Wacom Got it Right With The New Graphire4

I’ve tried pen tablets twice before; both times left me wondering why anyone other then the most hardcore artists use it, but Wacom’s new Graphire4 got it right this time. The Graphire is the low-priced product line for Wacom, but I think it’s perfect for most computer users out there. I say computer instead of Mac because it works with both the PC and Mac. Let’s look at some of the reasons I’ve switched over to the Graphire4 permanently.

First let’s look at the specs. I am using the 6×8 inch tablet which runs about $199 retail. The smaller sized 4×5 costs only $99 and is a great starting point for the average computer user. Wacom also produces a 6×8 inch Bluetooth model, but I’m using the USB model.

The tablet comes in white, silver, or metallic blue to go with any hardware you have. When you purchase the tablet, you receive the Graphire4 6×8 pen tablet, pen, pen stand, and mouse. Also you’ll get 2 CDs with Wacom tablet driver software, user manual, and bundled software.

The software for the Mac is a little less than for the PC, but the reason is that the Graphire4 takes advantage of the Ink technology in OS X so it works with a ton of Mac software. Here’s the software you’ll get, Adobe Photoshop Elements 3 - Windows 2000, XP, or Mac OS X 10.2.8+, Corel Painter Essentials 2 - Windows 2000, XP, or Mac OS X 10.2.8+, nik Color Efex Pro 2 GE - Windows 98SE, 2000, Me, XP, or Mac OS X 10.2.8+, Adobe Photoshop Elements 3, Evernote Plus - Windows 2000 or XP, and Justwrite Office 4 - Windows 98SE, 2000, Me, or XP. That’s a nice bundle for either platform.

[Read about Graphire4 at Surfbits.com]

[tags]mouse,tablet,wacom,graphire4,pen,mac hardware[/tags]