 Great deal for the price. |
| Review Date: March 28, 2009 |
| Reviewer: S. Hao, Gainesville, FL USA |
First of all, I must say that the only tablet I have used before is the Wacom Intuos3, so I will be drawing my comparisons mainly between the Intuos3 and Intuos4. I understand that there are a multitude of tablets/digitizers in the market, such as Genie and *forgot the company's name*, but my review will mainly focus on Wacom's line of tablets. To start off, I must say that if you are considering a tablet, then you might want to first try the Wacom Bamboo/Bamboo Fun before shelling out hundreds for a Intuos.
Everything aside, I love my Intuos4, and I think it is definitely a worthy upgrade from Intuos3 (or any other tablets in general), especially if you spend hours everyday with a pen.
Intuos4, instead of the gray metallic look of the Intuos3, hosts a cool black matte finish with a high-gloss black side panel. It is a lot thinner than the intuos3, a much lower profile, and a 16:9 aspect ratio.
Since most of us have widescreen monitors, I think it is very thoughtful of Wacom to update the aspect ratio of the Intuos4, but be warned though; if you use a 4:3 monitor, you might experience problems with drawing ratios since the 16:9 active area will be 'squeezed' to fit into a 4:3 layout; what this means is that if you draw a tilted line on the tablet, the line will appear to be squeezed horizontally and stretched vertically on the 4:3 monitor. Of course, you can manually limit the active area in the Wacom configuration software, but that would force you to sacrifice a portion of working area, so take this into consideration when purchasing this tablet.
The biggest design change from the Intuos3 is the layout of the expresskeys. Because of the ambidextrous design, Wacom placed all the keys on one side of the tablet, so there are more keys available to the users. What I think is extremely thoughtful of Wacom is that for the Small tablet, it came with 2 USB tables, one tilted upwards and the other downwards, as to cater to both the left-handed and the right-handed configuration. Note, however, that the Small version of the Intuos4 does not have the OLED display to the right of the expresskeys, and instead of 8, you will only get 6 keys (but it is more than sufficient for me).
The problem I have with the expresskeys is that in the Intuos3, the keys are shaped differently, so that it is very easy to locate a specific key without having to constantly look down; however, for intuos4, since all the keys are shaped exactly the same, it is extremely easy activate the wrong key...this is especially the case with Intuos4 Small, since there is no visual indication as to what function each key is assigned to, making navigation difficult. I think Wacom should have made each of the keys more distinct tactilely[sic?], especially for the Small version. However, I think this should not be much of a problem after some time of getting use to (I only had it for a day).
The Touch Ring is what I think the biggest innovation in the Intuos4. The touchstrip was great, but you can only assign one function to the strip, but with the new touch ring, you can assign 4 different functions, switchable with the press of the central bottom. What this means is that you can assign Zoom/Rotate/Brush Size/Opacity/Flow/etc. all to a single touchring, which greatly boosts productivity, and makes the tablet more intuitive to use. This is especially true with the new 'Rotate' feature in Photoshop CS4, but I have noticed that there is a significant latency delay (lag) when invoking the rotate function with the touchring, but it may just be me.
The new rubberized grip pen also features the cool black finish akin to that of the tablet; the weight of the pen is almost perfect, and the rubber grip makes using the grip pen more comfortable than ever before, but the rubber grip also attracts dust and lint, so it may be subjected to constant cleaning. The pen supports 2048 levels of sensitivity, and since I have a light stroke, the penstrokes register a lot better with Intuos4. The rocker on the pen, however, has a very poor travel, and a bit awkward to use. But all in all, I prefer the Intuos4 grip pen over the Intuos3 version for its comfort and usability.
The new improved tablet surface is perhaps as close as you can get with real Pen-on-Paper experience with a digital tablet. Intuos3's surface is extremely 'slippery', and drawing on it feels like plastic-on-plastic; however, the Intuos4's surface makes me really feel like drawing on paper with almost perfect travel and traction. The different nibs offer different levels of friction, simulating different mediums. This concept was attempted in Intuos3, but I think Intuos4 has really perfected the formula, making drawing on the tablet feel almost the same as drawing on paper.
