Wacom Question

I have a Wacom graphire 3X5 now that I have had for 3 years, I was looking at the new ones but had questions so I was hoping someone could help me.

I dont have the money for some of the nicer ones so I was looking at the Bamboo http://www.wacom.com/b​ambootablet/ for editing a photo and also using it to write within a document; how does this thing do?

Anyone who has some valid input please ring in.

I have an intous3 but it seem to me the big difference is that the bamboo has buttons on it. They both have the same levels of sensitivity.

It's up to you but it does not seem like too much of a step up from one to another.

One of the main reasons for thinking to buying the Bamboo is at times I need to be able to write in Microsoft Office 2007 and the Graphire doesn't. May be that I need a plugin to make this happen, not sure.

mdaddyrabbit wrote in post #4836208
I have a Wacom graphire 3X5 now that I have had for 3 years, I was looking at the new ones but had questions so I was hoping someone could help me.

I dont have the money for some of the nicer ones so I was looking at the Bamboo http://www.wacom.com/b​ambootablet/ for editing a photo and also using it to write within a document; how does this thing do?

Anyone who has some valid input please ring in.

I just got the bamboo fun (medium) 2 weeks ago for my desktop PC running Vista. I can't understand why I spent so many years without one of these tablets.

I liked it so much I bought a second one (small this time) for my wife's laptop running XP.
I'm still training it to recognize my handwriting in documents and web forms but I mainly got it for better editing control in PS over a mouse. It does what I needed it to do and then some.

FWIW, I believe the Bamboo is a replacement to the older Graphire.

mdaddyrabbit wrote in post #4837006
One of the main reasons for thinking to buying the Bamboo is at times I need to be able to write in Microsoft Office 2007 and the Graphire doesn't. May be that I need a plugin to make this happen, not sure.

Wouldn't the "ink" or handwriting feature be built into the operating system instead of the tablet? If it's built into the OS, then your old graphire tablet should work, too, no? What OS do you have installed on your computer?

I recently bought the AIPTEK 12.1" Slim tablet and it works very well. I am able to Ink wherever it is supported: Word 2007, OneNote, Journal, StickyNotes, and some other places. OneNote is a very handy place to do my Ink stuff. I did compare it to the Wacom offerings and decided this was a better value; the AIPTEK had about 1/2 the cost per square inch of writing surface. I also like its 'slimness' as it fits well in the pull out tray of my working desk. One negative is that the AIPTEK program that monitors the HotKeys along the top and sides accesses the hard drive once per second and I did not like the constant activity; so I have their MacroKey Manager turned off until I really need the HotKeys.

As I recall, the Wacom Bamboo comes with a mouse which I decided would be more problem than help. I organize my work area so that when I need a mouse function, I use my regular mouse.

I am having a lot of fun learning to sketch on/with the tablet.

retexan599 wrote in post #4839066
I recently bought the AIPTEK 12.1" Slim tablet and it works very well. I am able to Ink wherever it is supported: Word 2007, OneNote, Journal, StickyNotes, and some other places. OneNote is a very handy place to do my Ink stuff. I did compare it to the Wacom offerings and decided this was a better value; the AIPTEK had about 1/2 the cost per square inch of writing surface. I also like its 'slimness' as it fits well in the pull out tray of my working desk. One negative is that the AIPTEK program that monitors the HotKeys along the top and sides accesses the hard drive once per second and I did not like the constant activity; so I have their MacroKey Manager turned off until I really need the HotKeys.

As I recall, the Wacom Bamboo comes with a mouse which I decided would be more problem than help. I organize my work area so that when I need a mouse function, I use my regular mouse.

I am having a lot of fun learning to sketch on/with the tablet.

I must be missing something. Even if the Bamboo comes with a mouse, it's not like you're forced to use it although I use the mouse that came with my Intuos all the time instead of the regular mouse.

I am thinking about selling my Wacom and getting the Bamboo. What should I ask for it?

Wacom Graphire CTE-440 with mouse and original box

I have a Intuos 12 x 12. I rarely use the buttons, probably to my fault. I have developed a left hand pen right hand keyboard kinda thing. it works great. once you go tablet you never go back.

I have had the new Cintiq 12wx for a couple of weeks now. Man that is one sweet unit. I have the Intous as well which I moved to one of my other pc's. Man that thing is sweet to work with and makes doing alot of things so darned easy.

I've heard good things about the Bamboo but have never used one. From what I understand it is very similar to the Intous in ease of use.

When you use the bamboo funs mouse, it doesn't interfere with your existing mouse does it? I mean you keep your old mouse but have to option of using the bamboo mouse but only on the tablet. Is this right?

Yes you can use your existing mouse, along with the Bamboo mouse.