Wacom Bamboo Fun Pen & Touch
Multitouch gestures add flexibility to the Wacom line.
If you’ve become accustomed to the MacBook’s multitouch capabilities, you’ll find yourself missing them when you use a desktop Mac. Wacom has an answer, care of its recently refreshed Bamboo line, which adds a new take on tablet input. We tested the Bamboo Fun, which recognizes the pen, as well as touch input from your fingers--including some multitouch gestures. For long-time tablet users who are used to pen-only control, the addition of touch capabilities is nice, especially in image editors like Photoshop and iPhoto, where using two-finger pinches and reverse pinches can zoom in and out of images. You can also use gestures to rotate images. It’s not a feature that comes into play all that often, but it’s welcome when you do need it. There are nine touch gestures in total, but they’re all limited to one- and two-finger motions--and that’s one to two fingers short of the three- and four-finger gestures supported by the latest MacBooks.
Touch and go.
The Bamboo uses a proximity sensor in the pen to switch between Pen mode and Touch mode. The sensor does an admirable job of kicking into Pen mode whenever the stylus tip or eraser is within a quarter-inch of the tablet’s surface. For the most part, this works great. But since we’re used to leaving our hands resting on the tablet while working, we kept inadvertently initiating gestures with our fingers when the pen was raised above the surface. Fortunately, you can easily turn the touch feature off with one of the four programmable buttons along the side of the tablet.
Wacom has increased the sensitivity on the new Bamboo Fun, so the device now recognizes 1,024 levels of pressure. The difference might not be noticeable to casual tablet users, but creative types working in Painter, Illustrator, Photoshop, and similar programs will appreciate the increased flexibility.
The pen is sturdy and its two-button rocker feels solid and is easy to operate by feel. Wacom ditched the pen holder that was included with earlier tablets, which was basically a weighted base to store the pen when not in use. In its place is a loop of red fabric on the side of the tablet that you slide the pen into. The fabric loop is fine for securing your pen at the end of the day, but if you pick up and put down your pen often, placing it in the loop can be frustrating, compared to just setting it in the old holder.
The evolution of the Bamboo consumer line continues at a nice pace with the wonderful new touch feature. Even the lack of three- and four-finger gestures and the missing pen holder doesn't take away from the Bamboo Fun's new features and higher level of sensitivity.
Bamboo Fun Pen & Touch
COMPANY: Wacom
CONTACT: www.wacom.com
PRICE: $199.99
REQUIREMENTS: Powered USB port, Mac OS 10.4.8 or later.
Touch support offers increased input flexibility. 1,024 levels of pen sensitivity.
Pen holder is an awkward fabric loop. Touch-sensitive tablet can pick up unintentional gestures from your resting hand. No three- or four-finger gestures.
Score
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Elissa3456
April 10, 2010 at 5:12am
The seven I’m introducing today is the Bamboo Fun Pen & Touch, fundamentally part of the Bamboo range that’s catered towards personal use but that’s not to say you can’t use it for serious work. :) The industrial grade tablets prefered by graphic designers are under the Intuos & Cintiq series. watchanimeonline
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April 09, 2010 at 7:08pm
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Elissa3456
April 08, 2010 at 4:15am
The Wacom Bamboo Fun Pen & Touch is the first tablet combining multi-touch functionality & pen tablet technology in a single device for more natural-looking paintings or drawings. It is perfect if you require complete control with a choice of pen or finger tap input.
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Elissa3456
April 01, 2010 at 11:23am
The new Bamboo Fun combines functionality and multi-touch tablet pen technology on a single device. A simple touch of a finger select an icon or open a menu. With two fingers can easily zoom and rotate photos, scroll down web pages, or flip through a photo album.
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juniehepzi
March 29, 2010 at 9:08pm
Its good to see..... I like new launches..... this model fun pen comes with different colors..... I hope every one love this art supplies....
Thanks
sidkof
March 28, 2010 at 12:09pm
The Wacom Bamboo Fun Pen & Touch CTH661 ($199) also has multitouch and pen input, but comes in silver and is larger. buy salwar kameez
Violet
March 12, 2010 at 2:51am
Thats a great news! As for me I like it immensely. The only disadvantage is that you should be too careful with it. I've read a book about Apple (found it at rapidshare SE http://rapidpedia.com ). They are always one step ahead.
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LeftClicker
November 05, 2009 at 7:48pm
The Bamboo (Pen and Touch) is not $199. It is only $99. Look here: http://www.wacom.com/bamboo/bamboo_pen_touch.php
== LeftClicker ==
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