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 Product Description
The Bamboo One tablet from Wacom is the ideal graphics tool for beginners. You can write, paint and touch up your photos on this compact and easy-to-use tablet, and you can write freely and in complete comfort with the Bamboo One's intelligent stylus pen. This tablet is practical for simply jotting down ideas or messages, and it even lets you access all your computer applications.The Bamboo One graphics tablet is a user-friendly computer interface for the whole family. System requirements:Windows 2000, XP, VistaMac OS X 10.3.9USB portCD-Rom
Customer Reviews
The best entry level graphics tablet around, 05 Nov 2008
I've had graphics tablets before, but this is by far the best entry-level tablet I have ever used. It was easy to install and set up and I was able to adjust the settings to give me the exact functionality I wanted without reading the manual. I am very pleased indeed with the ease with which it can be used and the substantial gains I get in speed and accuracy over a mouse and also over other tablets - I can get an illustration or animation complete in half the time. I have had the tablet for nearly a year now and it is still working perfectly.
I would highly recommend this product to anyone who would like to try a tablet for the first time and to anyone else who would like a really decent basic tablet at a very good price. It's great - a really super piece of kit!
Bamboo? I think you mean WOOHOO!, 27 Oct 2008
I'm a graphic designer working mostly in vector design, so in adobe illustrator. Recently I have been getting more and more into Photoshop, and I had bought a tablet about 3 years ago maybe a little more, it was the small £20 Trust tablet. What a mistake that was...
I struggled by with the trust, until I completely abandoned it. I really wanted the flexibility of working with the tablet, but knew I wouldn't really use it enough to justify the larger price tags.
So being a tightwad I struggled by with my mouse, while entering endless competitions to try and win a tablet of decent quality. Knowing that Wacom were the industry standard I stumbled across the Bamboo and decided to take a chance. The price was unbelievable, and as the industry leader I thought that it must be a solid enough option for me to use on a daily basis.
When I received the Bamboo, being a designer I enjoyed the packaging first... Inspecting the product the tablet itself is very solid; it grips very well to the desk. As one review said, the surface isn't completely smooth, but I feel this gives a little friction that helps you rather than hinders. That said, it runs very, very smoothly.
The pen is extremely light, and at first it does feel a little cheap, but once you start using it its very comfortable to hold and works very well indeed. The buttons do seem a little breakable on the pen, if you hold the pen up in the right angle you can almost get the buttons to fall out a little, they don't really have a great button feel either. But again they do work well.
The software provided is brilliant, art rage, although it isn't Photoshop, is great for non-pro and my kids love playing on it. (Yes the tablet is sturdy enough to let the kids have a go!)
Bamboo Scribe is an handwriting recognition alternative to your keyboard, and it works really well - even with my scrawl and spelling problems - although for long documents, and this review, the keyboard is still king.
You also get a voucher to download 1 free software package, although I have not looked into that yet, I think its a choice of 2 packages of software. There is another voucher for 50% off a software package as well.
In Photoshop the pen pressure works wonderfully, and the pen is accurate and a joy to use. Obviously there is no tilt detection that you would get on more expensive models, but for what I need, tilt is not needed...
If you have never used a tablet and want to get one to start you on your way, get this one. If you are a graphic designer and would like to start using a tablet, this is also a great place to start. If you use a large tablet in work or have used one of the higher priced ones before, you might find this one a little disappointing - but it would be great for a cheap portable alternative.
This is a very strong product, and a steal for the price. Get it.
Hope this has helped...
- Rob
www.svgonline.co.uk
Excellent piece of kit, 14 Sep 2008
This is a really good addition to a graphcis programme (I design and make greetings cards), which is why I bought it - but it is so much more useful than that! It replaces a conventional mouse in a very user friendly way and is a lot more comfortable to use too. If only it could make a cup of coffee......?! Easy to set-up and customise - it really is a 'Plug and play'. The Artrage software that comes bundled with it is a cute little programme - good for kiddies and adults. All-in-all great value for money and as usual Amazons service was brilliant.
Not that small, 14 Aug 2008
I bought this initially to plug into my ASUS - Eee PC 701 4G blue (UK version) (I know it's supposed to be a challenge to get it working on Linux). The A6 size seemed perfect for mobile computing but the actual tablet is quite a bit bigger (195 x 197 x 11 mm). Don't fancy lugging it around so it's on my home PC running XP. Using it as a mouse was a bit awkward at the start. The mouse mode was all over the shop so I kept it in pen mode but you have to move your hand to get at the lower right portion of the screen. Changing the tracking area on the tablet solves this but when you come to drawing you'll want to change it back for more precision. Works perfectly, does the job, could have been more portable.
Do you already have a GRAPHICS PROGRAM?, 05 Jul 2008
Great first Tablet BUT, if you already have a graphics program I would consider the regular Bamboo. It only comes with trial software, but looks like it might be a slightly better product (it has a stand, and navigation buttons?)
This is the advice that I wish I'd had!
However, if you are looking for a package with a simple fun graphic program then this one is for you! :)
It's really a lovely little product, and so much better than a mouse!
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Customer Reviews
The best entry level graphics tablet around, 05 Nov 2008
I've had graphics tablets before, but this is by far the best entry-level tablet I have ever used. It was easy to install and set up and I was able to adjust the settings to give me the exact functionality I wanted without reading the manual. I am very pleased indeed with the ease with which it can be used and the substantial gains I get in speed and accuracy over a mouse and also over other tablets - I can get an illustration or animation complete in half the time. I have had the tablet for nearly a year now and it is still working perfectly.
I would highly recommend this product to anyone who would like to try a tablet for the first time and to anyone else who would like a really decent basic tablet at a very good price. It's great - a really super piece of kit!
Bamboo? I think you mean WOOHOO!, 27 Oct 2008
I'm a graphic designer working mostly in vector design, so in adobe illustrator. Recently I have been getting more and more into Photoshop, and I had bought a tablet about 3 years ago maybe a little more, it was the small £20 Trust tablet. What a mistake that was...
I struggled by with the trust, until I completely abandoned it. I really wanted the flexibility of working with the tablet, but knew I wouldn't really use it enough to justify the larger price tags.
So being a tightwad I struggled by with my mouse, while entering endless competitions to try and win a tablet of decent quality. Knowing that Wacom were the industry standard I stumbled across the Bamboo and decided to take a chance. The price was unbelievable, and as the industry leader I thought that it must be a solid enough option for me to use on a daily basis.
When I received the Bamboo, being a designer I enjoyed the packaging first... Inspecting the product the tablet itself is very solid; it grips very well to the desk. As one review said, the surface isn't completely smooth, but I feel this gives a little friction that helps you rather than hinders. That said, it runs very, very smoothly.
The pen is extremely light, and at first it does feel a little cheap, but once you start using it its very comfortable to hold and works very well indeed. The buttons do seem a little breakable on the pen, if you hold the pen up in the right angle you can almost get the buttons to fall out a little, they don't really have a great button feel either. But again they do work well.
The software provided is brilliant, art rage, although it isn't Photoshop, is great for non-pro and my kids love playing on it. (Yes the tablet is sturdy enough to let the kids have a go!)
Bamboo Scribe is an handwriting recognition alternative to your keyboard, and it works really well - even with my scrawl and spelling problems - although for long documents, and this review, the keyboard is still king.
You also get a voucher to download 1 free software package, although I have not looked into that yet, I think its a choice of 2 packages of software. There is another voucher for 50% off a software package as well.
In Photoshop the pen pressure works wonderfully, and the pen is accurate and a joy to use. Obviously there is no tilt detection that you would get on more expensive models, but for what I need, tilt is not needed...
If you have never used a tablet and want to get one to start you on your way, get this one. If you are a graphic designer and would like to start using a tablet, this is also a great place to start. If you use a large tablet in work or have used one of the higher priced ones before, you might find this one a little disappointing - but it would be great for a cheap portable alternative.
This is a very strong product, and a steal for the price. Get it.
Hope this has helped...
- Rob
www.svgonline.co.uk
Excellent piece of kit, 14 Sep 2008
This is a really good addition to a graphcis programme (I design and make greetings cards), which is why I bought it - but it is so much more useful than that! It replaces a conventional mouse in a very user friendly way and is a lot more comfortable to use too. If only it could make a cup of coffee......?! Easy to set-up and customise - it really is a 'Plug and play'. The Artrage software that comes bundled with it is a cute little programme - good for kiddies and adults. All-in-all great value for money and as usual Amazons service was brilliant.
Not that small, 14 Aug 2008
I bought this initially to plug into my ASUS - Eee PC 701 4G blue (UK version) (I know it's supposed to be a challenge to get it working on Linux). The A6 size seemed perfect for mobile computing but the actual tablet is quite a bit bigger (195 x 197 x 11 mm). Don't fancy lugging it around so it's on my home PC running XP. Using it as a mouse was a bit awkward at the start. The mouse mode was all over the shop so I kept it in pen mode but you have to move your hand to get at the lower right portion of the screen. Changing the tracking area on the tablet solves this but when you come to drawing you'll want to change it back for more precision. Works perfectly, does the job, could have been more portable.
Do you already have a GRAPHICS PROGRAM?, 05 Jul 2008
Great first Tablet BUT, if you already have a graphics program I would consider the regular Bamboo. It only comes with trial software, but looks like it might be a slightly better product (it has a stand, and navigation buttons?)
This is the advice that I wish I'd had!
However, if you are looking for a package with a simple fun graphic program then this one is for you! :)
It's really a lovely little product, and so much better than a mouse!
Great piece of kit!, 05 Nov 2008
I have been doing more and more design work on the PC and decided that a graphics tablet would help no end. I used to own a cheap one previously but it was not great and things have moved on.
After much searching and reading reviews I settled on the Bamboo. I have to admit I was sceptical as to the quality & performance given the next nearest tablet in the Wacom range was well over £150, but I need not have worried.
