Wacom Intuos3 6X8 USB Tablet - Metallic Gray (PTZ630)

Rating:
Summary: WOW! Cant wait to get it!
Review: I already own the Intuos2 4x5 tablet and have had it for over 2 years, but need something bigger. I can say that without a doubt, Wacom tablets are the best out there. The one I own has NEVER failed me. It fits great in my laptop bag too.

If you are thinking about another brand, don't bother, you'll be greatly disappointed. I'm buying my Intos3 6x8 right now... so should you!

Rating:
Summary: Excellent quality and an invaluable tool
Review: I spend about 10 hours a day working in Photoshop, Illustrator, Flash, and other design related programs including 3D Studio Max. I've been using a Wacom tablet for about six years now, and I love it. It would be impossible for me to create the designs and illustrations that I do without my Wacom. As an artist and designer, I used traditional mediums for years, and then spent another couple of years trying to figure out how to use a mouse in a way that would permit me to create quality images and designs on the computer quickly and in a way that resembled traditional methods. The Wacom tablet has been my solution and the solution of dozens of my colleagues. I use the old Intuos at home, and I use the Intuos 3 at work. The new Intuos features a USB connection that permits hot-swappable, on-the-go design. Also, the new Intuos pens are much more comfortable to hold that the old plastic pens because of the rubber coated grip. The tip on the pen seem much more "springy" and responsive. The pressure sensitivity is amazing and allows me the complete control over the virtual medium that I am handling (airbrush, pencil, ink, paint, etc). Photoshop, Illustrator, and Flash are all designed to work with the pressure sensitive pens, and the level of control is amazing. Photoshop's new custom brush palette, combined with the Wacom tablet, permit me to create custom brushes to simulate the appearance of color pencil, pastels, and chalk in such a realistic manner that it's difficult to discern what is real and what is digital. Both of the tablets I own have the 6x8 drawing surface, which I find to be an adequate size for me to accomplish all of my design-work and illustrations. It also is a convenient size to fit into my laptop bag (outer dimensions are about 10"x13"). I absolutely love my Wacom, and I'm ashamed that I didn't place a review for this superior product before now. Several of my coworkers and friends have purchased less expensive versions from competitors, but have regretted the purchase and have switched to Wacom. I was helping a coworker select a Wacom tablet for her desk this morning (as a replacement for another brand) when I decided to write this review for the Wacom tablet. Bottom line for the Wacom 6x8: convenient size, excellent pressure sensitivity, durable construction, excellent value for the price. I would consider this a must-have for any serious digital illustrator or designer.

Rating:
Summary: Intuos3, great product, flawed software
Review: Overall a great product. I thought I should mention something to anyone who may encounter the same problems I did. Firstly, do not use the driver version that ships with the tablet, go to Wacom.com and get the latest version. The version that shipped with mine left huge 'dead areas' in my tablet where it could not detect the pen (EXTREMELY FRUSTRATING) and caused occasional system hangs.

Even with the latest software, cccasionally when using Photoshop the tablet seems to lose its ability to detect pressure variation, this is resolved by restarting Photoshop, but it seems a problem that would be easily fixed in the software.

A simple pen test function would be nice to have in the configuration program (where you could paint in a little box and test pressure and sensitivity). The Graphire series had this feature and I wish it was built in to the Intuos software.

Quality of the product makes up for the few software flaws/inconveniences.