
Also, do a search on 3dconnexion and their selection of "pointing devices".

d12dozr

Hi Berry, welcome to SCF...You are right in my neck of the woods
Have you seen the Woodworking forum? If not, you can add yourself in your SCF User Control Panel --> Usergroups

I'm not aware of anyone that uses a trackball in SU, but I use a mouse with 4-way (side-to-side + up/down)scroll. It works fine, but a regular scroll wheel works a little better in SU because it doesn't have as much play.

Happy New Year to you too!

Dave R

Hi Berry, I'm almost in your neck of the woods. I used to live in St. Paul before committing matrimony and moving south a few miles.

I have looked at a number of different mice and came to the conclusion that for me, simple is best. I use an inexpensive Microsoft "Wheel Mouse Optical" USB mouse on my PC and the least expensive Logitech wireless mouse on my Mac. In neither case are there any special drivers loaded. I just use them as plug and play and they work flawlessly.

Probably 99% of my SketchUp work is woodworking-related. I think you'll find SketchUp is a great tool. As Marcus said, check out the Woodworking forum.

Dave