Setup/installation was a breeze (XP), the introductory lessons helpful, and the look and feel of the tablet itself very nice.
Having had it for 2 days, it has almost replaced my mouse completely. Granted I am still getting used to it, there is most definitely a learning curve, but already I've got all the clicking/dragging/scrolling down to (nearly) a fine art.
I have not used the buttons much, I guess I would have preferred some that were obviously supposed to be activated by the pen rather than the finger. The same goes for the scroll pad thing. It does work but a pen activated pad would have been more use in my opinion. That said I find that scrolling using the pen button very easy so dont see myself ever using the scroll pad in future anyway.
Ive not had problems with any software so far. Its great for graphics work in PaintShop Pro X despite not being a huge area, and I have no issues with its pressure sensitivity being too, or not sensitive enough.
For me the pen is a good size and weight (much the same as the pen I write with), and the button is well positioned for thumb operation.
All in all I have to give it a 5 because I dont feel I can knock stars off because it has features I dont much use.
The only negative thing I can say (and it's early days yet) is that your work space will take some organising to get it located just right. I'm seriously considering investing in a keyboard without numeric pad so I can bring the tablet into a better position beside the keyboard and thus reduce the stretch required. With a mouse you can just shuffle the cursor across but with a tablet (any tablet) you have to be able to comfortably reach to its far edge.
As I say, a great bit of kit!
Great Tablet for Vista, 04 Jul 2008
first off, note this tablet has an A5 sized work area, but maps itself to the screen you have (I'm using it on a 27" and its more than fine).
It has 4 customizable buttons, for ease of use I've set mine to load Firefox, MSN Mesenger, Back and Forward buttons for Web / Folder navigation.
You can pretty much map the buttons to what you want, even a series of keystrokes!
This tablet works with both XP and Vista.
For Vista, it's fantastic.
for XP, its good.
Vista gives a lot more options for use, such as holding down the pen to simulate a double-click, handwriting recognition, quick "flicks" of the pen for scroll up / down and Back / Forward etc.
for XP, it's a standard tablet without the above features.
the pen works without batteries, which is a big plus.
"hovering" the pen around 1/2cm above the tablet enables you to move the curor around, tapping the tablet is the equivalent of a mouse click.
Its a little weird to being with, but after about 30 minutes getting used to it, I've found its much quicker (and feels more natural) than using a mouse; Both at work and at home my mouse is now pretty muich redundant!
for art/animation; everything from doodling in Paint to full-on Flash production, this pen is so simple and precise to use.
Simple to install, easy to use, much more precise than using a mouse, this tablet is such good value for money it's unreal. 5 stars.
A revelation for photo editing, 22 Jun 2008
I've using photoshop type programs for years and the high cost of quality tablets put me off buying one until now. Some reviews I read about this product slated it, but I bought one anyway and I'm so glad I did! This thing is amazing once you get used to it. Making selections, dodging and burning etc in Photoshop is so much easier and accurate with this. I haven't used my mouse since I got this a couple months ago. Highly recommended and amazing value for money!
Wacom, Great for PC not MAC, 28 May 2008
despite wacom Saying that you can use this product on a mac. you can only use it with a program that come with OS X called ink. as the included software is only good for windows as there is not the interest for wacom to develop the software for macs (despite selling it in apple shops and doing seminars on there products. I had High hopes for this product but it only scrapes 3 stars as it fails on the handwriting recognition for macs. COME ON PLEASE SUPPORT US MACS
Works well with Photoshop, 28 Mar 2008
I have never used a tablet before, and thanks to your reviews decided on this one. I ordered it yesterday afternoon, and it arrived (first class) this morning - excellent service. I have used it all day and find it very useful alongside my mouse. I am cutting round objects in Photoshop to place on backgrounds and it is definitely easier than a mouse. In fact, I have hardly used the mouse as, whilst the pen is in my hands, it will do most mouse jobs. I am certainly impressed with this and feel it is well worth the money. The comments regarding the comfort of the pen I don't understand. I have small hands and don't have a problem with it. I think it appears well balanced and easy to use.
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Product Description
Surf the web and draw, write and paint on the Bamboo Fun graphics tablet!This graphics tablet lets you touch up your photos, add text or captions and even write personal messages on your images. Thanks to the Bamboo Fun, you can personalise your cards and express yourself freely. Packaged with Adobe Photoshop Elements and ArtRage2, this Wacom tablet will let you discover the many facets of graphics editing. Included software: Adobe Photoshop Elements 5.0 for PC (DE, EN, FR, IT, SP, NL) and ArtRage2 (DE, EN, FR, IT, SP, NL, UK)System requirements: Windows 2000, XP, VistaMac OS X 10.3.9 or laterUSB portDVD-ROM player
Customer Reviews
The best entry level graphics tablet around, 05 Nov 2008
I've had graphics tablets before, but this is by far the best entry-level tablet I have ever used. It was easy to install and set up and I was able to adjust the settings to give me the exact functionality I wanted without reading the manual. I am very pleased indeed with the ease with which it can be used and the substantial gains I get in speed and accuracy over a mouse and also over other tablets - I can get an illustration or animation complete in half the time. I have had the tablet for nearly a year now and it is still working perfectly.
I would highly recommend this product to anyone who would like to try a tablet for the first time and to anyone else who would like a really decent basic tablet at a very good price. It's great - a really super piece of kit!
Bamboo? I think you mean WOOHOO!, 27 Oct 2008
I'm a graphic designer working mostly in vector design, so in adobe illustrator. Recently I have been getting more and more into Photoshop, and I had bought a tablet about 3 years ago maybe a little more, it was the small £20 Trust tablet. What a mistake that was...
I struggled by with the trust, until I completely abandoned it. I really wanted the flexibility of working with the tablet, but knew I wouldn't really use it enough to justify the larger price tags.
So being a tightwad I struggled by with my mouse, while entering endless competitions to try and win a tablet of decent quality. Knowing that Wacom were the industry standard I stumbled across the Bamboo and decided to take a chance. The price was unbelievable, and as the industry leader I thought that it must be a solid enough option for me to use on a daily basis.
When I received the Bamboo, being a designer I enjoyed the packaging first... Inspecting the product the tablet itself is very solid; it grips very well to the desk. As one review said, the surface isn't completely smooth, but I feel this gives a little friction that helps you rather than hinders. That said, it runs very, very smoothly.
The pen is extremely light, and at first it does feel a little cheap, but once you start using it its very comfortable to hold and works very well indeed. The buttons do seem a little breakable on the pen, if you hold the pen up in the right angle you can almost get the buttons to fall out a little, they don't really have a great button feel either. But again they do work well.
The software provided is brilliant, art rage, although it isn't Photoshop, is great for non-pro and my kids love playing on it. (Yes the tablet is sturdy enough to let the kids have a go!)
Bamboo Scribe is an handwriting recognition alternative to your keyboard, and it works really well - even with my scrawl and spelling problems - although for long documents, and this review, the keyboard is still king.
You also get a voucher to download 1 free software package, although I have not looked into that yet, I think its a choice of 2 packages of software. There is another voucher for 50% off a software package as well.
In Photoshop the pen pressure works wonderfully, and the pen is accurate and a joy to use. Obviously there is no tilt detection that you would get on more expensive models, but for what I need, tilt is not needed...
If you have never used a tablet and want to get one to start you on your way, get this one. If you are a graphic designer and would like to start using a tablet, this is also a great place to start. If you use a large tablet in work or have used one of the higher priced ones before, you might find this one a little disappointing - but it would be great for a cheap portable alternative.
This is a very strong product, and a steal for the price. Get it.
Hope this has helped...
- Rob
www.svgonline.co.uk
Excellent piece of kit, 14 Sep 2008
This is a really good addition to a graphcis programme (I design and make greetings cards), which is why I bought it - but it is so much more useful than that! It replaces a conventional mouse in a very user friendly way and is a lot more comfortable to use too. If only it could make a cup of coffee......?! Easy to set-up and customise - it really is a 'Plug and play'. The Artrage software that comes bundled with it is a cute little programme - good for kiddies and adults. All-in-all great value for money and as usual Amazons service was brilliant.
Not that small, 14 Aug 2008
I bought this initially to plug into my ASUS - Eee PC 701 4G blue (UK version) (I know it's supposed to be a challenge to get it working on Linux). The A6 size seemed perfect for mobile computing but the actual tablet is quite a bit bigger (195 x 197 x 11 mm). Don't fancy lugging it around so it's on my home PC running XP. Using it as a mouse was a bit awkward at the start. The mouse mode was all over the shop so I kept it in pen mode but you have to move your hand to get at the lower right portion of the screen. Changing the tracking area on the tablet solves this but when you come to drawing you'll want to change it back for more precision. Works perfectly, does the job, could have been more portable.
Do you already have a GRAPHICS PROGRAM?, 05 Jul 2008
Great first Tablet BUT, if you already have a graphics program I would consider the regular Bamboo. It only comes with trial software, but looks like it might be a slightly better product (it has a stand, and navigation buttons?)
This is the advice that I wish I'd had!
However, if you are looking for a package with a simple fun graphic program then this one is for you! :)
It's really a lovely little product, and so much better than a mouse!
Great piece of kit!, 05 Nov 2008
I have been doing more and more design work on the PC and decided that a graphics tablet would help no end. I used to own a cheap one previously but it was not great and things have moved on.
After much searching and reading reviews I settled on the Bamboo. I have to admit I was sceptical as to the quality & performance given the next nearest tablet in the Wacom range was well over £150, but I need not have worried.
Setup/installation was a breeze (XP), the introductory lessons helpful, and the look and feel of the tablet itself very nice.
