Genius introduces G-Pen M712 / M609 pen tablets
GENIUS ANNOUNCES TWO NEW MULTIMEIDA TABLETS FOR THE CREATIVE TYPE
– NOW THAT IS GENIUS!
The G-Pen M609 and G-Pen M712 offer more multimedia functions than most tablets on the market and have a 4000 LPI resolution for the best graphic design and performance
MIAMI – Genius (www.geniusnetusa.com), a brand division of KYE Systems Corp., today announced two new additions to the company's extensive line up of digital tablets, the G-Pen M609 and G-Pen M712, for graphic designers and artists. Both are dual-mode and come with extensive multimedia functions that make creativity a breeze. Plug and play ready, both G-Pen's come with both Window's Vista and Mac software. The unique dual-mode feature, which can switch the screen from wide to standard and back again, and the high resolution (4,000 LPI), make these new multimedia tablets the ultimate canvas for serious designers.
Available in two sizes, the G-Pen M609's screen size is 9" x 5.5" (wide) / 7.25" x 5.5" (standard); while the sophisticated G-Pen M712 is a bit bigger with a screen size that measures 12" x 7.25" (wide) / x 9.5" x 7.25" (standard). The G-Pen M712 (34 hot keys) has eight more "fast shortcut keys" than the M609 (26 hot keys). The fast shortcut keys are used to access Office, the internet and Vista or Mac functions. Both come with rolling pads at the top of the tablet (scroll, zoom, volume) and hot keysthat can use when creating, writing and drawing, sketching and signing emails, and both come with stylish design, top class digital, cordless pen.
The G-Pen M712 is priced at $249.00 (MSRP) and comes with PhotoShop Elements 5.0, PhotoImpact 12SE, Macro Key Manager and Office Ink/Free Notes, the G-Pen M609 comes with all the same software, except PhotoElements 5.0, and is priced at $195.00 (MSRP). Interested shoppers can go to New Egg.com, Amazon.com, Tiger Direct, Buy.com or other retailers and distributors listed at http://www.geniusnetusa.com/buy.php.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Hinhale @ Apr 25th 2008 2:36PM
I'm in the market for a pen tablet. Is there any reason to consider this one instead of, say, the wacom graphire line?
StrangeBum @ Apr 25th 2008 4:32PM
If you're in the market for a pen tablet and assuming money doesn't happen to be an issue I would take a look at the Cintiq 12WX
http://www.wacom.com/cintiq/12WX.cfm
Part of the Wacom family and it uses a built in display for a more natural feel when you are using it. Personally I think Wacom is the way to go regardless of whether or not the Cintiq is what you need. They work great and I love mine.
trev @ Apr 25th 2008 5:40PM
I would stick with Wacom, they tend to have better build quality and have good support.
If your new to graphics tablets then a bamboo or graphire will be a nice introduction. If your going to be doing a lot of graphics or illustration then an intuos is what you should aim for. I wouldn't recommend the cintiq 12 wx since I don't think it represents good value for money - it has a lot of quirks you need to be willing to overlook and isn't very portable.
UberPixels @ Apr 25th 2008 2:44PM
Looks very sexy!
broli @ Apr 25th 2008 2:58PM
These companies will go bankrupt when we see those MBA air thin screens touting touch sensitivity,wireless video streaming and being able to just pick them out from their stands, to do some drawing as a matter of fact all of this is already possible...
Josh @ Apr 25th 2008 3:08PM
Oh STFU
drosh @ Apr 25th 2008 3:27PM
Yes, please shove comments like this up your arse.
DMBoyleDesign @ Apr 25th 2008 5:06PM
Unfortunately for our friend broli, getting things such as 1024 levels of pressure sensitivity, as well as tilt and rotation sensitivity, and 24-bit color with exceptional color accuracy (these last two things on the Cintiq line) will not happen in a notebook any time soon.
Currently most tablet PCs are overpriced and underpowered for running applications like Photoshop and Painter. They generally have 256 levels of pressure sensitivity and fairly low resolution laptop grade LCD panels. Anyone currently running most of the artistic software out there is going to use a tablet for the higher accuracy, and if they have the money for it they'd get a Cintiq for it's higher grade panel and capabilities than a artistically challenged tablet PC. I'm not ragging on the tablet PCs, they just aren't suited for art applications.
Sorry for using so much text space on a comment like that, I just enjoy burying mindless comments from someone who has no experience in that given area.
d840 @ Apr 25th 2008 11:41PM
Oh yeah, because everyone can afford $1,800+ for a Macbook Air.....
And of course, even if people can't afford a macbook air, they still WANT a computer with a marginally useless USB port and no DVD burner (or even CD rom drive, for that matter).
d840 @ Apr 25th 2008 11:56PM
Seriously, how well is a MBA going to handle Z-brush with extremely high-poly models? Or Maya? What about trying to render the result?
What about upgrading?
No thanks, I'd take a desktop and a Wacom Cintiq or Genius G-Pen M712 over a macbook air ANYday, especially for any kind of art.
