Agentless Backup is Not a Myth
As a general display for web browsing, e-mail or text-based tasks, using a pen to navigate feels more awkward than beneficial. A standard mouse, of course, is the simple solution here, and I found that using a mouse as well helped the process. It makes most sense to use the Cintiq as a second monitor, reserved purely for illustration work.
Pricey, but could well suit old-school artists moving into the digital domain
Indeed, this might be the best way to go, as seasoned Wacom users will be aware, the surface of a traditional tablet soon gets scratched with repeated pen use. I haven’t used the Cintiq for long enough to know if this will be the case here, but having a plastic, rather than a glass surface – no doubt necessary for pressure sensitivity – suggests that scratching may well take place, which, on a tablet of this size, would entail an expensive repair.
Verdict
Wacom could have made the tablet vastly more appealing by the inclusion of the OLED buttons used in lower-end tablets, and it’s surprising that it chose not to do this on its flagship product. I've been asking for a pop-up virtual keyboard since the Cintiq first appeared, which would obviate the need for a nearby keyboard for many tasks but, alas, this has yet to make an appearance.
While it may be the ideal solution for traditional painters moving to a digital medium, as a designer used to a standard pen/monitor combination I found that the huge travelling distances I now have to make simply results in tired arms; there’s also the perennial problem that my hand, inevitably, gets in the way of the design. At £1800, the Cintiq 21UX is a considerable investment, and you'll have to decide for yourself whether this way of working is worth the outlay. ®
More Tablet Reviews... |
|||
 Apple iPad
3G 32GB |
 Acer
Aspire 1825PT |
 Dell
Latitude XT2 XFR |
 Wacom
Intuos4 L |
Wacom Cintiq 21UX
COMMENTS
Uhh...
So, you don't like that your hand gets in front of the work and that it's not widescreen? I'd hate to see your review of paper.
Also, complaining that this wouldn't make a good primary monitor is like complaining that a Ferrari makes a lousy daily driver. And your comment that it 'might' make sense for 'old school artists looking to transition' is absurd. It's a vastly superior way to interact with drawings; if you're not working directly on paper/canvas/dog's hide then it's the next best thing whether you're an old school, new school, or middle school artist.
This is a tool for people who will use it constantly; your UI gripes are reasonable, but again, difficulty of setup isn't a dealkiller for people who will think, live, and breathe it.
So, just like paper then...
"there’s also the perennial problem that my hand, inevitably, gets in the way of the design."
Have you ever used a pencil and paper?! I thought the whole point was to create a more natural interface for artists?
Shame it's so insanely expensive.
WS vs 4:3
I find WS too big if it's 1600 lines.
Many WS laptops and screens lack height resolution. 1200 vs 768, 1024 or 1080 makes a big difference.
I welcome it being a 4:3. Especially if you want a 2nd screen.
This is an interactive drawing board. When did you ever see a Wide Screen Drawing board?
The advantage of a light pen is of course anti-aliasing. Inherently a light pen works at lower than screen resolution and a touch panel with orientation and pressure stylus can work at higher resolution.
I think this is excellent for serious Artists, slightly less useful for regular CAD and not a good idea at all for people doing only occasional photo editing and no drawing/CAD.
It's a nice tool for professionals in addition to a regular screen, even maybe an addon to serious laptop.
IT infrastructure monitoring strategies
Agentless Backup is Not a Myth
Top 10 SIEM implementer’s checklist
Steps to Take Before Choosing a Business Continuity Partner
Enabling efficient data center monitoring