Having had it for 2 days, it has almost replaced my mouse completely. Granted I am still getting used to it, there is most definitely a learning curve, but already I've got all the clicking/dragging/scrolling down to (nearly) a fine art.
I have not used the buttons much, I guess I would have preferred some that were obviously supposed to be activated by the pen rather than the finger. The same goes for the scroll pad thing. It does work but a pen activated pad would have been more use in my opinion. That said I find that scrolling using the pen button very easy so dont see myself ever using the scroll pad in future anyway.
Ive not had problems with any software so far. Its great for graphics work in PaintShop Pro X despite not being a huge area, and I have no issues with its pressure sensitivity being too, or not sensitive enough.
For me the pen is a good size and weight (much the same as the pen I write with), and the button is well positioned for thumb operation.
All in all I have to give it a 5 because I dont feel I can knock stars off because it has features I dont much use.
The only negative thing I can say (and it's early days yet) is that your work space will take some organising to get it located just right. I'm seriously considering investing in a keyboard without numeric pad so I can bring the tablet into a better position beside the keyboard and thus reduce the stretch required. With a mouse you can just shuffle the cursor across but with a tablet (any tablet) you have to be able to comfortably reach to its far edge.
As I say, a great bit of kit!
Great Tablet for Vista, 04 Jul 2008
first off, note this tablet has an A5 sized work area, but maps itself to the screen you have (I'm using it on a 27" and its more than fine).
It has 4 customizable buttons, for ease of use I've set mine to load Firefox, MSN Mesenger, Back and Forward buttons for Web / Folder navigation.
You can pretty much map the buttons to what you want, even a series of keystrokes!
This tablet works with both XP and Vista.
For Vista, it's fantastic.
for XP, its good.
Vista gives a lot more options for use, such as holding down the pen to simulate a double-click, handwriting recognition, quick "flicks" of the pen for scroll up / down and Back / Forward etc.
for XP, it's a standard tablet without the above features.
the pen works without batteries, which is a big plus.
"hovering" the pen around 1/2cm above the tablet enables you to move the curor around, tapping the tablet is the equivalent of a mouse click.
Its a little weird to being with, but after about 30 minutes getting used to it, I've found its much quicker (and feels more natural) than using a mouse; Both at work and at home my mouse is now pretty muich redundant!
for art/animation; everything from doodling in Paint to full-on Flash production, this pen is so simple and precise to use.
Simple to install, easy to use, much more precise than using a mouse, this tablet is such good value for money it's unreal. 5 stars.
A revelation for photo editing, 22 Jun 2008
I've using photoshop type programs for years and the high cost of quality tablets put me off buying one until now. Some reviews I read about this product slated it, but I bought one anyway and I'm so glad I did! This thing is amazing once you get used to it. Making selections, dodging and burning etc in Photoshop is so much easier and accurate with this. I haven't used my mouse since I got this a couple months ago. Highly recommended and amazing value for money!
Wacom, Great for PC not MAC, 28 May 2008
despite wacom Saying that you can use this product on a mac. you can only use it with a program that come with OS X called ink. as the included software is only good for windows as there is not the interest for wacom to develop the software for macs (despite selling it in apple shops and doing seminars on there products. I had High hopes for this product but it only scrapes 3 stars as it fails on the handwriting recognition for macs. COME ON PLEASE SUPPORT US MACS
Works well with Photoshop, 28 Mar 2008
I have never used a tablet before, and thanks to your reviews decided on this one. I ordered it yesterday afternoon, and it arrived (first class) this morning - excellent service. I have used it all day and find it very useful alongside my mouse. I am cutting round objects in Photoshop to place on backgrounds and it is definitely easier than a mouse. In fact, I have hardly used the mouse as, whilst the pen is in my hands, it will do most mouse jobs. I am certainly impressed with this and feel it is well worth the money. The comments regarding the comfort of the pen I don't understand. I have small hands and don't have a problem with it. I think it appears well balanced and easy to use.
Bamboo Fun - Linux User, 26 Oct 2008
I am a long time computer user in need of a solution for the gradual onset of RSI as well as improving photography manipulation via the Gimp. My current set up is Linux Ubuntu, Hardy Heron.
I had a few concerns regarding about setting up the tablet on Linux, having read many threads on the process required, but decided to take the plunge.
Setting up the tablet on Linux was not simple, but with so many useful pages to visit I eventually managed to get up and running.
Wow. Why didn't I do this years ago. I haven't touched the mouse for three days and what a difference. The pain in my forearm is now a distant memory, even after such a sort space of time.
Photo manipulation is awesome. As mentioned above, I use the Gimp, and it works like a dream. Have been busy doing some post processing, and it is so much easier. It has always been a struggle to select areas of photographs with the mouse. With the tablet it is a breeze.
I would recommend this tablet to anyone with the same problems I had.
Take the tablet and feel better, 19 Apr 2008
This is the first tablet I have used and it is making life a lot easier, as I have problems with my muscles and using my hands so the mouse is now almost redundant. The "artrage" software is a lot of fun and easy to use, so all in all it has been an excellent buy.
First Tablet and Impressed :), 02 Mar 2008
Bought this as i started doing a bit more work with adobe illustrator and flash, and was finding drawing with the mouse really annoying and tedious. I got it today, and i havnt even used the mouse since! takes a little while to get used to, but i find i can do tasks so much faster :) Navigating round the desktop is so fast and i have done more animation today since i got it than in 2 weeks :) Works out of the box, but installed the driver anyway. The zoom pad at the top of the tablet is an excellent feature and the other keys are very useful. Works excellently with all applications ive tried, inc. flash CS3 and Illustrator cs3. The A5 screen is more than big enough and the stylus feels good (a good size and weight). I have only had it for a day so far, and this is my first tablet, so things might change but i would definately recommend so far.
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Product Description
Surf the web and draw, write and paint on the Bamboo Fun graphics tablet!This graphics tablet lets you touch up your photos, add text or captions and even write personal messages on your images. Thanks to the Bamboo Fun, you can personalise your cards and express yourself freely. Packaged with Adobe Photoshop Elements and ArtRage2, this Wacom tablet will let you discover the many facets of graphics editing. Included software: Adobe Photoshop Elements 5.0 for PC (DE, EN, FR, IT, SP, NL) and ArtRage2 (DE, EN, FR, IT, SP, NL, UK)System requirements: Windows 2000, XP, VistaMac OS X 10.3.9 or laterUSB portDVD-ROM player
Customer Reviews
The best entry level graphics tablet around, 05 Nov 2008
I've had graphics tablets before, but this is by far the best entry-level tablet I have ever used. It was easy to install and set up and I was able to adjust the settings to give me the exact functionality I wanted without reading the manual. I am very pleased indeed with the ease with which it can be used and the substantial gains I get in speed and accuracy over a mouse and also over other tablets - I can get an illustration or animation complete in half the time. I have had the tablet for nearly a year now and it is still working perfectly.
I would highly recommend this product to anyone who would like to try a tablet for the first time and to anyone else who would like a really decent basic tablet at a very good price. It's great - a really super piece of kit!
Bamboo? I think you mean WOOHOO!, 27 Oct 2008
I'm a graphic designer working mostly in vector design, so in adobe illustrator. Recently I have been getting more and more into Photoshop, and I had bought a tablet about 3 years ago maybe a little more, it was the small £20 Trust tablet. What a mistake that was...
I struggled by with the trust, until I completely abandoned it. I really wanted the flexibility of working with the tablet, but knew I wouldn't really use it enough to justify the larger price tags.
So being a tightwad I struggled by with my mouse, while entering endless competitions to try and win a tablet of decent quality. Knowing that Wacom were the industry standard I stumbled across the Bamboo and decided to take a chance. The price was unbelievable, and as the industry leader I thought that it must be a solid enough option for me to use on a daily basis.
When I received the Bamboo, being a designer I enjoyed the packaging first... Inspecting the product the tablet itself is very solid; it grips very well to the desk. As one review said, the surface isn't completely smooth, but I feel this gives a little friction that helps you rather than hinders. That said, it runs very, very smoothly.
The pen is extremely light, and at first it does feel a little cheap, but once you start using it its very comfortable to hold and works very well indeed. The buttons do seem a little breakable on the pen, if you hold the pen up in the right angle you can almost get the buttons to fall out a little, they don't really have a great button feel either. But again they do work well.
The software provided is brilliant, art rage, although it isn't Photoshop, is great for non-pro and my kids love playing on it. (Yes the tablet is sturdy enough to let the kids have a go!)
Bamboo Scribe is an handwriting recognition alternative to your keyboard, and it works really well - even with my scrawl and spelling problems - although for long documents, and this review, the keyboard is still king.
You also get a voucher to download 1 free software package, although I have not looked into that yet, I think its a choice of 2 packages of software. There is another voucher for 50% off a software package as well.
In Photoshop the pen pressure works wonderfully, and the pen is accurate and a joy to use. Obviously there is no tilt detection that you would get on more expensive models, but for what I need, tilt is not needed...
If you have never used a tablet and want to get one to start you on your way, get this one. If you are a graphic designer and would like to start using a tablet, this is also a great place to start. If you use a large tablet in work or have used one of the higher priced ones before, you might find this one a little disappointing - but it would be great for a cheap portable alternative.
This is a very strong product, and a steal for the price. Get it.
Hope this has helped...
- Rob
www.svgonline.co.uk
Excellent piece of kit, 14 Sep 2008
This is a really good addition to a graphcis programme (I design and make greetings cards), which is why I bought it - but it is so much more useful than that! It replaces a conventional mouse in a very user friendly way and is a lot more comfortable to use too. If only it could make a cup of coffee......?! Easy to set-up and customise - it really is a 'Plug and play'. The Artrage software that comes bundled with it is a cute little programme - good for kiddies and adults. All-in-all great value for money and as usual Amazons service was brilliant.
