Wacom Bamboo Pen Tablet
by Wacom, Inc
List Price:
Our Price: $59.99
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Category: CE
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Customers in the UK,
Buy this product at amazon.co.uk
for British Pounds
Digital Photo Product Details
Manufacturer: Wacom, IncModel: CTL460
Color: Black
Product features:
- Battery-free, ergonomic pen with two programmable switches
- Includes Corel Painter Essentials 4.0 (Win and Mac) for creating natural media art and turning photos into paintings
- Easy USB connection
- Interactive tutorial helps you make the most of your Bamboo
- Active Area Touch (W x H) - 4.9" x 3.4" (124mm x 86mm); Pen (W x H) - 5.8" x 3.6" (147mm x 91mm)
- Anime Studio Debut 6 [OLD VERSION]
- Adobe Creative Suite 5 Design Premium[OLD VERSION]
- Pixelmator [Old Version]
- Anime Studio Pro 6 [OLD VERSION]
Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Wacom Bamboo Pen Tablet
Customer Review: Works very well - a big learning curve
Summary: 5 Stars
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)
Do you remember when computers first came out and you had to go through a tutorial to use a mouse? Well, when I set up my pen, I felt like I was back in those days. Everything I've spent the last 15 years doing had to be rethought, and I went through the tutorials to learn it all over again.
The pen will / and does replace the mouse if you want to use it that way. You hold it in your hand like a pen, and move it across the tablet (which represents your screen). You don't have to roll it across the screen like a mouse, instead, each area of the tablet represents an area of the screen, and once you put the pen down, you are in the correct place on the screen.
If you want to see where your cursor is going, you don't have to touch the tablet, you simply keep the pen slightly above the tablet to make it work. You can click, drag, right click (with the button on the pen): anything you can do with a mouse, you can do with this more precise instrument. Best of all, the pen itself does not have a battery that will wear out.
But, where it shines is that it recognizes your handwriting and will convert it to text. Like the voice recognition software, you can work with it to help it recognize it better, but unless you have outrageously sloppy handwriting, it does a good job.
In Microsoft Word, when you hover the pen over the paper, you are given a palette where you can write words, then click to insert. [I have uploaded two photos to show you how it works.] You can use this feature on most programs, including e-mail. So, technically, the pen and tablet can completely eliminate the keyboard.
I say technically, because I found it slower to try to use it, especially the writing portion. With a typing speed of over 100 wpm, writing has always been slow for me. But, if someone doesn't know the keyboard, it could actually be faster.
It comes with Corel Painter Essentials 4 (Win/Mac) and using this software (or other draw software), you can create your own drawings and export them into digital files. Because the cost of this software runs $30-$40, it makes this a very good value! I enjoy the Corel Painter Essentials (I use much of the corel software), because it can also do a wonderful job of converting photos to paintings, chalk drawings, etc. Tutorials are included for this software as well.
If you use your pen in conjunction with the software, you can create details to be included a lot easier than you can simply using your mouse.
Pros:
Easy to use, a great value, and good software included!
Pen does not have the repetitive action of the mouse and I found it to be easy on my wrists - I am at risk for carpal tunnel, and that's a critical issue.
The pen is very sensitive to touch and works well in the painting program.
The tutorial for the pen comes with a fun British accent, and it does a wonderful job of walking you through the basics.
Cons:
Pen must be at the correct angle to be recognized. It means the pad must be in a location where you can easily write on it. (I often use a laptop, and this is a key issue)
High learning curve for beginners to use the tablet in place of a mouse
Unless you are doing detailed drawings or need to write with it, most of the functions can be handled easily by a mouse.
The hardest part about writing this review is that I'm worried that even 2-3 years from now everyone will have tablets, and they will laugh at me and my difficulty in learning this tool. I will continue to use it, and will practice with it a lot in the drawing software, but for now will most likely depend upon my faithful mouse (trackball actually)to do most of my computing work and save the Pen/Pad for what it does best.
It's a great tool and does everything it is supposed to do! And, even someone in my age bracket can learn to use it.
***Edited***
The fun part about new things is that you learn a lot about the "old things" you didn't use on your computer.
One of these things is the "journal" on my computer. By right-clicking the desktop and choosing "New Journal Page" you create a document that you can use to store information, including pen-created items. You can utilize it for handwriting recognition, or you can copy and paste your handwriting into another document, including Word and e-mails. (think signature)
Another fun capability I wasn't aware of was in Powerpoint. Once you are in a presentation, you can use a control P command to create a pen and mark up the screen of a presentation. In a sense, this can replace the old "overheads" we used to mark up in presentations. Obviously, it's a lot easier to do this with a pen than a mouse.
All of the instructions said that marking up documents was possible. I followed Wacom's instructions - the correct location is under the review tab, there is a tab marked "start inking." This tab did NOT appear in Microsoft Word for me when I originally installed the tablet software. After uninstalling the software that shipped with the tablet and re-installing the newest driver directly from Wacom, the tab appears. By turning ink on, I can now mark up documents and work directly in Microsoft Word. [I have included a photo above to demonstrate the mark-up that is possible.]
The more I learn, the more I like the tablet! I keep my trackball handy, but I'm using the tablet more and more for small things.
Description of Wacom Bamboo Pen Tablet
Bamboo Pen turns your computer into the ultimate editing tool and gives you the ability to paint, draw, edit, and personalize your documents with handwritten notes, sketches, and doodles. The ergonomically-designed pen fits comfortably in your hand, and the tablet's textured work surface makes you feel like you're working with a pen on paper. Bamboo Pen is a smart solution for anyone who strives for clear, visual communication. Write in digital ink, mark up documents with your own handwriting, draw quick sketches, and explore your creative side. Included in the box is Corel Painter Essentials, which makes it easy to turn photos into paintings and create natural media art. Bamboo Pen works with your existing computer: desktop or laptop, PC or Mac. Sleek and black, it makes for a stylish addition to your workspace. Attach Bamboo Pen to a standard USB port, set it comfortably by your keyboard, and let your creativity flow.The Bamboo Pen Tablet turns your computer into a virtual canvas, allowing you to create digital artwork with the touch of a pen. With its textured surface, the tablet simulates the intuitive feeling of pen on paper. Using the easy-grip pen, you'll be able to add hand-drawn embellishments to your favorite photos, add life to digital sketches, and add personal touches to scrapbook pages with ease.
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