Notes on Review:

I took a few pictures of recent hardware that I received (including this tablet). The other products are or will be reviewed separately here. If you'd like to actually see this product set up, then go here:

http://homepage.mac.com/aric/epinions/PhotoAlbum55.html

Please note that I am not a graphics "professional" (though I do own Photoshop) nor am I an artist (I basically couldn't draw to save my life). However, this should only prove that you don't need to be a professional to find lots of uses for this tablet.

If you're not sure if you could really use a tablet, then head on over to Wacom's web site for more information. Apart from just being a marketing tool, Wacom's web site is full of good tips and tricks and even has a tablet selector based on a few simple questions that you answer.

http://www.wacom.com/

Also, Wacom has been running some ads lately that point you to two different web addresses. If you enter these addresses you are taken to a special area of Wacom's web site that you can't normally access. Each special section offers to send you a really free (no shipping costs) CD that give you hints and tips on how to use a graphics tablet and also provides you with some basic product information. These offers are limited, and so if you are interested, head over there now before the promotion ends:

http://tabletphotofun.com/

This CD is geared towards the amateur digital photographer and it shows you how to use your tablet to make editing photos easier and more fun.

http://www.wacompowertips.com/

This CD is geared for slightly more "advanced" users and gives you tips and tricks to create cool effects in your digital photos or illustrations using your tablet.

Wacom offers special deals if you purchase an Intuos2 product. You can find details here:

http://www.intuosprivileges.com/

Also note that I am using this product on a Mac under both OS 9.2.2 and OS X 10.2.1 using Wacom's latest (beta) drivers.


Intuos2 or Graphire2 4x5 tablet:

On the surface, there doesn't seem to be a lot of difference between the two models, except that the Graphire2 looks slightly different and is $100 cheaper than the Intuos2 4x5 tablet.

Wacom discusses the differences between those products (and the Cintiq line of LCD graphics tablets) here:

http://www.wacom.com/productinfo/differences.cfm

so I won't go point by point through each difference. I do want to make some comments about those differences.

Not being a Photoshop Ultra Power User, you may not care or even understand the "levels of pressure" or "tablet resolution." To perhaps oversimplify things, these two items measure how finely the tools are able to respond to your pressure and movement. This may not be a big selling point for you. Nor would the presence or lack of "tilt" (the tablet sensing at what angle you are holding the pen) be a concern.

Still, even for a novice without drawing talent (such as myself) there are a few things that make the Intuos2 tablet worth every penny of the extra ~$100 it costs:

* The Intuos2 comes with a limited lifetime warranty. Not that you are ever likely to need it, but Wacom will basically replace this tablet if anything ever goes wrong with it. The Graphire2's 1 year warranty is acceptable, but keep in mind that if you have to buy another Graphire2 in a little over a year (if it breaks) then you'll have erased almost any monetary advantage you've gained by buying the cheaper tablet.

* The Intuos2 comes with a better pen and mouse. The pen is more comfortable and the mouse is better constructed than the Graphire2's.

* Intuos2 comes with Photoshop Elements v2.0 (the current version as of the writing of this review) whereas the Graphire2 only comes with v1.0. Photoshop Elements is an EXCELLENT program, and worth $100 by itself. It gives you almost all of the cool features of Photoshop. V2.0 is an even better product since it adds more useful features and makes it even easier for a complete novice to use the power of Photoshop.

* The Intuos 2 has support for "tool ID" (more on that feature later) which is VERY handy since you get both a mouse and a pen with both tablets.

* Intuos 2 has a programmable menu strip (again, more on this later) which is handy if you are using the pen and don't feel like putting it down to access certain commands via the keyboard.

Still, you have to look at what your needs/wants are from a graphics tablet and make the appropriate decision.


Packaging and Hardware:

The Intuos2 is packaged well and you should receive your tablet in good working order.

The pen is enclosed inside a resealable clear plastic case along with a replacement pen barrel, tips, etc. These replacement parts are a very nice touch. You won't need to buy a new pen if the tip breaks or the barrel wears out. All of these parts are easily user replaceable and clear instructions are given on the Wacom driver CD (via a PDF file) on how to make modifications to the pen).

