Home > Consumer Reviews > Bamboo Fun (Small) Black Tablet with Pen, Mouse & Graphics Software

I intended to write a serious review explaining the many useful features but that doesn't actually capture the fact that this thing is also fun, Fun, FUN!

*Deep breath*. Ok, back to serious mode. I've owned several pen shaped mouses (mice?) over the course of the last few decades and two graphics tablets. Prior to USB the tablets required some serious thought about how I was going to connect the tablet, a mouse and a keyboard. This one though just plugs in to a USB port, no need for any other power source -- and there is a ring in the top that lights up to let you know it is ready to go.

The graphics pen feels good and there are lots of choices when it comes to the function to assign to the two buttons. I like right click for the top one, scroll for the bottom and click for the tip. If you don't want to actually touch the pen to the tablet then you can set it to hover and make the lower button perform the click function. There is also a box you can check to get a click sound. The pen takes a little getting use to but I caught on fast and there is even a stand to keep it in although I keep knocking it over-- I assume it isn't weighted to keep the total postage weight down.

In addition to the pen is an elegant black and grey mouse that works like any other wireless mouse except it has to be used in proximity to the tablet.

The lit up ring on the tablet can also be used to manipulate documents, web pages, etc. Run your finger inside it clockwise and a web page increases in size, counter clockwise make it decrease in size. There are also two bottoms to each side which can be assigned functions.

There's some nice software on the disc that comes bundled with this set-- Adobe Photoshop Elements, Corel Painter Essentials 3.0 and Nik Color Etex Pro 2 GE. I found myself sitting here doing some juvenile things with photographs just because I could.

This would make a really good Christmas gift or a great gift for yourself any time.

Wacom has brought this technology a long way. Many shopping for Wacom tablets probably have owned similar products in the past. This product is more affordable than the higher end Intuos3 models, yet powerful enough for many pros.

For me, the small size is perfect. The "medium" sized tablet is suited for hard core graphics people who need to work at the pixel level for large images. Those using this for the mouse also may prefer the medium size. However, most users will find the small size probably fits their needs. Either way, the tablet maps to your screen size for any of these models.

This unit comes in a variety of colors and configurations. I prefer the look of the black tablet, but there are silver, white and blue ones also.
Bamboo Fun (Medium) Silver Tablet with Pen, Mouse & Graphics Software
Bamboo Fun (Medium) Black Tablet with Pen, Mouse & Graphics Software
Bamboo Fun (Medium) Blue Tablet with Pen, Mouse & Graphics Software


Upon plugging in the device, the mouse worked immediately! The pen also works as a mouse or as a pen/brush for drawing applications.

The mouse is nice because it allows you to free up a USB port if you're using a USB mouse. Power users will need more from a mouse though. If you're anything like me, you prefer a mouse with many more options than this one provides.

Installing the drivers and software allows you to access the settings and tools that make this device versatile and customizable. The Bamboo software also allows you to customize the buttons. Left-handers will greatly appreciate this! Be prepared to spend some time tweaking this unit to your likes.

The software included with this device is a nice to have. Many people who buy this will already have or need full blown Adobe Photoshop. Adobe Elements gives you everything casual users need. The Corel application is nice to play with. But other than a few "macro" type functions I have yet to find anything I can't already do with Adobe. Perhaps newer users may find the Corel product more user-friendly.

Pros
+ USB connection
+ Works on XP and Vista almost plug and play - before software installation
+ Nice customizable software
+ Nice bundled applications - Adobe Elements and Corel Draw
+ No additional power adapter needed
+ Traditional or pen mouse for casual users
+ Small size is perfect for users not using the mouse

Cons
- The scrolling zoom function does not work uniformly on all applications
- The mouse with this model will not suffice for power users
- Default settings require a lot of adjusting for graphics editing
- The tablet would have been ideal with several additional USB ports

Overall, the graphic artist or visual junkie NEEDS one of these. If you are a casual user, it is worth getting one on sale. The small model with pen only will meet most users' needs.

Enjoy.

I've never used this type of device before so this was a fun experience yet frustrating at the same time. I rated this a 3 stars (a good buy vs a great[4 stars] or must have buy[5 stars]).

Pro's:
1) Packaging and product are attractive and modern. Kudos to the marketing team

2) Installation was a snap. Plug in the USB cable, run the software driver installer and you're all set between 5-7 minutes for the main unit. The additional software takes a bit longer.

