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Review
PowerMate
Issue: 1.5 (April/May 2003)
Author: Brian Jones
Article Description: No description available.
Article Length (in bytes): 4,054
Starting Page Number: 8
RBD Number: 1503
Resource File(s): None
Related Web Link(s):
www.griffintechnology.com
Known Limitations: None
Full text of article...
The collection of input devices we all use for our computers have been around for a while now. There have been many new ideas that have come and gone, and some that have stuck around (that little scroll-wheel in multi-button mice, for example). I have never been attracted to any of them. I'm set in my ways and have never felt the need to learn new tricks. When I saw the PowerMate from Griffin Technology, however, I was intrigued. Very intrigued.
The sleek brushed metal casing ringed along the bottom with coolly glowing blue LEDs will catch anyone's eye; however, this product's functionality can really make those folks stick around and pick one up for themselves. It's a multimedia control knob that sits on your desk rather than on the face of your stereo or video editor. The default behavior is that of a volume knob: rotate right for volume up, rotate left for volume down, or click to mute. For anyone listening to music on their computer, these shortcuts provide a bit of fun in and of themselves, but the real fun begins when you create your own behavior for the device.
The PowerMate supports six actions: rotate left, rotate right, click, long click, rotate left during click, and rotate right during click. Each of these actions can be associated with a range of behaviors: volume up and down, scroll up and down, moving the cursor any direction, and sending keystrokes. The user can create unique profiles for each application describing any of these behaviors for any of these actions. The result is a highly customizable new input device that can be used to maximize your efficiency and convenience.
The potential ramifications can take a while to realize; I still come up with new ideas all of the time. Obvious uses would be in place of that aforementioned scroll-wheel in your mouse or to save your currently open document on a click. Others could be zooming in and out in a graphics program, stepping through video, or telling code to run in a debugger. Any individual example seems mundane, but, when the combinations pile up and the PowerMate becomes a part of your routine, the summed convenience is definitely greater than its parts.
There are a few drawbacks. There is a global setting that is always defined and cannot be turned off. I've become frustrated by this feature because, as a result of the degree of customization I've created, any behavior I haven't explicitly customized is a jarring, and even at times frustrating, experience. The other main drawback is that there is no option for setting a sequence of key strokes to be sent. For example, I would love to be able to save, then run, code with the push of a button. Allowing for these sequences would make the controller even more convenient and would replace all of those annoying, repetitive keystroke sequences we all have in our lives.
The PowerMate provides both fun (cool appearance, customizable flashing lights) and function (scriptable behaviors). Despite the few annoyances, it will likely be a welcome addition to anyone's collection.
In Brief Product PowerMate Manufacturer Griffin Technology Price $45 System Requirements Mac OS 9.0.4 or greater, or OS X, USB port Contact Info www.griffintechnology.com Pros Fun, Flexible Cons Flexibility requires tedious scripting for each application Rating (1.0-5.0): 4.9
End of article.
Article copyrighted by REALbasic Developer magazine. All rights reserved.
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