I think it would be nice if the pen were inside a real case, something you could latch shut and not feel like a cheapskate walking around with. The plastic case provided does the job, but it's not very stylish. Admittedly, this is a minor issue, since most people probably won't be transporting their tablet, but it would still be nice.

The mouse is enclosed in a plain, white cardboard carton. You don't really need a case for this, in my opinion, since the mouse has no ball, batteries or replaceable parts.

The tablet itself (and the attached cord) are wrapped in plastic.

The package also comes with 2 CDs (one driver CD and one CD containing the software bundle) and a booklet.

The tablet, mouse and pen are all largely purple (for those of you who may be concerned about having the tablet match your overall color scheme ;-) ).

As for the construction of the individual components, everything is very solidly built. I doubt that I will ever need to avail myself of the limited lifetime warranty.

The tablet is bus powered via a USB 1.1 connection. Wacom (and others) recommend that you actually connect your tablet directly to the USB ports in your computer, rather than go through a separate USB hub. I've seen reports of issues with using a Wacom tablet on even a powered USB hub. A small red light turns on if the tablet is receiving power and the same light will blink green when it receives commands from your tools (click the mouse buttons, press the pen on the surface of the tablet, etc.).

The USB cord is hardwired to the Intuos2, which is probably a good thing if you travel with your tablet. Thankfully, the cord is long, so you can place it a good distance from your USB connection.

There is a very handy detached pen holder that you can put anywhere you like to keep your pen while you aren't using it. The holder is weighted so that it won't tip over (unless you hit it yourself).

The pen itself is slightly rubberized and comfortable to use for even fairly long stretches of time. I've noticed that the placement of the dual mode rocker switch (which can be programmed to perform almost any function) is a little too convenient. I find myself accidentally pressing the button occasionally while working. I'd guess that other have had the same problem because Wacom provides instructions on how to remove the button from the pen. This is a nice option, but I wonder if moving the button up slightly might be an even better solution so I could eat my cake and have it too. ;-)

The mouse is very similar to most PC mice these days. It has two finger buttons and one clickable rubberized scroll wheel. As a Mac user, though, it's an improvement (especially in OS X) over the standard one-button mouse. The buttons are completely configurable, but more on that in a bit. The bottom is covered in textured felt, which provides enough traction on the plastic surface of the tablet without creating too much friction.

One really nice thing is that this mouse is cordless and battery-less. Of course it has to be used on the tablet to work, but tracking is very smooth and the mouse fits my hand really nicely.

I'm left handed, and I generally prefer to use my Logitech Marble Mouseman (trackball) for pointing and clicking and doing work in general, so I have the tablet on the left side of my Mac with my standard trackball on the right and this works great for me. The point is you don't really NEED another pointing device and since the tablet and tools are reprogrammable, you can use it any way that works best for you.

The tablet itself is larger than 4x5 inches, but it is still portable. Undoubtedly, this would make a great tablet for graphics pros who work a lot with a laptop on the road or in a hotel, especially since you don't have to worry about batteries or an external power source.

Unlike monitor manufacturers, you actually get a full 4 inches by 5 inches of usable tablet space. The active area is clearly marked with a box. Just above the box is a silk-screened set of menu buttons that can be programmed to perform any function you want. On this model, the menu strip is not removable.


The Driver's the Thing!

No graphics tablet would be all that useful without well-designed drivers. Wacom has really taken this to heart and is constantly updating the drivers for all platforms with new features and refinements and bug fixes. If you get one of these tablets, I would strongly suggest that you ignore the drivers on the CD and go to Wacom's web site and download the latest drivers for your particular platform.

Wacom always seems to have another version of the drivers in beta. In my experience, these drivers are fairly stable and usually add some nice new features. Of course, if you really hate the idea of using beta drivers you can download the latest full release.

The drivers allow you to fully configure almost any feature or function of your tools or tablet. For a first time user all these options can be somewhat intimidating, but the manual does a very good job of explaining things and the default options are usually pretty good.