Not that small, 14 Aug 2008
I bought this initially to plug into my ASUS - Eee PC 701 4G blue (UK version) (I know it's supposed to be a challenge to get it working on Linux). The A6 size seemed perfect for mobile computing but the actual tablet is quite a bit bigger (195 x 197 x 11 mm). Don't fancy lugging it around so it's on my home PC running XP. Using it as a mouse was a bit awkward at the start. The mouse mode was all over the shop so I kept it in pen mode but you have to move your hand to get at the lower right portion of the screen. Changing the tracking area on the tablet solves this but when you come to drawing you'll want to change it back for more precision. Works perfectly, does the job, could have been more portable.
Do you already have a GRAPHICS PROGRAM?, 05 Jul 2008
Great first Tablet BUT, if you already have a graphics program I would consider the regular Bamboo. It only comes with trial software, but looks like it might be a slightly better product (it has a stand, and navigation buttons?)
This is the advice that I wish I'd had!
However, if you are looking for a package with a simple fun graphic program then this one is for you! :)
It's really a lovely little product, and so much better than a mouse!
Great piece of kit!, 05 Nov 2008
I have been doing more and more design work on the PC and decided that a graphics tablet would help no end. I used to own a cheap one previously but it was not great and things have moved on.
After much searching and reading reviews I settled on the Bamboo. I have to admit I was sceptical as to the quality & performance given the next nearest tablet in the Wacom range was well over £150, but I need not have worried.
Setup/installation was a breeze (XP), the introductory lessons helpful, and the look and feel of the tablet itself very nice.
Having had it for 2 days, it has almost replaced my mouse completely. Granted I am still getting used to it, there is most definitely a learning curve, but already I've got all the clicking/dragging/scrolling down to (nearly) a fine art.
I have not used the buttons much, I guess I would have preferred some that were obviously supposed to be activated by the pen rather than the finger. The same goes for the scroll pad thing. It does work but a pen activated pad would have been more use in my opinion. That said I find that scrolling using the pen button very easy so dont see myself ever using the scroll pad in future anyway.
Ive not had problems with any software so far. Its great for graphics work in PaintShop Pro X despite not being a huge area, and I have no issues with its pressure sensitivity being too, or not sensitive enough.
For me the pen is a good size and weight (much the same as the pen I write with), and the button is well positioned for thumb operation.
All in all I have to give it a 5 because I dont feel I can knock stars off because it has features I dont much use.
The only negative thing I can say (and it's early days yet) is that your work space will take some organising to get it located just right. I'm seriously considering investing in a keyboard without numeric pad so I can bring the tablet into a better position beside the keyboard and thus reduce the stretch required. With a mouse you can just shuffle the cursor across but with a tablet (any tablet) you have to be able to comfortably reach to its far edge.
As I say, a great bit of kit!
Great Tablet for Vista, 04 Jul 2008
first off, note this tablet has an A5 sized work area, but maps itself to the screen you have (I'm using it on a 27" and its more than fine).
It has 4 customizable buttons, for ease of use I've set mine to load Firefox, MSN Mesenger, Back and Forward buttons for Web / Folder navigation.
You can pretty much map the buttons to what you want, even a series of keystrokes!
This tablet works with both XP and Vista.
For Vista, it's fantastic.
for XP, its good.
Vista gives a lot more options for use, such as holding down the pen to simulate a double-click, handwriting recognition, quick "flicks" of the pen for scroll up / down and Back / Forward etc.
for XP, it's a standard tablet without the above features.
the pen works without batteries, which is a big plus.
"hovering" the pen around 1/2cm above the tablet enables you to move the curor around, tapping the tablet is the equivalent of a mouse click.
Its a little weird to being with, but after about 30 minutes getting used to it, I've found its much quicker (and feels more natural) than using a mouse; Both at work and at home my mouse is now pretty muich redundant!
for art/animation; everything from doodling in Paint to full-on Flash production, this pen is so simple and precise to use.
Simple to install, easy to use, much more precise than using a mouse, this tablet is such good value for money it's unreal. 5 stars.
A revelation for photo editing, 22 Jun 2008
I've using photoshop type programs for years and the high cost of quality tablets put me off buying one until now. Some reviews I read about this product slated it, but I bought one anyway and I'm so glad I did! This thing is amazing once you get used to it. Making selections, dodging and burning etc in Photoshop is so much easier and accurate with this. I haven't used my mouse since I got this a couple months ago. Highly recommended and amazing value for money!
Wacom, Great for PC not MAC, 28 May 2008
despite wacom Saying that you can use this product on a mac. you can only use it with a program that come with OS X called ink. as the included software is only good for windows as there is not the interest for wacom to develop the software for macs (despite selling it in apple shops and doing seminars on there products. I had High hopes for this product but it only scrapes 3 stars as it fails on the handwriting recognition for macs. COME ON PLEASE SUPPORT US MACS
Works well with Photoshop, 28 Mar 2008
I have never used a tablet before, and thanks to your reviews decided on this one. I ordered it yesterday afternoon, and it arrived (first class) this morning - excellent service. I have used it all day and find it very useful alongside my mouse. I am cutting round objects in Photoshop to place on backgrounds and it is definitely easier than a mouse. In fact, I have hardly used the mouse as, whilst the pen is in my hands, it will do most mouse jobs. I am certainly impressed with this and feel it is well worth the money. The comments regarding the comfort of the pen I don't understand. I have small hands and don't have a problem with it. I think it appears well balanced and easy to use.
Bamboo Fun - Linux User, 26 Oct 2008
I am a long time computer user in need of a solution for the gradual onset of RSI as well as improving photography manipulation via the Gimp. My current set up is Linux Ubuntu, Hardy Heron.
I had a few concerns regarding about setting up the tablet on Linux, having read many threads on the process required, but decided to take the plunge.
Setting up the tablet on Linux was not simple, but with so many useful pages to visit I eventually managed to get up and running.
Wow. Why didn't I do this years ago. I haven't touched the mouse for three days and what a difference. The pain in my forearm is now a distant memory, even after such a sort space of time.
Photo manipulation is awesome. As mentioned above, I use the Gimp, and it works like a dream. Have been busy doing some post processing, and it is so much easier. It has always been a struggle to select areas of photographs with the mouse. With the tablet it is a breeze.
I would recommend this tablet to anyone with the same problems I had.
Take the tablet and feel better, 19 Apr 2008
This is the first tablet I have used and it is making life a lot easier, as I have problems with my muscles and using my hands so the mouse is now almost redundant. The "artrage" software is a lot of fun and easy to use, so all in all it has been an excellent buy.
First Tablet and Impressed :), 02 Mar 2008
Bought this as i started doing a bit more work with adobe illustrator and flash, and was finding drawing with the mouse really annoying and tedious. I got it today, and i havnt even used the mouse since! takes a little while to get used to, but i find i can do tasks so much faster :) Navigating round the desktop is so fast and i have done more animation today since i got it than in 2 weeks :) Works out of the box, but installed the driver anyway. The zoom pad at the top of the tablet is an excellent feature and the other keys are very useful. Works excellently with all applications ive tried, inc. flash CS3 and Illustrator cs3. The A5 screen is more than big enough and the stylus feels good (a good size and weight). I have only had it for a day so far, and this is my first tablet, so things might change but i would definately recommend so far.
wacom bamboo with zbrush, tv paint and toonboom studio, 01 Sep 2008
I bought the wacom bamboo medium [A5 size] for use with ZBrush 3.1 mainly and have to say it's wonderful and much better than my old wacom A6 slate, i find the size of the tablet is just about right as i like to have the tablet/pen 'available' on my desk and so it's no too large that it takes over the space on my desk where mu mouse goes..i can use both with no hassle.
A larger tablet, like the intuos A5> has a much larger surroud area or an A4 tablet may have to be stored away when not in use.
using in on my 24" screen is fine [HD size res screen]..sure there's abit of traveling from one corner to another but the A6 size works well and is of high enough res to sculpt in zbrush without a hitch.
I also use the bamboo medium tablet on occasion with my laptop with it's screen res at 1200x800 and it works just as well with zbrush, tv paint and toonboom stuido.
overall it's a great device and well worth the money, it also comes bundled with some apps as well which is a nice touch to get epople up n running with a pen enabled paint app.
the tablet also ships with spare nibs though there's no nib replacement tool bundled..i just used my HP tablet pc's pen tool or you could use some small nose pliers for the task also.
5 Stars for value from me.
...but how is it compared to the Intuos range?, 18 Dec 2007
I'm not going to bark on about how great it is. Other people have done that for me.
Instead i thought i'd answer a question i wanted to know before i bought it, ie how does it compare to the pricier sibling, the Intuos 3 range.
While i don't actually own a Wacom Intuos 3 i've used one extensively during freelance work for a couple of companies in london. I needed one simply to carry on the work from home without pilfering one of theirs. I sure there are stats somewhere to prove me wrong but this is my opinion.
Apart from the obvious price difference (around £90 for the A5 Intuos) one reason i considered the bamboo is because of it's size. The area surrounding the Intuos' touch pad is rather large and tends to dominate your entire desk area. Some people may prefer this, it gives your wrists somewhere to rest which i could imagine would be preferable for extended use. But for someone like me who uses it briefly the size of the bamboo is just about perfect, especially given that it has exactly the same touch pad size (A5). Plus it fits snuggly next to my monitor when not in use.
So what are the comprimises? Well, out of the box, there is a very slight lack of quality compared to the Intuos. It's difficult to put my finger on but i guess it would be a combination of several small factors. The bamboo feels vaguely light weight (i don't think i'm the only one who sub-consciously equates quality with weight) and lacks the silky smooth laminate finish, the pen lacks the firm rubber and the weight of the Intuos' and, when pen is touched to pad, the bamboo feels a little like a "scrape" compared to the Intuos' "wipe". I think it's safe to say, however, that compared to the cheaper alternative out there, the bamboo still oozes quality hence why i gave it 4 out of 5. Remember, i'm only doing a subjective comparison of the two pads.
