Wacom Cintiq 21UX hands-on

It's almost too much to take in all at once. Sure, the $1,999 Cintiq 21UX pen display is priced out of reach for most of us mere mortals who "don't draw good," but the pure lustworthiness of this unit sure makes us try to forget that inconvenient fact. The expanded movability of Wacom's latest is commendable, the pen input is naturally great, the screen is beautiful, and even those new rear-mounted touchpads seem helpful. It would take someone much more familiar with professional draw-ist-ing to really speak to the more specific merits of the 21UX, but from a mere standpoint of inspiring irrational desire in our hearts, Wacom seems to have done a pretty good job this time out. Check out a video of the screen in action after the break.

Wacom Cintiq 21UX hands-on

[cjwild Posted Mar 14th 2010 7:07PM]

@xenoxaos

lol i wish, me want

[dggraphics Posted Mar 12th 2010 7:36PM]

I have the previous model 21UX and love it although, I had to send it back to wacom as the backlight died not even 1 year after purchase. They fixed it but it appears to be dying again. :(

[jellotime91 Posted Mar 12th 2010 7:57PM]

DO WANT.

DOOO WAAANT!!!

omg. Wow. That thing is a beast!

[evolutionofnonsens Posted Mar 12th 2010 8:18PM]

I can't help but notice that there's a noticeable lag when he is drawing on it. Isn't that the kind of thing that sort of shouldn't need to be there in the year 2010 (also known as the future)? I don't draw digitally, but that would kill some of the intuitiveness for me.

Apart from that - quite an impressive device!

[10inchpower Posted Mar 12th 2010 11:55PM]

@evolutionofnonsens : thats photoshop, not the tablet. which is why I stated people should sketch in sketchbook pro 2010, then move to photoshop for finishes.

[evolutionofnonsens Posted Mar 13th 2010 5:26AM]

@10inchpower - I didn't know that, so good to know. Thanks for the info! Bad photoshop... :-)

[dresam Posted Mar 12th 2010 9:09PM]

How's the color on this thing?

I'm trying to justify it, being that I have to replace my Intous2 (my pen finally broke the other day; it's now two pieces taped together, but still works). My monitor sucks as well. So....

Rather than by a new monitor and an Intuous4, I could possibly maybe justify this cost... but only if it works well as a secondary monitor for color corrections.

[Drayonis Posted Mar 12th 2010 10:32PM]

I bought a Cintiq21UX last year and as a cartoonist it's made a major difference in the way I get my work done. The price really is irrelevant when you getting such a quality product.
thedogyears.com

[classiccool Posted Mar 12th 2010 10:36PM]

I was just there playing w/ it at the GDC..!
this is great improvement over the last version..
the screen is better, not too bright, good color..
& the pen responsiveness of the intous 4..
too bad its not shipping in good numbers yet..
even the wacom guys have to wait until first week of April to get one..
if I can only sell a kidney for one.. sigh..

[itsmiguel Posted Mar 12th 2010 11:32PM]

Adobe really needs to step their shit up. I wish they would team up with a hardware company and make a 10" tablet with a custom version of photoshop, use Wacom tech (or better) and also a great touchscreen OS for everyday use like on the iPad. I would pay $1999 for that. But being tethered to your desktop in order to use your Cintiq really hinders your creativity. Do Not Buy!

[DavidTH Posted Mar 13th 2010 2:28AM]

My school has 24 of these monitors, one for each of the macs in our mac lab haha

[sharkync Posted Mar 13th 2010 11:16AM]

And I thought my Monoprice < $40 tablet was cool?

[bspence11 Posted Mar 13th 2010 6:36PM]

Why does Engadget say the touch strips on the back are new? My Cintiq has them. They're excellent. I use them constantly, they're very well placed to make them used frequently but without getting in the way. I wish my model had those light up keys though. I don't use the 'express keys' much because it's hard to remember which button does what.

[Mike V Posted Mar 14th 2010 7:41PM]

These things don't do it for me.

I've never used one, but I really think I prefer the traditional set-up of ordinary Wacom and big monitor(s).

To me it would be weird stylusing on the monitor.

[Spartikiss Posted Mar 15th 2010 4:11AM]

I'll be getting one... When it comes with multi-touch...

[DarkGrimoire Posted Mar 15th 2010 6:40AM]

I want to switch from my tablet to sumthing like this. What I want to know is, can this be used for using other types of software? like video editing, 3d modelling, etc?

[gentlefury Posted Mar 17th 2010 6:12PM]

Why are they still using thick heavy bulky lcd? When are they going to get a .5 inch thick light led?