Let me take a minute to talk about Tool IDs and why this is such a cool feature. Each tool you use with a Wacom tablet (and you can buy several others) has a unique ID. When you move a new tool close to the active area of the tablet it reads this ID number and, if it hasn't been used before, tells you that the tool will use the default settings in the driver. If you want to permanently add this tool to the driver (or change the settings for this particular tool) you should open the driver itself. Once you open the driver, you will discover that the new tool has appeared in the list of tools that the driver knows about. You can click on any tool in the list and make changes to the settings that are specific for that tool. So your pen behaves as a pen and your mouse behaves like a mouse (after initial setup) automatically. You could even use 2 different tools on the tablet at the same time. This is a useful feature if you own one of the large size tablets since you can leave the mouse on the tablet and pick up and use the pen whenever you need to, switching back and forth at will.

Another really cool thing about Tool IDs is that each person can have their own tools with their own settings and use them on the same tablet without having to switch modes or anything. Let's say Jon and Jane live or work together and they only have access to one Wacom tablet. Jon can buy his own pen (or other tool) from Wacom and then set up the driver to detect his tool and use his special settings. Jane then comes along and all she needs to do is to pick up and start using her own tool(s) and the setting automatically change to match her preferences.

Some programs can even detect the tool IDs and reconfigure settings inside the program itself to match that tool's or person's preferences. (Wacom maintains a list of programs that support this feature.)

I told you tool IDs were cool! :)


The Learning Curve and Software:

As with any new tool, there comes a learning curve as you train yourself to use the tablet and pen properly. Again, Wacom's manual has a few suggestions for some simple things you can do to learn how to use the tablet properly.

What's that you say? I already know how to use a pen, why would there be a learning curve? Good question.

Take your mouse right now and go through the motions of signing your name on your desk using the mouse as you normally would (assuming the ball of the mouse were the "ink" in a pen). Not so easy, is it? Your "signature" probably wouldn't look like your "real signature." Or how about this? The UPS guy comes to your house to drop off your new Intuos2 tablet and asks you to "sign" for the package on his little computer pad on a small screen. How'd you do? Better, no doubt, since the stylus was shaped like a pen, but not quite right. Why? Because the screen has a different texture than the paper you are use to and the stylus doesn't have the same feel as a pen.

Similarly, we are all used to using mice to interact with our computers (or perhaps a trackball) and using a graphics tablet to interact with your computer is an entirely different method of interaction, requiring different sets of skills.

I know I was at first "put off" by the difficulty of trying to use the tablet. Things that were supposed to be easy weren't (at least not right away). However, as I practiced, I was able to get much better in a fairly short period of time. I am still learning how to do things with the tablet, but given some time I am sure it will become second nature to me.

So my advice to a newbie is: Don't give up. When you first get your tablet, take time to play around with the included software (Painter Classic (a "natural media" drawing program) or Photoshop Elements 2.0). Also, don't try to do serious work with it right away, just get used to the way things work and try to fine tune the driver/tool settings to match the way you like to work. You'll be much more confident with your new tablet soon.

The tablet also comes with Nik PenPallet and you can download Wacom's PenTools for free from their web site. These plug-ins/add-ons work in Photoshop (Elements) and allow you to use your tablet to "draw in" effects that are usually only available as filters working on an entire image or selection. These tools need a fairly fast computer, otherwise the result on-screen will lag behind your strokes on the tablet.

One other note about the software: Photoshop Elements 2 and Painter Classic both require a serial number. Both serial numbers are on stickers on the CD sleeve. DO NOT LOOSE THE SLEEVE, because that is the only place you'll find the serial numbers. Also, the serial #'s work for both the PC and Mac versions of the software, both of which are included on the same CD.

If you use Unix or Linux instead of a Mac or a PC, you will need to buy the $150 Unix Adapter kit from Wacom to make it work. It's nice to see that at least Unix or Linux is an option, most other tablet vendors seem to ignore those platforms. Of course, if you use one of those operating systems you may balk at the added expense. As a Mac user I can certainly sympathize. :)


The Final Word:

This tablet is really incredible and worth every penny of the purchase price. Novice and Graphics professional alike will benefit from Wacom's excellent line of graphics tablets.


Recommended: Yes