I don't usually talk about the pen-stand, but the pen stand for Intuos4 is definitely worthy mentioning. A high gloss black finish, the pen stand can be twisted open, revealing a nib storage compartment with slots to store 10 extra nibs (and a nib extractor). I used to lose track of my pen nibs all the time, but not anymore, so kudos to Wacom for their attention to details.
The tablet comes with a wide array of softwares (Photoshop Elements, Sketchpad, etc.) all available online to Intuos4 customers via Wacom's website (but you'll have to register your Intuos4 to receive the softwares); the driver installation is extremely easy (but I do recommend resetting your wacom profile in the Wacom Preference Utility and uninstall any old wacom driver(s) before installing the new one to prevent conflicts); it took me literally 15 minutes to set everything up and running under Vista, and no problems thus far.
The expresskey configuration, however, is a bit tedious, especially if you plan on using different presets for you applications. There are many great additions, such as the Radial Menu, which is, in short, a nice multi-command invoker; this, along with the additional expresskeys and the touch ring, would probably take some time to configure to your liking.
There has been complaints about Intuos3's poor Vista support (although I have had no problems with my Intuos3 under vista); according to other reviews, Wacom seems to have fixed most of the incompatibility problems with Intuos4.
Note that I have intentionally left out the Wacom mouse because I never was a fan of Wacom's mouses, so it is still sitting in my box...maybe I'll take it out and test it someday...
PROS
+ Cool black finish, matte frame extremely comfortable to rest hand on.
+ Ambidextrous design
+ More expresskeys
+ Touchring with 4 presets
+ 2048 Levels of sensitivity
+ 16:9 Aspect ratio (may not be a pro if you have a 4:3 design, see above)
+ Great drawing surface, feels like pen-on-paper.
+ Thinner, lighter than Intuos3
+ Great driver, vista support.
+ Improved customization software, many useful functions
+ Improved grip pen, comfortable to use
+ 10 replacement nibs (should last 2-5 years)
+ Innovating pen holder, serves as a storage for replacement nibs
+ Color rings to give the grip pen a different feel
+ Tons of extra softwares, great value.
CONS
- Expresskeys shaped the same, easy to press the wrong key
- Intuos4 Small does not have the OLED display
- Price
- Only 16:9 is offered
- The rocker on the grip pen has poor travel
- May not be the best choice if you prefer the smooth drawing surface of Intuos3
- A bit too big for a small tablet (compared to Intuos3 Small)
- High gloss side panel is a fingerprint magnet
- The rubber grip on the pen attracts dust and lint.
- Does not come with a travel sleeve (is this really too much to ask?)
All in all, Intuos4 boasts many notable upgrades from the previous Intuos3 line. If you have been holding off for a Intuos3, then this is perhaps the time for you to finally jump on the Intuos boat. Due to the size limitations, the Small Intuos4 lacks a few features available in the other models of the Intuos4 line (notably the OLED display, dual USB ports, etc.), but the price difference between the Small and the Medium ($199 vs $349) tablets does not seem to justify for the price jump (especially since I don't have the space to accommodate for a medium tablet).
Again, if this is your first time shopping for a tablet, then I would recommend trying out the Bamboo line of products before considering the Intuos.
I enjoy the Intuos4 tablet, and I would recommend it to any serious graphics designers/photographers/animators/etc. This is a worthy investment and you won't regret it.
Final Verdict: Wacom, you have done it again. ^^ |
Pretty On the Inside.
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| Review Date: April 1, 2009 |
| Reviewer: K. Schultz, USA |
Honestly, the place I work doesn't look very impressive. It is full of cobbled together machines, with mirrors askew and wires everywhere. I am comforted by the knowledge that it is accomplishing high-end science, and perhaps professional tools simply shouldn't be pretty. The Intuos line seems to have followed that logic quite closely in the past, with very sterile and clunky looking tablets that delivered impressive results. With that in mind, there may be some trepidation about this flashy update, all covered in shiny black plastic and LCD screens. I assure you, though, that they have not forgotten where they will be used or who they will be used by.