3) The tablet is heavy enough to sit in place and not get easily knocked or slide. Yet light enough to hold it in your lap or against your body like a pad of paper and write/draw on

4) The pen is just the right thickness to be comfortable without giving hand cramp like thin, cheap BIC pens do when writing for a long duration

5) If you don't already have a wireless mouse, this package comes with one

6) Even though I was suspect of getting the "small" tablet, the software allows the entire tablet space to span the entire desktop

7) The express navigation keys on the keypad itself were useful for navigating through documents, web pages and zooming in/out

8) Variable speeds controlled by the software along with sensitivity settings. You can configure the device to work to your level of comfortability

9) Product registration was a snap and can be done online or via a form you print out and mail

Cons:
1) I wanted to use this unit specifically for writing. But, I have XP and Office 2003. According to the manual I need Vista and Office 2007 to be able to accomplish digital writing. Purchase of two additional software packages?!? Darn. Just blew the whole reason I wanted to use this. Thus the system requirements aren't very clear before you buy.

2) The 4 ft USB cable is just not long enough for desktop users. Six foot would have been a lot better. Thus if you have a desktop that isn't near your monitor/work area (i.e. sitting on the ground), then get a USB extension cable for about $10 at a local computer store

3) I had some difficulty at first. If I wanted to reach the lower left corner of my desktop to click on the XP Start button, I'd have to move the pen to the lower-left corner of the tablet. When running in high resolutions as I do, this makes fine, small movements act as big leaps of the cursor when using this small tablet pad.

4) The mouse that comes with this is not ergonomic and very, very basic. Best to get a $30 or more wireless mouse for more functionality and a more comfortable feel. But if you wind up using the pen (pen mode or mouse mode) it takes about 10 minutes to get use to it and then you almost never need a mouse

5) Wacom's Product Support page was a bit confusing. I couldn't tell if I needed the Graphire3(CTE) drivers or the Graphire4(CTE) drivers. Nowhere on this product box does it have the name Graphire, so I wasn't sure if which were the correct drivers

OVERALL:
This is a fun gadget (just like the name) and if/when I upgrade my OS and Office products or find another writing software then I may find more use for it. I'm not into the photo editing but it does come with some free software to get a user going. Its a VERY specific device for a specific use. Hopefully some of my pitfalls will help prepare you ahead of time to enjoy this item to its fullest.

I have a Wacom Intuos 3 6X11 tablet. I absolutely love it, but it is not very portable. I decided to go for this bamboo fun tablet so that I can have a backup and a portable tablet to take with me for my laptop. First of all, I love the fact that the bamboo has a detachable USB cable. The $400 Intuos doesn't even have that. Second, the Bamboo has a slight texture on the surface compared to the Intuos, this really does contribute to a natural pencil on paper feel. These are two notable features. Don't let the fact that the Intuos has more pressure levels (1024 vs. 512) for the bamboo discourage you. I tried them both side by side and could see no difference. Buy this now!!!

I was up and running in less than 2 minutes. You plug the mousepad, put in the installation CD, and you are ready to go. Once the software is installed, an excellent tutorial pops up to give the user basic competence.

I've been using the pen with a program I am familiar with, Paint Shop Pro, rather than the bundled software. Everything was immediately compatible and worked fine, even with my old mouse still plugged in. The pen is very intuitive - you hover the pen over the pad to guide the cursor, and touch down on the pad to actually edit/move/draw/select. It is much easier than a mouse for fine tuning details on a picture, or for selecting portions of a picture for cropping etc...

The wireless mouse works great too. I love the fact it doesn't need recharging/batteries! We had a wireless mouse before, and it was never functional because it was so rarely put back into the charger.

I was very pleased by the software bundle. What a GREAT value! You get Photoshop Elements 5.0, which is no longer the latest version, but still, it is the Ferrari of photo editing software for scrapbookers and I am delighted to have it. You also get Corel Painter, another photo editing/grapics creating software program. The value of these two programs easily exceeds the cost of this package.

The package also comes with extra pen tips and pen covers.

The only thing I have noticed is that the mouse pad is kind of small, and sometimes my mouse runs off the pad before I have positioned the cursor where I need it, so I have to pick up the mouse and reposition it. This is becoming intuitive so it isn't much of a problem, but if you have a choice, I would consider getting the medium tablet.

All in all, a very useful, intuitive, and fun product.