Wacom Bamboo Small Graphics Tablet

The right graphic tablet for first-time users

Strengths: Easy to install. Good quality and the function never fails. Enough customizable buttons.

Weakness: The whole tablet area corresponds to the whole screen area or a selected portion of the screen, but it can not be automatically fixed to the whole active window of the current application software.

If the bundled software in Bamboo Fun doesn't interest you, then this non-funned Bamboo is your choice. You'll only have a regular eraser not the pressure-sensitive type like Bamboo Fun has, but I don't think the pressure-sensitivity is critical for an eraser. Bamboo Fun also has 3 extra pen tip replacements and a use-on-tablet-only "wireless" mouse, that you won't find in this Bamboo. The bamboo...
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If the bundled software in Bamboo Fun doesn't interest you, then this non-funned Bamboo is your choice. You'll only have a regular eraser not the pressure-sensitive type like Bamboo Fun has, but I don't think the pressure-sensitivity is critical for an eraser. Bamboo Fun also has 3 extra pen tip replacements and a use-on-tablet-only "wireless" mouse, that you won't find in this Bamboo.

The bamboo worked very well and very convenient in some area. It should not replace your use of mouse.

Please turn off the function of the buttons on your pen shaft. I found them are very prune to mistakenly touching.

By rocks1999 - Jun 3, 2008

Great Product for First-time Buyers

Strengths: Affordable, slim/small and lightweight, sleek look and feel, easy to install and use, no AC needed to be plugged in--just USB, precise and accurate

Weakness: Pressure sensitivity does not work with all programs, drawing sound feels unnatural to the paper-and-pen experience, can be small for people that want to make larger pen strokes, no mouse included

I was curious to find an easier and more fun creative way of drawing on my computer. I only draw on occasion, and I'm not an artist, but I considered buying a drawing tablet as a new medium of making art. I decided to go with this drawing tablet because it was cheaper than other products, and since I've read lots of positive reviews from other Wacom buyers. When I got the Wacom Bamboo, I...
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I was curious to find an easier and more fun creative way of drawing on my computer. I only draw on occasion, and I'm not an artist, but I considered buying a drawing tablet as a new medium of making art. I decided to go with this drawing tablet because it was cheaper than other products, and since I've read lots of positive reviews from other Wacom buyers.

When I got the Wacom Bamboo, I immediately noticed its sleek and thin design. It felt like a professional product without the expensive price tag. The package came with instructions and an easy installation CD, so it was ready in a snap.

I tried the drawing pad with both paint and Macromedia Fireworks. Unfortunately, the pen sensitivity feature did not work for both programs. However, I was still amazed by the smoothness of the lines and curves I was able to draw, unlike other reviews for other products I read. It kind of makes a loud unnatural sound when I draw on it, but didn't mind too much about that.

What I really like about drawing on the pad is that I can make drawings faster and more efficiently. Compared to what my conventional method used to be, instead of having to scan my sketches and then redrawing solid lines with the mouse, I can now draw directly on the computer, as if I was drawing on paper. What really surprised me was that I could put a sketch on top of the pad and trace it onto the computer that way (although having a larger drawing area would have been more convenient).

All in all, this is certainly a great product for the people that are not too serious about drawing, but like it as a hobby. There are some tiny things that I didn't like about this product, but what you get for the price is unbeatable. I'd recommend it to people looking for a cheap, yet reliable, first-time experience with a drawing tablet.

By shmps - Feb 28, 2008

Great price for a nice tablet

Strengths: Easy to install and use, awesome packaging, low price

Weakness: Active area might be too small for hardcore artists, absolute positioning can be a problem

I've only used a tablet maybe twice in my life before I purchased Wacom's Bamboo Digitalizing Tablet. I'm not really much of an artist, but I've been wanting one since then. Luckily, I happened upon this tablet, which has dropped in price. This tablet doesn't have a wireless mouse, which is part of the reason why it's so cheap. My favorite aspect of this tablet is its texture. When you press the...
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I've only used a tablet maybe twice in my life before I purchased Wacom's Bamboo Digitalizing Tablet. I'm not really much of an artist, but I've been wanting one since then. Luckily, I happened upon this tablet, which has dropped in price. This tablet doesn't have a wireless mouse, which is part of the reason why it's so cheap.

My favorite aspect of this tablet is its texture. When you press the tip of the pen onto its active area, it resembles the feeling of a pen against paper! I'm not sure how to judge whether this tablet is better or worse than others, but from what I hear, Wacom is a highly recommended brand.

When I received this in the mail, I was surprised by how nice the packaging was. I was really just expecting a box with a wrapped up tablet and pen, but instead I wound up with something rather stylish looking. It's almost as if the box is pampering the tablet. You'd have to see it to understand what I mean.

I have no complaints with this tablet as someone new to tablets. I'm not sure if I like the absolute positioning feature since I can't just leave off from where I left my pen. However, it's not a big issue. This tablet is small, but I don't need much room since I'm using it for fun. For anyone interested in getting a tablet for personal use, but doesn't want to spend too much money, this small tablet is a good choice.

By anvilfactory - Nov 10, 2007

Excellent Wacom tablet if you are on a budget

Strengths: Price, design and made by Wacom

Weakness: It would have been nice for Wacom to thrown in at least one software package

Well, I'm been putting it off buying a graphics tablet. I used to use a scanner to import my cartoons to a pc. With this entry level Wacom, being so inexpensive, I had no excuses now. It's a very attractive board, easy to use and the pen is battery free since it's a Wacom product. I admit, it takes some getting used to looking at the computer screen while drawing but keep practicing, you will get...
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Well, I'm been putting it off buying a graphics tablet. I used to use a scanner to import my cartoons to a pc. With this entry level Wacom, being so inexpensive, I had no excuses now. It's a very attractive board, easy to use and the pen is battery free since it's a Wacom product. I admit, it takes some getting used to looking at the computer screen while drawing but keep practicing, you will get the hang of it. Also, in case you didn't know, animators and cartoon studios all over the country use Wacom to create their cartoons. This is the best for the bang tablet that made by a well known vendor and the only tablet that doesn't use batteries!

By pcdoctor01 - Nov 3, 2007

New Brand Bamboo

Strengths: nice look and feel, small size, very flat and light weight. like a sketch feeling on paper.

Weakness: usb cable, made in china, too much light weight pen, some fuctions support only vista.

I have used wacom intous 3 tablet so far. To tell you the truth, I can not find out big differences between two tablet exclude pen grip.

I mainly work photoshop, illustrator. Well, intous 3 pen is really nice. Im very well know about it. However, I should pay for 100bucks more to use intous pen.

I think that this tablet good for student and graphic designer.

By gsam - Oct 31, 2007