Anyone with even a passing connection with digital arts will have heard the name Wacom -- they're the manufacturer of input devices for professionals, and their budget range gives a good slice of the magic without such a big slice of the money pie!
If you're not familiar with graphics tablets, the concept is fairly simple -- drawing or photo-editing with a mouse is a thankless and painful experience; no matter how accomplished you are with the beast, it's never going to feel as intuitive as good ol' paper and pencil, so why not create an input device that goes some way to replicating that experience?
The Bamboo doesn't have all the bells and whistles of its more expensive brethren like the Intuous or the all-conquering Cintiq, but the features it does carry over are for the most part well executed. Tracking accuracy is faultless, and the surface of the tablet has a slight texture giving a more natural feel when moving the pen, and this is the first low-end Wacom to come with a double-ended pen: if your software supports it (and most does), flipping the pen over turns the end into an "eraser" which does exactly what anyone who's ever used a pencil would expect.
In addition to the eraser, the pen sports 256 levels of pressure sensitivity, two programmable buttons on the side (by default one acts as a right click), and comes with a spare point.
The tablet also features a number of configurable buttons and an iPod-esque click wheel; although in practice I've found they're not positioned in the ideal place, they're a useful addition. The blue LED in the wheel is both unnecessary and distracting, though, and I wish manufacturers would stop throwing them in at every opportunity!
Bundled software is a bit of a mixed bag; the version of Photoshop Elements that was supplied is getting a bit long in the tooth, but the full version of the excellent ArtRage 2 was a welcome bonus. Mac and PC drivers round off the package and are relatively painless to set up, so if you know how to use a pencil you should be up and running in no time.
On the downside the supplied pen is a bit too light and feels slightly flimsy, the stand that comes with it is a waste of space, and the box is an exercise in excessive and wasteful packaging, but none of these are deal breakers.
All in all this is a well-made piece of kit, and while professionals would be much better served by one of the more expensive models, this is perfect for anyone who wants to get to grips with digital art without spending a fortune.
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Advantages: 512 levels of pressure sensitivity, paper-like feel, 4 function buttons, zoom-wheel, eraser pen-tip Disadvantages: You may have to polish the shiny function buttons to keep them shiny
Advantages: Battery free pen, easy to use, highly configurable, durable, great look! Disadvantages: JustWrite Office note Vista compatible - the only bad thing I can say which isn't a lot
Advantages: Best on the low level market, great design, great drivers ad features. Disadvantages: not the cheapest graphics tablet, averagely sized active zone.
Advantages: 512 levels of pressure sensitivity, paper-like feel, 4 function buttons, zoom-wheel, eraser pen-tip Disadvantages: You may have to polish the shiny function buttons to keep them shiny
Advantages: Battery free pen, easy to use, highly configurable, durable, great look! Disadvantages: JustWrite Office note Vista compatible - the only bad thing I can say which isn't a lot
Advantages: Best on the low level market, great design, great drivers ad features. Disadvantages: not the cheapest graphics tablet, averagely sized active zone.
Advantages: Avoid RSI, more controlled movements - especially in Photoshop, can replace your mouse! Disadvantages: No good for gaming, better with Vista and Office 2007
Advantages: Much more comfy than a mouse and with right software/OS has good range of functions Disadvantages: Appears to be very software and OS specific, erratic operation of some useful functions
May 16th, 2009
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