Wacom's Intuos4 tablet gets put through its paces
By Joseph L. Flatley 
posted Mar 25th 2009 9:42AM
posted Mar 25th 2009 9:42AM
If you're a digital artist, there's a good chance you've had your eye on Wacom's new Intuos4 tablets. The gang at PC Magazine have just put one through the ringer -- and have been kind enough to post a review for all and sundry to peep as well. According to the reviewer, the device occupies a "sweet spot" in the company's lineup. While offering decent resolution and pressure sensitivity when compared to the cut-rate Bamboo (the Intuos4 responds to as little as one gram of pressure), it still can't hold a candle to the Cintiq series -- except in price. The latter will run you up to two grand, while Wacom's newest starts at $229 and includes any two of: Photoshop Elements, Autodesk Sketchbook Express, and Corel Painter Sketch Pad. But that ain't all -- be sure to hit that read link for the full review.
why, why, WHY do they throw in crappy software with these things?!??!!?
Most people who buy graphics tablets have the software they need to use it with, and I can promise it's not "Elements."
All it does is unnecessarily drive up the cost of the tablet.
I bought a Bamboo last year. I Was happy that it came with elements (although I ultimately decided on Pixelmator). The free software nearly paid for the actual tablet.
The Intuos line is geared more towards the professional, who most likely already has the CS4 Suite or something comparable.
Offering discounted software as an option would be fine, but don't force someone to purchase inferior software if they don't need it. It's just not necessary with this product.
hey,just sell the software to someone else...
When I bought mine several years back, I got elements with it and $250 or $300 off of photoshop. If you are planning to buy photoshop anyway, it pretty much makes the wacom free.
I'm not sure that they still do this. It would make less sense to me for them to package expensive software with it and charge twice as much. These days, I barely even use photoshop in favor of Aperture.
sorry... missed the last line of your comment and therefore the whole point. If elements does drive up the price, then I agree with you 100%
It would be nice if they offered a hardware-only version for those like yourself. In the meantime, Elements really is a great piece of software and plenty of people you know--okay, maybe just your parents--would benefit from receiving it from you anyway.
I shouldn't be harsh against the software, that's not really fair.
My point is that someone buying a professional piece of hardware most likely does not need a "more economic" (ie watered down) piece of software to come with it, and the people that *only* need Elements are not necessarily the target audience for a professional graphics tablet.
It just adds to the cost of the product. If Adobe really wants to have a software impact with the tablet, how about a coupon code good for $50 off the purchase of the full version (or upgrade) of Photoshop? To me, something like that would make a helluva lot more sense.
The (often) cut-down bundles are enough of a taste to show them the capabilities of the software and the tablet.
I have no doubt both Wacom and those making the software for the tablet benefit (financially) from these types of bundles, making it a win-win for all, and important to sell the tablet - especially to users that have never worked artistically on the PC. To go without the software would mean less sales and more returns from their customers, I reckon. I doubt the cost will go down much not having these included. Because both benefit, both Wacom and those who make the software, I'm sure some nice deals are sewn up between them.
As long as they don't bundle arcsoft stuff you should be happy.
they really uglified these things haven't they. glad my Intuos3 is treating me right.
Hey Engadget! how about you offer up some of these as a recession cure!
The big question is....When will they produce one that uses a "touch screen" so that you can work directly on the image without coordinating between the tablet and the monitor?
A touchscreen, sure. You mean a digitizer behind a TFT display. That's the Wacom Cintiq. And if you want something portable, then you can buy a tablet PC (it also has a Wacom digitizer, just a bit inferior)
the big answer is, err about 6 years ago?
"While offering decent resolution and pressure sensitivity when compared to the cut-rate Bamboo (the Intuos4 responds to as little as one gram of pressure), it still can't hold a candle to the Cintiq series -- except in price."
This sentence implies that the resolution is only "decent" when compared to the bamboo. Resolution is the same for the Intuos and the Cintiq, and twice as good on the Intuos.
"It still can't hold a candle to the Cintiq series" seems to be your editorial comment, not the reviewers. I've had both a Cintiq and many Intuos tablets and I ended up preferring the Intuos--working directly on screen is fun, but sometimes not the best scenario for detail work.
the cintiq uses intuos 3 technology. therefore the I4 is better, just doesnt have an lcd on top of it.
These tablets get so much coverage you could start to think they were being made by Apple.
maybe because Wacom has something like a monopoly on graphic tablets? And because the Intuos 3 line was somehow 'perfect' everyone wonders what they could have improved.
Their graphic tablets are also very expensive, but in great demand. And a new product means, hopefully, less expensive older, but still perfectly working, products.
So is this like a netbook,,???
since when was engadget allowing facebookers to comment?
So, is this a compelling upgrade from the Intuos3?
Want to buy a Wacom or wackum or waycom, but why is the device so huge compared to the actual drawing space?
The extra space is for your hand. It would be very difficult to operate the stylus at the edge of the tablet with any accuracy if you didn't have a place to rest your palm.
I'm glad they designed it to be used by left and right handed people, I know that was a big complaint but. I'm still loving my 6x11 Intuos3 though.
The Cintiq series is superior in use, but not in quality. Mine's been in the shop for a month, ugh. Wacom knows tablets but not LCDs. If they didn't have that patent, we would see a ton of great and innovative screens from all sorts of manufacturers. If, if, if......
i just want to read about the 21ux replacement, hurry up wacom, i know it's in the works!
Keith, I almost purchased a Cintiq and canceled the order before it was shipped. I chose the Intuos 3 instead. I've been second guessing myself for over a year now and then you wrote what you wrote. You made me happy I chose for the non-LCD model. Thanks.
I have 2 intuos3 tablets and a Cintiq 12wx. I don't know if a bump in the resolution is enough for me to replace my intuos3. Need a better compelling reason for an upgrade of sensitivity, because the intuos3 is really great with Photoshop, Corel Painter. If need to really paint or draw I just switch to my Cintiq. But When I work on Illusrator, Intuos3 rocks. The double resolution won't make that much of difference. So it is really all a matter of what you use these with. But if you don't have a tablet, I envy you for buying a new intuos4, but those who have an intuos3, I think we are still good to go for a while. I rather save my money and buy a new 17" MBP.
Would you recommend the Cintiq 12wx over the Intuos 4? There are alot of mixed reviews on the Cintiq... and for that price, i'm a little hesitant in purchasing it.