Wacom's Bamboo multitouch tablets finally go official, for formality's sake

There's really little point to this now, but a solid week after consumers in the US began picking up the Wacom Bamboo multitouch tablet, the outfit has come clean and confessed that it actually approved the production of that very device. Granted, there's still some merit to the release, particularly since a foursome of new wares are being introduced. The second-generation Bamboo line will initially consist of the Bamboo, Bamboo Fun, Bamboo Pen and Bamboo Touch, some of which (we'll let you guess) are the company's first to support multitouch functionality as well as pen input. Prices are said to start at £49.99 ($81) for the Bamboo Pen and soar right on up to £169.99 ($276) for the Bamboo Fun Medium, and if you're interested in finding the one that fits your style, give that read link a look.

[scbb11Sketch Posted Sep 24th 2009 11:29AM]

Bamboo this, and Bamboo that. How about Cintiq, Cintiq Fun, and Cintiq Touch. Then ya got a deal.

[DazGenetic Posted Sep 24th 2009 11:29AM]

Why are you converting prices, when you can get the official prices right from the source?

Bamboo - $99 (Both Pen & Touch)
Bamboo Pen - $69 (Pen only)
Bamboo Touch - $69 (Touch only)
Bamboo Fun - $129 (Silver version of Pen & Touch with additional software)
Bamboo Craft - $129 (Medium sized silver version of Pen and Touch with additional software)

http://www.wacom.com/bamboo/index.php

[Muu Posted Sep 24th 2009 11:53AM]

site says 129 for Craft (Silver version), 199 for Fun (8x6 ver).

Can't really fathom the idea of having a touch surface in addition to a mouse for day-to-day operations. Might be useful though if I can chop off the number/arrow key area of my KB off and replace it with this kinda device, which could switch between touch input and numeric pad. Otherwise where ever I place it it'd be a little more out of the way than just moving the cursor over w/ a mouse.

[DazGenetic Posted Sep 24th 2009 12:02PM]

In Photoshop CS4, it would be very handy to use the touch features of the tablet to navigate the canvas, while using the pen to make adjustments to the image. I can imagine this improving workflow significantly.

[LAY Posted Sep 24th 2009 12:10PM]

I got my wacom tablet for 5.00 at a garage sale, otherwise I wouldn't shove out that much money for something like this.

[mabhatter Posted Sep 24th 2009 1:30PM]

The larger silver one would work nicely with the smaller keyboards Apple offers to solve just the problems you have. Because it's touch you shouldn't need a mouse most of the time. I have the old silver bamboo (pen) and it's quite nice next to a laptop covering the mouse & pen needs. And it packs up nicely too.

[Flaystus Posted Sep 24th 2009 11:43AM]

I want one but how weird would this make playing WOW?

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 24th 2009 11:48AM]

I wonder how long before one of these is chopped into a netbook (yeah, I said it, NETBOOK NEEEETTTBOOOOOOK come get me Psion)

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 24th 2009 12:49PM]

Comment to create an account linked to my proper e-mail - Deleting my old e-mail.

[Levi Posted Sep 24th 2009 6:18PM]

DOWN VOTE HIM!!!!

[Bob Posted Sep 24th 2009 12:52PM]

Kinda wished they would of put some of those features in the intuos4 large I just bought...

[Wwhat Posted Sep 24th 2009 8:13PM]

Fancy, but if you are that loaded buy a secondary touch maybe?

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 24th 2009 1:19PM]

I like the "Bamboo" Font.

[gerrrg Posted Sep 24th 2009 1:38PM]

http://www.shopblt.com/cgi-bin/shop/shop.cgi?action=enter&thispage=0110045005013_BBX1821P.shtml&order_id=!ORDERID!

Apparently people want the combo unit with pen and touch...already on backorder, even if stock doesn't arrive until 10/7.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 24th 2009 3:14PM]

Is it only two finger gestures? or with a future update will it do up to four finger gestures like MacBooks?

[Wwhat Posted Sep 24th 2009 8:14PM]

More a question to mail to them than to ask us.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 24th 2009 7:40PM]

If you want to talk with Wacom users about the new tablet, be sure to check out the newly redesigned Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/Wacom

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 24th 2009 7:40PM]

Guys,


Could anyone tell me whether this two-finger pinch zoom will work with Adobe Photoshop CS3? Cause I won't be upgrading my PS anytime soon and I'm wondering whether to get this Bamboo Fun A6 for some retouch work.


Thanks

[Plothole Posted Sep 24th 2009 8:09PM]

If and when they implement this in the Intuos line I will have the perfect excuse to upgrade from my current Intuos 3.

[The Evil Prince Zorte Posted Sep 24th 2009 8:24PM]

I would be interested in the combo touch/pen. I use an Intuos for navigation all day editing video, instead of a mouse (I would have carpal tunnel by now otherwise). The touch would be nice because I wouldn't have to pick up and put down the pen all the time, or palm it while typing. The touch-only version works like a laptop trackpad however, with relative positioning. I would need the pen version for the 1:1 relationship between monitor and tablet.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 24th 2009 10:51PM]

Exactly. I've got the original Bamboo because it was about $65 and allowed me to do some occasional Photoshop/Illustrator work; the tablet functionality for a low price. I definitely couldn't see going for the "touch only" version and sacrificing my penning ability. For $30 more, I'll gladly pay for both functions.

I do have to say, though, this looks fatter and much uglier than the original... (Bamboo, NOT Bamboo Fun)

[Wwhat Posted Sep 24th 2009 8:15PM]

Or don't like me.

[Wwhat Posted Sep 24th 2009 8:16PM]

Thanks engadget comment system THANKS A LOT, sigh
I know everything I say is fascinating but that was a reply not a standalone comment.

[Wwhat Posted Sep 24th 2009 8:19PM]

I guess you can't comment to threads with names with an apostrophe in them then.