Common to the Intuos, the bamboo has 4 main assignable buttons plus a "touch ring" commonly assigned to zooming and scrolling. The Intuos actually has 4 buttons per side allowing for both left and right hand use, but i believe these buttons can all be assigned differenct keystrokes/functions actually rendering the Intuos with 8 assignable buttons. You're unlikely to reach over your drawing hand to use them when the keyboard is right in front of you, but having the buttons down the side felt more logical to me as you generally sit with your hands side by side.
The software for both pads share many similar functions like "tip firmness", "double-click speed" etc but i believe the Intuos' software is more flexible allowing the button functions to change depending on the application being used plus button assignment options are more extensive. Given that i rarely, if ever, used these functions i really don't miss them.
So far so good, but how's the Bamboo in use?
Well the first thing i noticed was the different feel. Mentioned earlier, the bamboo feels a little rough when moving the pen over the pad. This may be because it's brand new and it's not a particularly big issue, but worth a mention. I started by loading up a blank white page in photoshop and just scribbling. To my horror, the bamboo jolted sideways at one point leaving a perfectly horizontal notch in my otherwise smooth line. On further investigation i realised that this was due to a the computer simply catching up with itself. The problem has not occured since.
In motion I'm pleased to report that the Bamboo exhibits all the directional sensitivity of the Intuos with, as far as i could tell, three differences:
The first being the distance in which you can move the pen away from the pad while still controlling the mouse pointer. I may be wrong and there may be figures to disprove me but i reckon the Bamboo pen maintains control of the mouse up to about 9-10mm off the touch pad. I can't be sure, but it felt like a noticeably shorter distance than that of the Intuos. All this really means is that, when you're moving your pointer around the screen using the pen, if your pen reaches a certain distance away from the pad your mouse pointer stops dead onscreen. It takes a little getting used to but, again, it's no major problem.
The second difference i noticed was the minimum pressure that the pen would "draw" with. To test this i set up a blank photoshop document with a brush that increased in size the more pressure that was used. With the Intuos, by merely touching the pad with the pen a line would be drawn, albeit a very thin one. The Bamboo pen can be touched to the pad lightly without any line being drawn until a small amount of pressure is applied, at which point the brush in photoshop seems to "kick in" at a given size. This leads me to believe that the Bamboo cannot go below a given pressure threshold rendering it's pressure guage less sensitive than the Intuos'. I don't believe the Bamboo pen was designed to be dragged over the pad to simply move the mouse around as the pressure needed to actually start drawing is too slight.
The third difference doesn't affect me but i presume it's quite important to certain artists and that is the Bamboo's lack of tilt. The intuoso measures the angle of the pen on the pad to increase tactility.
Anyway, like i said, this is purely a comparison with the Intuos. If any of the above sounds like it'd bother you or you need a tablet to use on a daily basis then go for the Intuos. Otherwise the Bamboo is a perfectly good alternative for personal and, in most cases, professional use. I noticed another review insinuated that the software is slightly complex but the Bamboo works fine once the drivers are installed and there's no need to go in and tweak the settings unless you want to change the default button functions etc.
Absolutely great!, 02 Dec 2007
I have a Wacom Bamboo Fun Medium Graphics Tablet, and I'm using it to creat digital artworks, this tablet is one of the best tablets in the market taking in consideration its price!
It has many features like zooming, scrolling, thickness control, etc.
and it's compatible with Windows Vista input panel system..
Moreover, it comes with two good photo editing programs: AdobePhotoShop Elements and ArtRage2..
The bottom line.. it is reliable, light, easy to use, and worth every penny!
Not just for FUN, 09 Nov 2007
The FUN branding on this product made me think it was consumer orientated and I've held back buying it for a while. However, it has everything I need in a tablet and it is such an improvement from using a mouse.
The accuracy is spot on and the pressure sensitive nib comes into its own when you're trying to do detailed work and don't want to keep changing brush sizes all the time. The bundled software seems OK but I didn't install anything other than the drivers which work great on OS X 10.4 and 10.5.
One thing to note is that if you have two monitors it works across both - seems logical but means each screen only uses half of the tablet. Still, it's not a problem.
If you use Photoshop you need this tablet.
Definitely for advanced users, not so much for the rest of us, 13 Oct 2007
This is a peripheral that has complex capabilities and permits to perform a variety of functions related to digital photos and graphics. There are two parts to this product, the actual physical tablet and the software included. The tablet allows using a pen that has the functionality of a mouse and more, including right and left click buttons. Handling the pen is a little awkward at first, especially because the starting point of the pen on the tablet alters the initial positioning of the cursor on the screen. This definitely makes sense, since it is necessary for being able to draw on the tablet using a set point of reference, but if you are using the pen for normal mouse functions, it takes a while to get used to. The mouse provided has the typical functionalities of a wireless mouse and does not provide any benefits beyond this. There are also customizable buttons on the tablet, similar to the hot keys you have on your keyboard for browsing the web, accessing your email, etc. One in particular allows for zooming in and out, which is very handy when working on pictures trying to perfect them.
The software provided with the product is pretty advanced too, and maybe this should have given me a hint regarding how user friendly the product was for novices. Corel allows creating artwork and has a variety of tools at your disposal. This is where I found the pen to be most useful, and I even tried creating handwritten notes, being reasonably successful. Photoshop provides tools to improve your digital photos and alter them in creative ways. My experience with this software is limited, so I had a hard time extracting serious benefits from using the tablet in this environment. I can see though, how professionals or serious users would benefit from using the pen and tablet to alter pictures. In my case, I could see the usefulness of Photoshop, especially with the nik Color Efex add on, but I did not understand how to incorporate the tablet usage in this process.
The installation of the drivers for the hardware and the software suite was straightforward and even though it took a few minutes, it was completely hassle free. I think Bamboo could definitely improve their User Guide with further ideas on how to use the tools in combination with the tablet. Overall, I believe that advanced users will find this peripheral very useful, but the rest of us are likely to be overwhelmed by its complexity.
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Aiptek Slim Tablet 600U
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Product Description
Technical DataInput Device / TypeStylusTechnical DataInput Device / Form FactorExternalTechnical DataInput Device / Connectivity TechnologyWiredTechnical DataDimensions & Weight / Widthcm30.6Technical DataDimensions & Weight / Depthcm25.7Technical DataDimensions & Weight / Heightcm0.1Technical DataDimensions & Weight / Weightkg0.6Technical DataSystem Requirements / OS RequiredMicrosoft Windows XP SP2Technical DataHeader / Product LineAiptek Slim TabletTechnical DataHeader / Model600UTechnical DataHeader / CompatibilityPCTechnical DataHeader / ManufacturerAIPTEKTechnical DataHeader / Packaged Quantity1Technical DataInput Device / Interface (DB)USB
Customer Reviews
The best entry level graphics tablet around, 05 Nov 2008
I've had graphics tablets before, but this is by far the best entry-level tablet I have ever used. It was easy to install and set up and I was able to adjust the settings to give me the exact functionality I wanted without reading the manual. I am very pleased indeed with the ease with which it can be used and the substantial gains I get in speed and accuracy over a mouse and also over other tablets - I can get an illustration or animation complete in half the time. I have had the tablet for nearly a year now and it is still working perfectly.
I would highly recommend this product to anyone who would like to try a tablet for the first time and to anyone else who would like a really decent basic tablet at a very good price. It's great - a really super piece of kit!
Bamboo? I think you mean WOOHOO!, 27 Oct 2008
I'm a graphic designer working mostly in vector design, so in adobe illustrator. Recently I have been getting more and more into Photoshop, and I had bought a tablet about 3 years ago maybe a little more, it was the small £20 Trust tablet. What a mistake that was...
I struggled by with the trust, until I completely abandoned it. I really wanted the flexibility of working with the tablet, but knew I wouldn't really use it enough to justify the larger price tags.
So being a tightwad I struggled by with my mouse, while entering endless competitions to try and win a tablet of decent quality. Knowing that Wacom were the industry standard I stumbled across the Bamboo and decided to take a chance. The price was unbelievable, and as the industry leader I thought that it must be a solid enough option for me to use on a daily basis.
When I received the Bamboo, being a designer I enjoyed the packaging first... Inspecting the product the tablet itself is very solid; it grips very well to the desk. As one review said, the surface isn't completely smooth, but I feel this gives a little friction that helps you rather than hinders. That said, it runs very, very smoothly.
The pen is extremely light, and at first it does feel a little cheap, but once you start using it its very comfortable to hold and works very well indeed. The buttons do seem a little breakable on the pen, if you hold the pen up in the right angle you can almost get the buttons to fall out a little, they don't really have a great button feel either. But again they do work well.
The software provided is brilliant, art rage, although it isn't Photoshop, is great for non-pro and my kids love playing on it. (Yes the tablet is sturdy enough to let the kids have a go!)
Bamboo Scribe is an handwriting recognition alternative to your keyboard, and it works really well - even with my scrawl and spelling problems - although for long documents, and this review, the keyboard is still king.
You also get a voucher to download 1 free software package, although I have not looked into that yet, I think its a choice of 2 packages of software. There is another voucher for 50% off a software package as well.
In Photoshop the pen pressure works wonderfully, and the pen is accurate and a joy to use. Obviously there is no tilt detection that you would get on more expensive models, but for what I need, tilt is not needed...
If you have never used a tablet and want to get one to start you on your way, get this one. If you are a graphic designer and would like to start using a tablet, this is also a great place to start. If you use a large tablet in work or have used one of the higher priced ones before, you might find this one a little disappointing - but it would be great for a cheap portable alternative.