The Basics:
A modern tablet is expected to do a few things. It should give touchscreen-like functionality (with a pen rather than a finger). That means that I should be able to draw as I would with a real pencil/paintbrush/etc. To this end, the tablet must have pressure sensitivity. For example, pressing harder with a simulated paintbrush should create a larger blob of paint. Really, these are all that are required, and the Wacom does them excellently, giving both an extremely precise (high resolution) X-Y position and pressure sensitivity. It is very enjoyable and intuitive for use in Photoshop, which is my primary use. Will the increase in sensitivity resolution over the Intuos3 demand that you upgrade? For all but the most demanding, I would say no. With that said, you will surely enjoy it when you do decide to upgrade. Specifically, I enjoy the ability to use very light strokes, which did not register as anything on older tablets. For people who enjoy using very faint lines in art, this is a very appreciated addition. Also appreciated is the nib holder in the pen base, which houses a good number of nibs, preventing the "missing sock" phenomena you may have experienced in the past, as the small guys tended to mysteriously disappear. Regardless of which nib is chosen, the surface of the new Intuos gives a very natural feel that Wacom has really perfected at this point.
As you would expect, there is also the intuitive ability to use the other end of the pen as an eraser as with all Wacom tablets. This end can also be customized for other purposes. The customization in general is quite extensive. Every button can be mapped as desired, as well as tilt sensitivity, tip feel, and tip double-click distance. Additionally, the surface can be set to pen or mouse mode. I saw another reviewer critique that someone had not set the tablet to mouse mode, which is why the mouse felt sluggish. Actually, this is not what these modes represent (the tablet automatically detects if a mouse or pen is being used and responds appropriately). Pen mode, which most people will prefer, creates a 1-to-1 mapping between the tablet and the screen. So, if I touch the lower right corner of the tablet, I will click the lower right corner of the screen. Mouse mode is so named because, like a mouse, the pen movement will simply move the cursor in an unmapped fashion. I will need to move the pen down and right, then, to get to the lower right of the screen.
The Mouse:
Speaking of the mouse, it is a handy peripheral to have around. The tablet can take up a lot of space, leaving no good place to have a mouse on the work surface. The Wacom mouse, which works on the tablet, solves that issue. I can not say it is the most ergonomic design, but it looks slick and functions well as a standard 5-button mouse. The scroll wheel is inferior to those on Logitech mice I am used to, but it is functional. The bottom of the mouse seems to be covered in felt, which allows it to slide across the tablet without scratching it. As with the pen, the buttons can be fully customized, in addition to the speed and acceleration of cursor movement.
A very nice feature of the mouse is that it detects the orientation that the tablet is set to (buttons on left, buttons on right, buttons on top, or buttons on bottom) and behaves accordingly. Unfortunately, this is the only notable feature of the mouse. If you are planning to purchase this tablet because of the mouse, I suggest you think again. It feels like it is a bit tacked on for the sake of workflow, but is not really the focus of this product.
The Buttons:
The flashiest aspect of the new Intuos by far is the slick set of 8 buttons with LCD labels. I am happy to report that this is not just a gimmick, however, as the button labels are immediately useful. Without them, the buttons are completely ambiguous and would take some effort to memorize. That is fine, but in the process, it would become too much effort to change them as needed over time or for different programs. Speaking of the latter, the buttons can also be customized to be program specific, which is great. Additionally, as with all functions of the tablet, the labels can be set to function properly for both right- and left-handed tablet positions, so do not be concerned about upside-down letters. One of the button options is to open up a star menu, in which you can press the button and motion in a particular direction with the pen or mouse to choose a function. This creates even more options to avoid having to use the keyboard. If you choose a larger tablet size, the keyboard may be pushed to the side or below and so this will be quite beneficial. In addition, it's just cool.
