Wacom Intuos4 tablet caught out of the box, in the wild

Still no official word on its existence, but one forum poster happened to stumble upon an out-of-the-box display for the Wacom Intuos4 pen tablet while browsing through a brick-and-mortar Future Shop. Lucky for us, he thought to snap a few pics, albeit 'shopped to appear in the traditional blurrycam art style. No word on pricing or availability, but let's hope Wacom isn't planning to tease us too much longer.

Update: An anonymous tipster managed to snap a photo of a Future Shop inventory screen that shows four Intuos4 models and pricing: 4 x 6 inch small for $299, 6 x 9 inch medium for $479, 8 x 13 inch large for $999, and 12 x 19 extra large for $649 (all prices Canadian). No clue why the extra large one is over $300 cheaper. They're all apparently in stock at the distribution center, but there's no word on when they'll actually ship to stores.

[Thanks, Joseph]

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 22nd 2009 3:03PM]

Looks nice! I'm sure it'll be great for the arty farty types :)

[Information Central Posted Mar 23rd 2009 4:33AM]

As usual, WAY overpriced.

[Shinigami Posted Mar 23rd 2009 3:19PM]

I think its a typo and meant to be 1,6k, not 0.6k for the biggest.
And I agree that its cool, and I also agree its totally overpriced. If you really want one, you can buy a touch-screen and attach it to a 19-inch monitor (which you'll buy) and save some money on this... Though it won't be as precise as this thing.

[capttylor34 Posted Mar 22nd 2009 3:14PM]

Those buttons on the side kinda look like they could be OLED

[Colin B Posted Mar 22nd 2009 4:23PM]

No...no they don't. They look like gray plastic.

[capttylor34 Posted Mar 22nd 2009 4:32PM]

I meant to say the labels net to the buttons not the buttons specifically. The labels next to them have the specific mac command symbols on them, it seems silly that they would make a OS specific tablet, because then you would need to produce 2-3 different tablets to make everyone happy. They could have an insert underneath the plastic, but seeing that there is no break in the plastic on the left-hand picture, that means you would need to remove the entire panel, which seems dumb. So even if its just a mock up or something, I'm gonna keep dreaming those are OLEDs net to the buttons.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 22nd 2009 3:15PM]

If you select products on the Wacom website and go to the intuos part you'll see a small movie and at the end of it it sais march 25.

So it will probebly be released that day.

[dagamer34 Posted Mar 22nd 2009 3:19PM]

What's with blurry cam for unreleased product pics? It's as if people are snapping the photo while running away (and yet they often take multiple shots!)

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 22nd 2009 4:15PM]

Don't you know? It's an old tradition.

[Oli D Posted Mar 22nd 2009 4:30PM]

good pictures would ruin the potential for commenters to leave their ideas on how the final product will turn out, its textbook.

[briane87 Posted Mar 23rd 2009 9:32PM]

did you hear about jim kramer talking about people with the apple fakes/rumors to drive up stock prices? i think its becoming a popular thing.. maybe the pictures arent taken by just some guy.. maybe its someone who has profit to make from the increased interest.. blogs debating about whether its real or not for a month, then it comes out, and they get excited again because its real

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 22nd 2009 3:26PM]

Lets be honest here, the only thing good about the Intuos4 is that it will bring inevitable Intuos3 price drops before Wacom realizes this and then jacks the prices up on those too and then we will have even cheaper Intuos4's Muahaha!

[jol Posted Mar 22nd 2009 3:28PM]

I would totally use this if I could actually see what I was writing.

[Oli D Posted Mar 22nd 2009 4:30PM]

Monitor..?

[weg Posted Mar 22nd 2009 6:05PM]

http://www.wacom.com/cintiq/

[Wwhat Posted Mar 22nd 2009 8:17PM]

After a short time you hardly notice that it's separate from where your eyes are pointing and you can hit the same spot after lifting your hand, I have a simple wacom tablet and I'd have the same complaint if I hadn't experienced it myself, not that having a display under it isn't extra sweet and enhances it all, but it's actually less of a hindrance than you'd expect to not have that.

[Plothole Posted Mar 22nd 2009 8:22PM]

I've been using a tablet for several years. After the first few weeks I ceased to even notice the separation of input(tablet) and output(monitor). It just takes practice.

[morissen3k8 Posted Mar 23rd 2009 6:45AM]

they have wacom lcd tablet versions that are extremely priced like 1k+ laptop... great idea not feasible for the average consumer. i think i'll wait for the slower asus 10" tablet netbook.

[Sponge Posted Mar 23rd 2009 11:52AM]

I love my tablet PC, but these people are right. If you use a tablet like this for any period of time, it will become second nature.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 22nd 2009 3:58PM]

The extra shortcut buttons will be useful. I hope they have a version for those of us that hold the pen in our left hand.

[CharlieX Posted Mar 22nd 2009 3:59PM]

the problem with Wacom is their gear never breaks. I still have and use daily a ugly beige plastic Intuos 1.

[erf Posted Mar 23rd 2009 9:54AM]

I'm still happily using my Blue Intuos 2 6x8.

[Tweak589 Posted Mar 22nd 2009 4:27PM]

You flip it over numbnuts

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 22nd 2009 5:37PM]

Based on the previous Intuos models, the placement of the palm rest and USB cord make "flipping it" weak considering the cost.

