FAQ about Wacom graphic tablet products
A1- What if I'm not an artist?
Don't worry! Wacom has a recent line of graphic tablet specifically designed for general consumers: the Bamboo line offers the basic models for basic home or office use, plus more comprehensive Bamboo models for creative users, aspiring artists and hobby photographers.
A2- Are Wacom ink pens being discontinued ?
Wacom is slowly discontinuing all ink pens EXCEPT for the Intuos3 ink pen. The new Intuos4 graphic tablet series will also have Inking pens as an optional accessory.
A3- Why does my stylus behave like a mouse?
The driver process has been interrupted or halted for some reason. A simple reboot should correct the situation. If this does not correct the problem e-mail us at contactus@drawittablet.com for further instructions.
A4- Are there more pen tablets other than Wacom?
Yes, quite a few. However, always be very careful with other brands.
No-name brands grossly lack in accuracy and precision, and some have
tethered pens which truly limits freedom of movement. Some other brands
like Adesso, Aiptek, DigiPro, Genius, Pablo, Trust, UC Logic, ... are a
little less expensive than Wacom's newest line of drawing tablets (Intuos4),
BUT they do not have battery-free pens. This means that the pens are
heavier and thicker plus you will always need to replace batteries
which can prove to be very inconvenient and expensive in the long run.
With less-expensive drawing tablets, unfortunately, you
often get what you pay for: lagging problems, jittery controls, lack of
precision and inconsistent lines, many pressure sensitivity issues,
quirks in mapping the monitor to the tablet, pen freezing up, erratic
pen performances, poor construction, software/driver errors, unreliable
and unpredictable results, incompatibility with Windows or Mac,
unprofessional quality, not user-friendly and unavailable customer
support.
With Wacom, the leader and the frequent award-winner in
the graphic tablet field, you get up-to-date technology, top quality
products and performance, driver up-dates, great technical support,
many software features, additional software discounts (for registered
users), and unsurpassed longevity. Wacom is truly a hard act to follow.
While it is perfectly understandable to want to save
pocket change by purchasing a cheaper graphic tablet, many people get
burned doing so. Why not invest in a sure thing? It can prove to be
cheaper in the long run. Wacom drawing tablets
are certainly a worthwhile investment (and to many, it has become an
essential tool) if you spend long hours, on a daily basis, working with
a computer.
A5- Why are Wacom drawing tablets more expensive?
Compared to video game consoles, Wacom darwing tablets
are actually quite reasonably priced and unlike video game consoles,
drawing tablets can be tax deductible if used for business or education
purposes.
Compared to other graphic tablet brands, Wacom is the only
one which offers the unique combination of cordless AND battery-free
pens, airbrushes and mice. Thanks to Wacom's Patented Penabled Technology,
the graphic tablet powers the digitizer pen (airbrush or mouse) by
electromagnetic resonance. This allows more freedom of movement,
accuracy, precision and easier handling while being maintenance-free
all of which other drawing tablets cannot offer.
No one else makes drawing tablets like Wacom where the
accuracy, precision, performance and durability frequently out-match
the competitors.
Designed for basic office use and budding artists, the Bamboo drawing tablets are the least expensive of Wacom drawing tablets and are geared to the general public and travelers.
A6- Will it be difficult to learn how to use a graphic tablet?
Absolutely not. In no time at all (for some, in as little
as a few hours), you'll be wondering how you ever managed to work
without one.
Furthermore, Wacom drawing tablets
are a snap to set up - all you have to do is plug and play. That is,
plug in the pen tablet, start up your computer, and you're ready to
play. For more features, insert the CD-ROM and install the drivers.
A7- If I use it to draw, will I still be able to keep my style or will it be completely different ?
You will be able to keep your drawing style, but you will
be doing it faster, easier and with better results with astounding
precision and accuracy.
A8- What in the world is a graphic tablet and what does it do?
A graphic tablet is a computer input device which can totally replace the mouse, or if you wish, work in conjunction with your computer mouse. Drawing tablets or touch tablets are an alternate way of controlling or moving your cursor on the monitor screen, so they can do everything that a mouse can do and more.
A9- What's the big deal about using a pen instead of a mouse ?
Here are some of the reasons why a Wacom stylus is mightier than a mouse:
Accuracy: The tracking ball in a mouse was really designed for drawing straight lines and angles, not for drawing circles, or shading small areas, or any detailed work involving precision and accuracy.
On the other hand, a pressure sensitive pen (which you can set to your own preferences) is much more responsive than a mouse, and allows you to precisely manipulate digital tools and perform computer tasks (like photo editing or graphic design) easily, quickly and accurately with pixel-perfect precision.
Speed: With a mouse, you always have to search for the cursor. With a pen tablet, the cursor is always at the exact spot on the screen relative to the point touched on the graphic tablet.
Most Wacom digitizer pens come with an eraser at one end. It can be used for erasing or highlighting and is as pressure sensitive as the writing tip. On the side of the stylus is a dual button that allows you to click the same way as you would a mouse. You can even toggle between functions on your screen. The eraser and the toggle switch have been proven to be time saving and helpful tools, because they eliminate the hassle of finding tool-bar menus and switching devices.
Freedom: Wireless and battery-free, all Wacom digitizer pens give you true untethered and light-weight freedom of movement. Battery-free, in my book, is also equivalent to maintenance-free, worry-free and eco-friendly.
Health: When using a mouse, there is repetitive use of certain muscles while the hand and forearm are forced in unnatural positions, causing tension and strains in the long run. When holding a pen, the hand, fingers and arm remain in a more natural and comfortable state. A larger group of muscles are being used intermittently, thus considerably reducing any muscular stress and fatigue. Basically, working with a pen and a tablet cuts down the risk of suffering from the dreaded Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) commonly called the Mouse Syndrome.
Granted, some people cannot tear away from their beloved mouse. That is why some Wacom drawing tablets come with a cordless, battery-less, ball-free and laser-free mouse, thus giving customers the choice to switch between the stylus and the mouse. It's interesting to note that approximately 48% of graphic tablet users never go back to using a mouse again.