Speaking of cool, there is a central wheel which can be toggled between four functions easily. The wheel is not new to Wacom, but the toggle feature allows more functionality at a quick pace. This tablet has clearly been thought out in real-world terms.
But, I do have one qualm here. The buttons feel terrible. They are mushy and don't click at all. I feel unsure of whether or not I pushed the button when I push it. Perhaps this is a matter of taste, but I was immediately turned off by the buttons, and their strange and unnecessary angling does not help. I think this angling is the result of using two long LCD screens, rather than eight individual ones, presumably to cut costs. This means that the buttons can not be separate; rather, they are shoved right next to each other. The angling is a makeshift solution to allow us to differentiate the buttons from each other, avoiding the potential of hitting the wrong or multiple buttons. It is a functional solution, but one that could have been avoided altogether by separation of the buttons.
Conclusions:
Why the five-star rating? Because this tablet is not about the mouse, which is admittedly mediocre, and I can not drop an entire point for mushy buttons. The thoughtful design for modern workflow is amazing, and the real functionality we all care about - the pen - is near perfect. I can see room for improvement, but for all practical purposes, I think this is going to serve exactly the purpose you want. Please enjoy it and your work. |
Amazing Tablet, Wow!
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| Review Date: March 26, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Scott, NJ |
I've been a tablet user since the 1990's and get a new tablet every few years to keep up with the latest tech. My last tablet was the Bamboo Fun which I love. This new Intuos4 is the Mercedes Benz of tablets. Its sleek, thin and has all the bells and whistles you can want and then some.
First off the new Express Keys that can be configured to either right handed or left have custom LCDs. You can customize each of the 8 buttons to do just about anything from keystrokes to open apps. Then the best part is that it has a LCD next to it that you can type in and label what the button does. It even has symbols for various needs. It also has a sleep feature that after non use dims the LCD's and then turns them off which is another well thought of feature.
It also has a customizable click wheel that also can be used for customized buttons. Depending on what mode your in you can use it to zoom in or out as well as perform keystrokes or other tasks just like the main buttons. They separate it like a pizza pie so you get 8 more custom buttons.
When first setting this tablet up you can choose right or left handed and also one of the very innovative features is that there is a slide switch on the bottom that changes the usb port depending on your setting so the plug stays at the top of the tablet.
The pen is a little bulkier but feels comfortable and the holder for it also doubles as a nib holder. There were all different kinds hidden in there to choose from like felt tip, normal and flex and one other i forget for a total of 10.
Now for how it works, I do a lot of retouching and this tablet by far feels the most realistic of any I've owned. The pressure sensitivity is very precise similar to the bamboo fun but more extreme. I find that the I4 has much better control especially when you have to go slow while working with fine details. It also has more sensitivity and feel settings which let you really customize it not only per project but in general.
My only complaint is that it is very expensive and not for the casual user or beginner. This is definitely pro stuff unless you have a wallet to burn. If your looking for a tablet to take your artwork to another level or if you are a heavy tablet user then this one is for you. If your looking for something more basic with similar qualities then the Bamboo Fun is for you and its a lot less expensive.
My final thoughts are that you are getting what you pay for not that their other tablets aren't great but this line is again the Mercedes Benz and unless your a hard core tablet user then it doesn't pay to get this because its expensive. If you have previous models and were thinking of upgrading, DO IT! |
A tablet for lefties! Larger size is a plus!
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| Review Date: March 31, 2009 |
| Reviewer: S. Jenkins, Torrance CA |
I'm pretty familiar with the Wacom lines of tablets and especially intuos. I've gone through all the versions now. They're made of rather durable quality where I end up having to sell them and haven't had one break down on me.
Wacom really outdid themselves with functionality and design with this tablet, it's worth every penny. The tablet actually feels more or less the same weight as the intuos3 6x8 ..it's weighted better too.
I was hesitant to purchase a larger sized drawing tablet because it might be too big. I certainly was surprised to see how large it was in person, box and all. However, upon taking it home, I realized a larger sized tablet really does make a difference. I have to move my whole arm and that ended a cramping issue I had with the smaller ones.