This is a very strong product, and a steal for the price. Get it.
Hope this has helped...
- Rob
www.svgonline.co.uk
Excellent piece of kit, 14 Sep 2008
This is a really good addition to a graphcis programme (I design and make greetings cards), which is why I bought it - but it is so much more useful than that! It replaces a conventional mouse in a very user friendly way and is a lot more comfortable to use too. If only it could make a cup of coffee......?! Easy to set-up and customise - it really is a 'Plug and play'. The Artrage software that comes bundled with it is a cute little programme - good for kiddies and adults. All-in-all great value for money and as usual Amazons service was brilliant.
Not that small, 14 Aug 2008
I bought this initially to plug into my ASUS - Eee PC 701 4G blue (UK version) (I know it's supposed to be a challenge to get it working on Linux). The A6 size seemed perfect for mobile computing but the actual tablet is quite a bit bigger (195 x 197 x 11 mm). Don't fancy lugging it around so it's on my home PC running XP. Using it as a mouse was a bit awkward at the start. The mouse mode was all over the shop so I kept it in pen mode but you have to move your hand to get at the lower right portion of the screen. Changing the tracking area on the tablet solves this but when you come to drawing you'll want to change it back for more precision. Works perfectly, does the job, could have been more portable.
Do you already have a GRAPHICS PROGRAM?, 05 Jul 2008
Great first Tablet BUT, if you already have a graphics program I would consider the regular Bamboo. It only comes with trial software, but looks like it might be a slightly better product (it has a stand, and navigation buttons?)
This is the advice that I wish I'd had!
However, if you are looking for a package with a simple fun graphic program then this one is for you! :)
It's really a lovely little product, and so much better than a mouse!
Great piece of kit!, 05 Nov 2008
I have been doing more and more design work on the PC and decided that a graphics tablet would help no end. I used to own a cheap one previously but it was not great and things have moved on.
After much searching and reading reviews I settled on the Bamboo. I have to admit I was sceptical as to the quality & performance given the next nearest tablet in the Wacom range was well over £150, but I need not have worried.
Setup/installation was a breeze (XP), the introductory lessons helpful, and the look and feel of the tablet itself very nice.
Having had it for 2 days, it has almost replaced my mouse completely. Granted I am still getting used to it, there is most definitely a learning curve, but already I've got all the clicking/dragging/scrolling down to (nearly) a fine art.
I have not used the buttons much, I guess I would have preferred some that were obviously supposed to be activated by the pen rather than the finger. The same goes for the scroll pad thing. It does work but a pen activated pad would have been more use in my opinion. That said I find that scrolling using the pen button very easy so dont see myself ever using the scroll pad in future anyway.
Ive not had problems with any software so far. Its great for graphics work in PaintShop Pro X despite not being a huge area, and I have no issues with its pressure sensitivity being too, or not sensitive enough.
For me the pen is a good size and weight (much the same as the pen I write with), and the button is well positioned for thumb operation.
All in all I have to give it a 5 because I dont feel I can knock stars off because it has features I dont much use.
The only negative thing I can say (and it's early days yet) is that your work space will take some organising to get it located just right. I'm seriously considering investing in a keyboard without numeric pad so I can bring the tablet into a better position beside the keyboard and thus reduce the stretch required. With a mouse you can just shuffle the cursor across but with a tablet (any tablet) you have to be able to comfortably reach to its far edge.
As I say, a great bit of kit!
Great Tablet for Vista, 04 Jul 2008
first off, note this tablet has an A5 sized work area, but maps itself to the screen you have (I'm using it on a 27" and its more than fine).
It has 4 customizable buttons, for ease of use I've set mine to load Firefox, MSN Mesenger, Back and Forward buttons for Web / Folder navigation.
You can pretty much map the buttons to what you want, even a series of keystrokes!
This tablet works with both XP and Vista.
For Vista, it's fantastic.
for XP, its good.
Vista gives a lot more options for use, such as holding down the pen to simulate a double-click, handwriting recognition, quick "flicks" of the pen for scroll up / down and Back / Forward etc.
for XP, it's a standard tablet without the above features.
the pen works without batteries, which is a big plus.
"hovering" the pen around 1/2cm above the tablet enables you to move the curor around, tapping the tablet is the equivalent of a mouse click.
Its a little weird to being with, but after about 30 minutes getting used to it, I've found its much quicker (and feels more natural) than using a mouse; Both at work and at home my mouse is now pretty muich redundant!
for art/animation; everything from doodling in Paint to full-on Flash production, this pen is so simple and precise to use.
Simple to install, easy to use, much more precise than using a mouse, this tablet is such good value for money it's unreal. 5 stars.
A revelation for photo editing, 22 Jun 2008
I've using photoshop type programs for years and the high cost of quality tablets put me off buying one until now. Some reviews I read about this product slated it, but I bought one anyway and I'm so glad I did! This thing is amazing once you get used to it. Making selections, dodging and burning etc in Photoshop is so much easier and accurate with this. I haven't used my mouse since I got this a couple months ago. Highly recommended and amazing value for money!
Wacom, Great for PC not MAC, 28 May 2008
despite wacom Saying that you can use this product on a mac. you can only use it with a program that come with OS X called ink. as the included software is only good for windows as there is not the interest for wacom to develop the software for macs (despite selling it in apple shops and doing seminars on there products. I had High hopes for this product but it only scrapes 3 stars as it fails on the handwriting recognition for macs. COME ON PLEASE SUPPORT US MACS
Works well with Photoshop, 28 Mar 2008
I have never used a tablet before, and thanks to your reviews decided on this one. I ordered it yesterday afternoon, and it arrived (first class) this morning - excellent service. I have used it all day and find it very useful alongside my mouse. I am cutting round objects in Photoshop to place on backgrounds and it is definitely easier than a mouse. In fact, I have hardly used the mouse as, whilst the pen is in my hands, it will do most mouse jobs. I am certainly impressed with this and feel it is well worth the money. The comments regarding the comfort of the pen I don't understand. I have small hands and don't have a problem with it. I think it appears well balanced and easy to use.
Bamboo Fun - Linux User, 26 Oct 2008
I am a long time computer user in need of a solution for the gradual onset of RSI as well as improving photography manipulation via the Gimp. My current set up is Linux Ubuntu, Hardy Heron.
I had a few concerns regarding about setting up the tablet on Linux, having read many threads on the process required, but decided to take the plunge.
Setting up the tablet on Linux was not simple, but with so many useful pages to visit I eventually managed to get up and running.
Wow. Why didn't I do this years ago. I haven't touched the mouse for three days and what a difference. The pain in my forearm is now a distant memory, even after such a sort space of time.
Photo manipulation is awesome. As mentioned above, I use the Gimp, and it works like a dream. Have been busy doing some post processing, and it is so much easier. It has always been a struggle to select areas of photographs with the mouse. With the tablet it is a breeze.
I would recommend this tablet to anyone with the same problems I had.
Take the tablet and feel better, 19 Apr 2008
This is the first tablet I have used and it is making life a lot easier, as I have problems with my muscles and using my hands so the mouse is now almost redundant. The "artrage" software is a lot of fun and easy to use, so all in all it has been an excellent buy.
First Tablet and Impressed :), 02 Mar 2008
Bought this as i started doing a bit more work with adobe illustrator and flash, and was finding drawing with the mouse really annoying and tedious. I got it today, and i havnt even used the mouse since! takes a little while to get used to, but i find i can do tasks so much faster :) Navigating round the desktop is so fast and i have done more animation today since i got it than in 2 weeks :) Works out of the box, but installed the driver anyway. The zoom pad at the top of the tablet is an excellent feature and the other keys are very useful. Works excellently with all applications ive tried, inc. flash CS3 and Illustrator cs3. The A5 screen is more than big enough and the stylus feels good (a good size and weight). I have only had it for a day so far, and this is my first tablet, so things might change but i would definately recommend so far.
wacom bamboo with zbrush, tv paint and toonboom studio, 01 Sep 2008
I bought the wacom bamboo medium [A5 size] for use with ZBrush 3.1 mainly and have to say it's wonderful and much better than my old wacom A6 slate, i find the size of the tablet is just about right as i like to have the tablet/pen 'available' on my desk and so it's no too large that it takes over the space on my desk where mu mouse goes..i can use both with no hassle.
A larger tablet, like the intuos A5> has a much larger surroud area or an A4 tablet may have to be stored away when not in use.
using in on my 24" screen is fine [HD size res screen]..sure there's abit of traveling from one corner to another but the A6 size works well and is of high enough res to sculpt in zbrush without a hitch.
I also use the bamboo medium tablet on occasion with my laptop with it's screen res at 1200x800 and it works just as well with zbrush, tv paint and toonboom stuido.
overall it's a great device and well worth the money, it also comes bundled with some apps as well which is a nice touch to get epople up n running with a pen enabled paint app.
the tablet also ships with spare nibs though there's no nib replacement tool bundled..i just used my HP tablet pc's pen tool or you could use some small nose pliers for the task also.
5 Stars for value from me.
...but how is it compared to the Intuos range?, 18 Dec 2007
I'm not going to bark on about how great it is. Other people have done that for me.
Instead i thought i'd answer a question i wanted to know before i bought it, ie how does it compare to the pricier sibling, the Intuos 3 range.
While i don't actually own a Wacom Intuos 3 i've used one extensively during freelance work for a couple of companies in london. I needed one simply to carry on the work from home without pilfering one of theirs. I sure there are stats somewhere to prove me wrong but this is my opinion.
Apart from the obvious price difference (around £90 for the A5 Intuos) one reason i considered the bamboo is because of it's size. The area surrounding the Intuos' touch pad is rather large and tends to dominate your entire desk area. Some people may prefer this, it gives your wrists somewhere to rest which i could imagine would be preferable for extended use. But for someone like me who uses it briefly the size of the bamboo is just about perfect, especially given that it has exactly the same touch pad size (A5). Plus it fits snuggly next to my monitor when not in use.