[plexusXXX Posted Mar 22nd 2009 4:40PM]

If you would have any balls at all you would'nt have posted this crap.
Obviously you are an eunuch and a jerk too.

[blanka Posted Mar 22nd 2009 4:43PM]

Run for version 3 as long as it is available. This is even worse design-wise.
And this:
http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2008/12/silverpainted_plastic_gadgets_must_die-2.html
Why do gizmomakers never learn??? Aarrrgh.
My Wacom 3 pen is half silver, half light grey now, and the mouse is looking crap too after 2 years. Half the paint came off.

[JTVD Posted Mar 22nd 2009 5:44PM]

Agree, my mouse looks like crap, paint has come off everywhere. also, dust and debris manages to sneak in under the overlay and makes for a bumpy surface. It's impossible to get this completely clean despite many efforts. I never use the buttons on the tablet, have a little Apple BT keyboard right next to it and use all my shortcuts on that. Cannot be bothered to program them, not in very ergonomic position for me at least. the mouse is great (functionality-wise)

[M Posted Mar 22nd 2009 4:56PM]

Bought a Intuos3 3 months ago and I'm very happy with it, got it as a between-device before I hop on the cintiq. Wondering if there's a few designchanges coming for the cintiq line as well?

Hope not, I love the layout on the Intuos3 line now (the cintiq is the same).

[BOGRASH Posted Mar 22nd 2009 4:59PM]

no-one uses the wacom mouse unless they are a total gay

[Tohe Posted Mar 22nd 2009 6:01PM]

I'm gay and I don't, oh and you are lame : )

[Plothole Posted Mar 22nd 2009 8:43PM]

The mouse has its uses. For one thing the fluff on the bottom is a effective at removing dust from the tablet surface. Also realize that every one of its buttons is fully programmable.

[finbred Posted Mar 23rd 2009 4:26AM]

Oh dear, I'm a bit worried how my wife and kids will take this news...

You use the pen for everything you do? The intuos mouse acts like a cordless mouse with 5 programmable buttons + scroll wheel. I've programmed them to do the following.
FL (FrontLeft): click
FR: right-click
LS (LeftSide) jump to previous application
RS previous document/window (in same application)
ScrollWheelClick: next document/window

Wouldn't give it up, speeds layout work and photo editing. And I just move the mouse to the side and pick the pen for things better done with it.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 22nd 2009 6:23PM]

looks like the demo unit at my work?

[Ancha Posted Mar 22nd 2009 6:17PM]

If you go in the products site for europe in wacom, there's a video about sth that will appear at 3/25/2009.... maybe it's about this new product....

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 22nd 2009 6:28PM]

Yep, I confirm it's already available at Best Buy and Futureshop in Canada.

[Wwhat Posted Mar 22nd 2009 8:27PM]

In this case it should not significantly increase cost if they simply use a small separate PCB for the buttons part to have a version with it on the other side, and seeing so many people are lefthanded, including the president, you'd think it's not unreasonable to take such a sizeable segment of the global population into account.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 22nd 2009 9:00PM]

I've received an Intuos4 through Amazon Vine. I've posted my first impressions and photos here: http://www.thatposhgirl.com

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 23rd 2009 12:42AM]

awesome. thanks.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 22nd 2009 9:09PM]

By the way. The price shows up attached to my review at Amazon. It's $349.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 22nd 2009 9:11PM]

As per this website, the price for Wacom Intuos4 Small seems to be $229:
http://74.125.47.132/search?q=cache:OccmxbkIkqwJ:www.pcsuperstore.com/products/V19132-Wacom_Academic-PTK440.html+intuos4+small&cd=6&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us

or

http://74.125.47.132/search?q=cache:oNx2oarXjeIJ:www.costcentral.com/proddetail/Wacom_Technology_INTUOS4_SMALL_PEN_TABLET_INCLUDES_BUNDLED_SOFTWARE_DOWNLOADS/PTK440/V19132/+intuos4+small&cd=8&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us

[FadedSpark Posted Mar 22nd 2009 9:14PM]

this is news? I have like 10 in stock at my best buy... *shrugs* Did we miss some release date memo?

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 22nd 2009 9:44PM]

Hey, be nice. Read the link, the reason for the blurrycam is a mixture of a little bit of excitement of seeing it, but mainly blurrycam is the product of a shocking iPhone camera.

Apple would be proud of the picture quality

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 23rd 2009 3:26AM]

Still waiting for a leftie-friendly version

[erf Posted Mar 23rd 2009 10:00AM]

Don't wait just for the mouse. if you need a tablet, get a tablet. The tablets are not right or left hand specific.

[thebadmintonking Posted Mar 23rd 2009 11:43AM]

Seriously? Are people on here really this oblivious? Take note of the asymmetrical design, my son.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 22nd 2009 11:22PM]

Are those prices CAD or USD? Future Shop being a Canadian company, CAD would make sense.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 23rd 2009 1:20AM]

http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=100821
hot pics

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 23rd 2009 12:56AM]

in for redesigned cintiq

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 23rd 2009 1:59AM]

No for redesigned Cintiq! It would make me too sad. I just bought mine in October :(

[pavelbure Posted Mar 23rd 2009 1:39AM]

am i missing something here ? my intuos 3 6x11 last year was about $350, why the big price jump ?