The features it touts are certainly not a lie. The surface is just right, it does feel like drawing on paper. The responsiveness is awesome. I love the surface for the buttons but like most shiny surfaces, you get annoyed because of fingerprints.
The pen's weight is rather nice and the new nibs do have something to do with the friction, as I can feel some of it when I put the pen on an intuos3 surface. The downside to the nibs is that they seem to wear down pretty fast. There are identifying rings in case you have more than one pen so you can tell which pen is for "painting" and another for "inking" as an example.
The express keys are a gold mine, so many shortcuts and you can program even more by using submenus, the possibilities are endless. Think of using the Radial Menus for a set of functions like layer adjustments, creating another set of menus for document handling, and another set for selections.
The OLED menus are very helpful, and somewhat amusing if you want to program funny shortcuts. It displays exactly what you named the Keystroke. It can make for some moments of immaturity. I'm sure artists wish they would really work like defined. "Coffee" "Sleep" shortcuts ;) Don't make the wording too long on your shortucts or you can watch your Tablet Preferences Crash. Hopefully Wacom can fix this by adding a character limit feature in the driver. It also has a sleep function for the OLED lights themselves, so you don't have to worry about burnout while the tablet is plugged in but not in use.
I also like the touch ring, and they certainly made sure they allowed you to adjust the sensitivity. With some applications you can use canvas rotation with the keys, but scrolling and brush size are definite pluses. You can add 4 custom settings to the touch ring.
There is a downside to having so many shortcuts...the time you have to take to program them.
One other nice little feature is that it's very nicely weighted design makes it more comfortable for a left handed person like myself. You can also flip the tablet orientation and still not look like a moron since the Wacom logo is on both sides of the tablet.
Because it's ambidextrous, whether it's an intentional feature or not- a new plus is the detachable usb cable. No more worrying about cord wear on your tablets (while I don't have this problem, I know others that did). You can buy a new cord that is a mini usb and not have to send your tablet in for repairs.
The mouse...well I know there are people who use it, may be the only downside for the tablet. It's not that the mouse is terrible, but since these intuos have a tool id, it would be nice to see packaged Intuos with 2 pens instead of a mouse or what would suit an illustrator.
Another downside is maybe older application support. Some applications will run fine using the tablet without the shortcuts, but some may respond in a more fussy manner.
I can't for example, get Easy Paint Tool Sai to respond to a ctrl+alt hotkey programed into the tablet. It seems to be hit and miss. Sometimes it won't respond to the key, and I had to add a ctrl+alt+1 to it, and it will cause a delay in response...but it at least reads. - Edit - Since I wrote the review I found out that Sai has some odd delayed program response that you can fix in the preferences Go to Options - Tools. Operation with CTRL pressed - change the delay time to 0 or whatever you prefer.
Painter 11, I haven't seen much in improvements with this tablet (other than the ghost dabs and missing stroke)...it seems the bugs like copying and pasting are worse with this tablet. I think this may be attributed to the CPU bug though.
Speaking of Software, the software bundles offered are nice. There's Adobe Photoshop Elements, Corel Painter Sketchpad, and Autodesk Sketchbook 2010 Express. (In the US you get your choice of 2 out of the 3). The only problem was a delay in getting the serial number for Sketchpad...that is until I found out that if you previously downloaded a trial version of Sketchpad you'll run into installation issues and won't install your free software. Apparently, the system is having issues. Wacom support was great in resolving this issue!
I should also mention Autodesk's Sketchbook 2010 Express...does need certain kinds of graphic cards to take advantage of its rotation features. Expect the startup/gui to be incredibly ugly if you do not meet the graphics requirements. You need to turn canvas rotation off and it will work as before. A shame though, I wanted to try this feature (and other programs can do it without having to use certain graphics cards). They should mention the requirements more clearly before download too.
Overall this tablet is very much worth the investment, they last! Don't be scared of the price tag, since I can assure you the tablets have high resale value and have usually outlasted my computers/parts. |
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