So what are the comprimises? Well, out of the box, there is a very slight lack of quality compared to the Intuos. It's difficult to put my finger on but i guess it would be a combination of several small factors. The bamboo feels vaguely light weight (i don't think i'm the only one who sub-consciously equates quality with weight) and lacks the silky smooth laminate finish, the pen lacks the firm rubber and the weight of the Intuos' and, when pen is touched to pad, the bamboo feels a little like a "scrape" compared to the Intuos' "wipe". I think it's safe to say, however, that compared to the cheaper alternative out there, the bamboo still oozes quality hence why i gave it 4 out of 5. Remember, i'm only doing a subjective comparison of the two pads.
Common to the Intuos, the bamboo has 4 main assignable buttons plus a "touch ring" commonly assigned to zooming and scrolling. The Intuos actually has 4 buttons per side allowing for both left and right hand use, but i believe these buttons can all be assigned differenct keystrokes/functions actually rendering the Intuos with 8 assignable buttons. You're unlikely to reach over your drawing hand to use them when the keyboard is right in front of you, but having the buttons down the side felt more logical to me as you generally sit with your hands side by side.
The software for both pads share many similar functions like "tip firmness", "double-click speed" etc but i believe the Intuos' software is more flexible allowing the button functions to change depending on the application being used plus button assignment options are more extensive. Given that i rarely, if ever, used these functions i really don't miss them.
So far so good, but how's the Bamboo in use?
Well the first thing i noticed was the different feel. Mentioned earlier, the bamboo feels a little rough when moving the pen over the pad. This may be because it's brand new and it's not a particularly big issue, but worth a mention. I started by loading up a blank white page in photoshop and just scribbling. To my horror, the bamboo jolted sideways at one point leaving a perfectly horizontal notch in my otherwise smooth line. On further investigation i realised that this was due to a the computer simply catching up with itself. The problem has not occured since.
In motion I'm pleased to report that the Bamboo exhibits all the directional sensitivity of the Intuos with, as far as i could tell, three differences:
The first being the distance in which you can move the pen away from the pad while still controlling the mouse pointer. I may be wrong and there may be figures to disprove me but i reckon the Bamboo pen maintains control of the mouse up to about 9-10mm off the touch pad. I can't be sure, but it felt like a noticeably shorter distance than that of the Intuos. All this really means is that, when you're moving your pointer around the screen using the pen, if your pen reaches a certain distance away from the pad your mouse pointer stops dead onscreen. It takes a little getting used to but, again, it's no major problem.
The second difference i noticed was the minimum pressure that the pen would "draw" with. To test this i set up a blank photoshop document with a brush that increased in size the more pressure that was used. With the Intuos, by merely touching the pad with the pen a line would be drawn, albeit a very thin one. The Bamboo pen can be touched to the pad lightly without any line being drawn until a small amount of pressure is applied, at which point the brush in photoshop seems to "kick in" at a given size. This leads me to believe that the Bamboo cannot go below a given pressure threshold rendering it's pressure guage less sensitive than the Intuos'. I don't believe the Bamboo pen was designed to be dragged over the pad to simply move the mouse around as the pressure needed to actually start drawing is too slight.
The third difference doesn't affect me but i presume it's quite important to certain artists and that is the Bamboo's lack of tilt. The intuoso measures the angle of the pen on the pad to increase tactility.
Anyway, like i said, this is purely a comparison with the Intuos. If any of the above sounds like it'd bother you or you need a tablet to use on a daily basis then go for the Intuos. Otherwise the Bamboo is a perfectly good alternative for personal and, in most cases, professional use. I noticed another review insinuated that the software is slightly complex but the Bamboo works fine once the drivers are installed and there's no need to go in and tweak the settings unless you want to change the default button functions etc.
Absolutely great!, 02 Dec 2007
I have a Wacom Bamboo Fun Medium Graphics Tablet, and I'm using it to creat digital artworks, this tablet is one of the best tablets in the market taking in consideration its price!
It has many features like zooming, scrolling, thickness control, etc.
and it's compatible with Windows Vista input panel system..
Moreover, it comes with two good photo editing programs: AdobePhotoShop Elements and ArtRage2..
The bottom line.. it is reliable, light, easy to use, and worth every penny!
Not just for FUN, 09 Nov 2007
The FUN branding on this product made me think it was consumer orientated and I've held back buying it for a while. However, it has everything I need in a tablet and it is such an improvement from using a mouse.
The accuracy is spot on and the pressure sensitive nib comes into its own when you're trying to do detailed work and don't want to keep changing brush sizes all the time. The bundled software seems OK but I didn't install anything other than the drivers which work great on OS X 10.4 and 10.5.
One thing to note is that if you have two monitors it works across both - seems logical but means each screen only uses half of the tablet. Still, it's not a problem.
If you use Photoshop you need this tablet.
Definitely for advanced users, not so much for the rest of us, 13 Oct 2007
This is a peripheral that has complex capabilities and permits to perform a variety of functions related to digital photos and graphics. There are two parts to this product, the actual physical tablet and the software included. The tablet allows using a pen that has the functionality of a mouse and more, including right and left click buttons. Handling the pen is a little awkward at first, especially because the starting point of the pen on the tablet alters the initial positioning of the cursor on the screen. This definitely makes sense, since it is necessary for being able to draw on the tablet using a set point of reference, but if you are using the pen for normal mouse functions, it takes a while to get used to. The mouse provided has the typical functionalities of a wireless mouse and does not provide any benefits beyond this. There are also customizable buttons on the tablet, similar to the hot keys you have on your keyboard for browsing the web, accessing your email, etc. One in particular allows for zooming in and out, which is very handy when working on pictures trying to perfect them.
The software provided with the product is pretty advanced too, and maybe this should have given me a hint regarding how user friendly the product was for novices. Corel allows creating artwork and has a variety of tools at your disposal. This is where I found the pen to be most useful, and I even tried creating handwritten notes, being reasonably successful. Photoshop provides tools to improve your digital photos and alter them in creative ways. My experience with this software is limited, so I had a hard time extracting serious benefits from using the tablet in this environment. I can see though, how professionals or serious users would benefit from using the pen and tablet to alter pictures. In my case, I could see the usefulness of Photoshop, especially with the nik Color Efex add on, but I did not understand how to incorporate the tablet usage in this process.
The installation of the drivers for the hardware and the software suite was straightforward and even though it took a few minutes, it was completely hassle free. I think Bamboo could definitely improve their User Guide with further ideas on how to use the tools in combination with the tablet. Overall, I believe that advanced users will find this peripheral very useful, but the rest of us are likely to be overwhelmed by its complexity.
Great Tablet!!!, 07 Nov 2008
This pen tablet is great, its really thin, so thin its unbelieveable how chunky some other pen tablets are.
I bought this tablet after my old A6 tablet from argos was getting a little too small for me, I wanted something bigger but at a great price. thats when i found this on amazon, couldnt believe the price for the size and after reading all the review i decided to take the plunge and buy it and i can safely say i didnt regret it.
the product is of high quaity, the tablet although slim and light doesnt feel cheap and tacky and the pen is a nice weight once the battery is installed. it also comes with a door stop type pen holder and a little velcro tie to keep your tablet cable tidy. the pen's response time is excellent and doesnt jitter when going slow like some cheap pen tablets do.
Some people have said that its quite slow in photoshop, for me i hav'nt had a problem, i think it may depend on your computer specs because photoshop is quite a memory hungry program.
One point to make is that it did get a very slow response time after i installed this pen tablet on windows vista. but this was caused by AVG antivirus, everytime i moved the pen AVG's active shield would take up 30% CPU slowing the pen down considerably, i uninstalled AVG and the pen was working perfectly, so if your pen is slow in windows or a specific program make sure nothing is interfering with the pens operation.
Overall i give this product 5 stars as its an absolute bargin and shouldnt be passed up.
A graphic dream!!, 07 Nov 2008
Aiptek Slim Tablet 600U
On reciept of this exelent product, realisticly priced from Amazon, I have nothing but praise. My old tablet, a trust TB-310 has served me well.would have liked to afford a Wacom, but as one other reviewer wrote, it was camparible. As an artist of an age that used Airbrushes pre computer, would like the possibility of adding this like the Wacom. However at this price its perfect. The pen is very responsive( don't have to stab the surface, so the nibs should last well) coupled wth my photoshop elements makes a good powerfull graphic tool!! Thanks Amazon.
I am disappointed, 04 Nov 2008
I am so diasppointed with Aiptek Slim Tablet 600U. It did not work and the customer servise is extermly bad. Do not buy.
Not impressed, returned immediately, 29 Oct 2008
As an avid artist and graphics designer who has been using photoshop and other apps for the past couple of years, I was really sold on the value of having a graphics tablet.
The first thing I noticed on unwrapping the tablet was a notable bump on the surface (perhaps this was a refurb).
Setup was quick and easy but it simply didn't work properly. Despite adjusting the sensitivity settings, every time the pen came near the tablet, the pointer on the screen would slide downwards or shake vigorously. I found it practically impossible to draw a straight line in photoshop.
With that I returned the item immediately and will seriously reconsider buying any graphics tablet again without first testing it myself.
Good bye RSI, 16 Oct 2008
I have suffered majorly with RSI for some time now... and this little beast has just about dealt with it - fantastic :-) Makes me wonder why I ever used a mouse, ever!