Chris @ Apr 25th 2008 3:02PM
I've spent 6 years using the intuos line of tablets professionally. My friend recently brought over his bamboo (same size but $200 less). I tried it out and could tell literally no difference whatsoever from his $200 bamboo and my $400 intuos 3. None. they preformed identically, which is to say smooth and precise. What I'm saying is, the $200 8x6 Bamboo is just as good as the $400 8x6 intuos 3. So if you're in the market for a cheaper tablet, that'd be the one to get.
DMBoyleDesign @ Apr 25th 2008 5:18PM
Chris is partially right on his assessment of the Bamboo vs. Intuos. The Intuos 3 line (as well as the Cintiq line) features tilt and rotation sensitivity which the Bamboo does not. For some people those features aren't worth the extra cash but it all depends on what programs and work you plan on doing.
The Bamboo is a great little tablet for most any application. Very smooth and precise just as Chris said. And yes, if you want a good cheap tablet, I'd also go Bamboo.
Full disclosure: I use a Cintiq 12WX with my desktop computer and a 4x6 Intuos 3 with the notebook. If the Bamboo were available when I got the "sketch" tablet I would have gotten that instead.
Chris @ Apr 25th 2008 6:05PM
ah. Right you are. I've never had a need of tilt, so I didn't even think about it.
bob @ Apr 25th 2008 3:23PM
nice enough hadware, Terrible Terrible Drivers (for mac anyway) dont bother
bvocal @ Apr 25th 2008 3:33PM
if these were tablet pc's with fair prices and modest specs to, you know, be a very cool sketch pad.... yum!
I have a great mini photoshop program on my tilt, but it is just a bit to small and underpowered and, of course, no pressure sensitivity.
As it is the old tablet form is getting old, we want to draw right on the picture!
Greg Combs @ Apr 25th 2008 3:44PM
Looks like it's already on TigerDirect.com .... http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3756988&CatId=140
Eric M @ Apr 25th 2008 4:05PM
If you have a mac, do not get this. The mac drivers are terrible. I got the M609 last week from Newegg. I returned it within 2 days and got a Wacom Intious3 from Costco online ($70 less then MSRP, $100 less than Newegg!).
You can see my review on Newegg (I also put an in-depth trashing on my blog, but Ill be a good boy and not link to it).
Also, the '2' scroll wheels cannot be mapped independently, and the pen is unnecessarily large.
whatishalo? @ Apr 25th 2008 5:41PM
Now we know what the Ohio Art Company did with the old inventory of etch-a-sketch's....flip 'em upside down and presto....pen tablet!
aaraaf @ Apr 25th 2008 5:44PM
As far as tablet PCs go, I'd bet you couldn't tell the difference in drawings I've done on my 512 level tablet PC compared to my 1024 level 21" Cintiq. Doesn't mean that the Cintiq isn't nicer to use, but the portability of my penabled tablet PC (also a Wacom product) is absolute heaven.
I like these guys keeping Wacom competetive and on their toes.
As for the large pen... I really like larger pens. They tend to stress your hand out less over the course of many hours use. Does this pen have a battery in it?
Eric M @ Apr 28th 2008 9:04AM
Yes, it does have a AAA battery in it. I think Wacom is the only company that makes batteryless active tablet pens. I don't mind 'large' like the Intious Grip Pen, but the one with this tablet was just uncomfortable and awkward, with some edges in the gripping area from plastic seems. They hurt after a while.
Also, no eraser end.
d840 @ Apr 26th 2008 12:06AM
I would assume it does. My Genius F610 has a AAA battery in the pen.
I believe Genius is the AMD of tablets, always keeping the larger company on their toes.........
Destro @ Apr 26th 2008 12:30AM
I wish there was more competition in the input tablet market today. As it is now, Wacom is the only true player and their products are way over priced because of it. I use the Intuos3 6 x 11 at work (which is incredible)... I want to get one for myself at home, but I can't swing it at $370 new. Maybe I'll try ebay or amazon or buy.com.
To1ne @ Apr 26th 2008 7:50AM
Well, I'm not impressed. I bought this tablet about 6 months ago from another producent. AIPTEK
The link of the tablet:
http://www.aiptek.eu/index.php?option=com_product&task=view&productid=152&Itemid=255
The tablet looks identical and the specifications are the same...
This tablet is the first I've ever bought, so I can't compare it with other tablets. But I'm very happy with it.
Dale Dietrich @ Apr 28th 2008 9:44AM
Guy, I'm a lawyer and have been looking for a tablet that I can connect to my main PC as both a screen extender and, obviously, tablet functionality. I want it to markup contracts (you know, strike out sentences, draw arrow where text is to be added and such). The Wacom's always looked great but were overkill and too pricy. Can any of you recommend which of all possible tablets would be best. I don't need any fancy features, just the ability to write on it on a Word or .pdf document underneath so it looks like you have red hen scratching on it - just like if I was marking up a paper version of the contract. Ideally it would be the same size of paper 8/12 x 11. Otherwise, I don't need ANY advanced features.
Recommendations?