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Product Description
The Intuos III A5 graphic tablet is designed for everyone with a creative spirit and who needs a quick but reliable support to take notes of their ideas, sketches or even to draw with high efficiency.The Intuos III A5 can be easily stored inside a bag or a the extra-storage of a laptop case for all notebook users.The Intuos3 A5 comes with the Intuos3 Grip Pen, the Intuos3 Mouse and ExpressKeys as well as the Touch Strip on both sides of the tablet. Thanks to the Tool ID, you can set your keys in order to open any applicaion or task on your computer directly.Very practical, its absolute positioning system lets you use it wherever you like. The Intuos III A5 graphic tablet is a vital tool to express your ideas and creativity in just a stroke of a pen. Compatible with Windows 98 SE/ME/2000/XP/Vista and MacOS X 10.2.6 or later.
Customer Reviews
The best entry level graphics tablet around, 05 Nov 2008
I've had graphics tablets before, but this is by far the best entry-level tablet I have ever used. It was easy to install and set up and I was able to adjust the settings to give me the exact functionality I wanted without reading the manual. I am very pleased indeed with the ease with which it can be used and the substantial gains I get in speed and accuracy over a mouse and also over other tablets - I can get an illustration or animation complete in half the time. I have had the tablet for nearly a year now and it is still working perfectly.
I would highly recommend this product to anyone who would like to try a tablet for the first time and to anyone else who would like a really decent basic tablet at a very good price. It's great - a really super piece of kit!
Bamboo? I think you mean WOOHOO!, 27 Oct 2008
I'm a graphic designer working mostly in vector design, so in adobe illustrator. Recently I have been getting more and more into Photoshop, and I had bought a tablet about 3 years ago maybe a little more, it was the small £20 Trust tablet. What a mistake that was...
I struggled by with the trust, until I completely abandoned it. I really wanted the flexibility of working with the tablet, but knew I wouldn't really use it enough to justify the larger price tags.
So being a tightwad I struggled by with my mouse, while entering endless competitions to try and win a tablet of decent quality. Knowing that Wacom were the industry standard I stumbled across the Bamboo and decided to take a chance. The price was unbelievable, and as the industry leader I thought that it must be a solid enough option for me to use on a daily basis.
When I received the Bamboo, being a designer I enjoyed the packaging first... Inspecting the product the tablet itself is very solid; it grips very well to the desk. As one review said, the surface isn't completely smooth, but I feel this gives a little friction that helps you rather than hinders. That said, it runs very, very smoothly.
The pen is extremely light, and at first it does feel a little cheap, but once you start using it its very comfortable to hold and works very well indeed. The buttons do seem a little breakable on the pen, if you hold the pen up in the right angle you can almost get the buttons to fall out a little, they don't really have a great button feel either. But again they do work well.
The software provided is brilliant, art rage, although it isn't Photoshop, is great for non-pro and my kids love playing on it. (Yes the tablet is sturdy enough to let the kids have a go!)
Bamboo Scribe is an handwriting recognition alternative to your keyboard, and it works really well - even with my scrawl and spelling problems - although for long documents, and this review, the keyboard is still king.
You also get a voucher to download 1 free software package, although I have not looked into that yet, I think its a choice of 2 packages of software. There is another voucher for 50% off a software package as well.
In Photoshop the pen pressure works wonderfully, and the pen is accurate and a joy to use. Obviously there is no tilt detection that you would get on more expensive models, but for what I need, tilt is not needed...
If you have never used a tablet and want to get one to start you on your way, get this one. If you are a graphic designer and would like to start using a tablet, this is also a great place to start. If you use a large tablet in work or have used one of the higher priced ones before, you might find this one a little disappointing - but it would be great for a cheap portable alternative.
This is a very strong product, and a steal for the price. Get it.
Hope this has helped...
- Rob
www.svgonline.co.uk
Excellent piece of kit, 14 Sep 2008
This is a really good addition to a graphcis programme (I design and make greetings cards), which is why I bought it - but it is so much more useful than that! It replaces a conventional mouse in a very user friendly way and is a lot more comfortable to use too. If only it could make a cup of coffee......?! Easy to set-up and customise - it really is a 'Plug and play'. The Artrage software that comes bundled with it is a cute little programme - good for kiddies and adults. All-in-all great value for money and as usual Amazons service was brilliant.
Not that small, 14 Aug 2008
I bought this initially to plug into my ASUS - Eee PC 701 4G blue (UK version) (I know it's supposed to be a challenge to get it working on Linux). The A6 size seemed perfect for mobile computing but the actual tablet is quite a bit bigger (195 x 197 x 11 mm). Don't fancy lugging it around so it's on my home PC running XP. Using it as a mouse was a bit awkward at the start. The mouse mode was all over the shop so I kept it in pen mode but you have to move your hand to get at the lower right portion of the screen. Changing the tracking area on the tablet solves this but when you come to drawing you'll want to change it back for more precision. Works perfectly, does the job, could have been more portable.
Do you already have a GRAPHICS PROGRAM?, 05 Jul 2008
Great first Tablet BUT, if you already have a graphics program I would consider the regular Bamboo. It only comes with trial software, but looks like it might be a slightly better product (it has a stand, and navigation buttons?)
This is the advice that I wish I'd had!
However, if you are looking for a package with a simple fun graphic program then this one is for you! :)
It's really a lovely little product, and so much better than a mouse!
Great piece of kit!, 05 Nov 2008
I have been doing more and more design work on the PC and decided that a graphics tablet would help no end. I used to own a cheap one previously but it was not great and things have moved on.
After much searching and reading reviews I settled on the Bamboo. I have to admit I was sceptical as to the quality & performance given the next nearest tablet in the Wacom range was well over £150, but I need not have worried.
Setup/installation was a breeze (XP), the introductory lessons helpful, and the look and feel of the tablet itself very nice.
Having had it for 2 days, it has almost replaced my mouse completely. Granted I am still getting used to it, there is most definitely a learning curve, but already I've got all the clicking/dragging/scrolling down to (nearly) a fine art.
I have not used the buttons much, I guess I would have preferred some that were obviously supposed to be activated by the pen rather than the finger. The same goes for the scroll pad thing. It does work but a pen activated pad would have been more use in my opinion. That said I find that scrolling using the pen button very easy so dont see myself ever using the scroll pad in future anyway.
Ive not had problems with any software so far. Its great for graphics work in PaintShop Pro X despite not being a huge area, and I have no issues with its pressure sensitivity being too, or not sensitive enough.
For me the pen is a good size and weight (much the same as the pen I write with), and the button is well positioned for thumb operation.
All in all I have to give it a 5 because I dont feel I can knock stars off because it has features I dont much use.
The only negative thing I can say (and it's early days yet) is that your work space will take some organising to get it located just right. I'm seriously considering investing in a keyboard without numeric pad so I can bring the tablet into a better position beside the keyboard and thus reduce the stretch required. With a mouse you can just shuffle the cursor across but with a tablet (any tablet) you have to be able to comfortably reach to its far edge.
As I say, a great bit of kit!
Great Tablet for Vista, 04 Jul 2008
first off, note this tablet has an A5 sized work area, but maps itself to the screen you have (I'm using it on a 27" and its more than fine).
It has 4 customizable buttons, for ease of use I've set mine to load Firefox, MSN Mesenger, Back and Forward buttons for Web / Folder navigation.
You can pretty much map the buttons to what you want, even a series of keystrokes!
This tablet works with both XP and Vista.
For Vista, it's fantastic.
for XP, its good.
Vista gives a lot more options for use, such as holding down the pen to simulate a double-click, handwriting recognition, quick "flicks" of the pen for scroll up / down and Back / Forward etc.
for XP, it's a standard tablet without the above features.
the pen works without batteries, which is a big plus.
"hovering" the pen around 1/2cm above the tablet enables you to move the curor around, tapping the tablet is the equivalent of a mouse click.
Its a little weird to being with, but after about 30 minutes getting used to it, I've found its much quicker (and feels more natural) than using a mouse; Both at work and at home my mouse is now pretty muich redundant!
for art/animation; everything from doodling in Paint to full-on Flash production, this pen is so simple and precise to use.
Simple to install, easy to use, much more precise than using a mouse, this tablet is such good value for money it's unreal. 5 stars.
A revelation for photo editing, 22 Jun 2008
I've using photoshop type programs for years and the high cost of quality tablets put me off buying one until now. Some reviews I read about this product slated it, but I bought one anyway and I'm so glad I did! This thing is amazing once you get used to it. Making selections, dodging and burning etc in Photoshop is so much easier and accurate with this. I haven't used my mouse since I got this a couple months ago. Highly recommended and amazing value for money!
Wacom, Great for PC not MAC, 28 May 2008
despite wacom Saying that you can use this product on a mac. you can only use it with a program that come with OS X called ink. as the included software is only good for windows as there is not the interest for wacom to develop the software for macs (despite selling it in apple shops and doing seminars on there products. I had High hopes for this product but it only scrapes 3 stars as it fails on the handwriting recognition for macs. COME ON PLEASE SUPPORT US MACS
Works well with Photoshop, 28 Mar 2008
I have never used a tablet before, and thanks to your reviews decided on this one. I ordered it yesterday afternoon, and it arrived (first class) this morning - excellent service. I have used it all day and find it very useful alongside my mouse. I am cutting round objects in Photoshop to place on backgrounds and it is definitely easier than a mouse. In fact, I have hardly used the mouse as, whilst the pen is in my hands, it will do most mouse jobs. I am certainly impressed with this and feel it is well worth the money. The comments regarding the comfort of the pen I don't understand. I have small hands and don't have a problem with it. I think it appears well balanced and easy to use.
Bamboo Fun - Linux User, 26 Oct 2008
I am a long time computer user in need of a solution for the gradual onset of RSI as well as improving photography manipulation via the Gimp. My current set up is Linux Ubuntu, Hardy Heron.
I had a few concerns regarding about setting up the tablet on Linux, having read many threads on the process required, but decided to take the plunge.
Setting up the tablet on Linux was not simple, but with so many useful pages to visit I eventually managed to get up and running.
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