Bamboo Fun (Medium) Silver Tablet with Pen, Mouse & Graphics Software

Amazon Customer Reviews

(4 out of 5)

Nice Functionality for Serious Users

The Bamboo Fun Silver tablet has certainly surpassed all of my expectations. I wasn't actually sure how the product would work, but I found it a powerful tool for photo editing. My only concerns- if you are not a technically sound you may have difficulty understanding all of the tools that are at your disposal.

Likes-

-Nothing uses batteries! Once you plug the tablet into your USB port there is not a need for any additional batteries. In fact, the tablet makes a very nice wireless mouse!

- The pen is a bit awkward at first - I still need to develop the motor skills to see my pen strokes transferred to a screen - but it is an effective editing tool.

- Adobe Photoshop and Corel draw both come with the package. Both software packages provide you with top-notch photo editing capability. Photoshop will allow to make customized photos and add text - while Corel gives you the ability to draw freehand.

- The zoom feature on the tablet works like a charm. it works the same as the dial on a Video Ipod.

- Once you master the pen - you can use Corel Draw to paint in the same manner as a canvas!

- Programs installed without any issues on my MAC.

Concerns-

- While I like the functionality, design, ergonomics and such I wonder how often I will us the tablet. Unless you are a serious photo editor the Bamboo tablet may be overkill.

- There are SO many options it will take many hours before you are fully able to maximize the Bamboo tablet's capabilities.

Final verdict? If you enjoy photo editing or doing paintings/crafts the Bamboo Fun Tablet is for you. If you are more of a casual editor who may modify an occasional Christmas card this may be a little more than you actually need.

(5 out of 5)

A Sophisticated Graphics Tablet

Don't be misled by the name: the "Bamboo Fun" graphic tablet by Wacom is not a child's toy, nor is it an unsophisticated version of Wacom's other models. It is a full-fledged tablet for use with Adobe Photoshop, Corel Painter, and other graphics programs where a mouse or touchpad is too clumsy for accuracy. The tablet can be used with either the included pen or the cordless mouse (using the tablet as a glorified mouse pad). The Bamboo Fun is completely compatible with both Mac and Windows platforms, and, since it runs off your computer's USB port, it needs no batteries.

If this is your first time using a tablet, be prepared to spend a few hours getting used to the device, not because of its complexity but because of the unfamiliar method of moving the cursor around the screen. You'll also have to learn how to use the included software, Adobe Photoshop Elements 4.0 and Corel Painter Essentials 3. (Specified versions refer to Mac OS X.) Downloading the driver and software off the enclosed CDs takes time. Once you do this, however, you'll be amazed by the power of this sleek-looking, silver tablet.

The work surface of the tablet is 8 ¾ " by 5 ½ , an ample size for most people, and it automatically corresponds to the size of your computer screen, a feature that can be disconcerting at first if you're used to picking up and repositioning your mouse but which is wonderful once you get used to it. The "Touch Ring" enables you to zoom in and out of your work with the touch of your finger, and can also be used to enlarge web pages and documents. Other touch buttons help with forward/back navigation, minimizing, and screen clearing. The edges are curved and smooth to minimize discomfort.

The pen does not have to touch the pad to move the cursor on the screen, although it must touch the surface to draw. Clicking to navigate a web page, computer screen, or drawing can be accomplished by either tapping the point against the tablet surface or using the conveniently placed clicker on the side of pen. Just like a real pencil, the opposite end has an "eraser." The pen fits comfortably in the hand as though a real writing instrument. The mouse, however, was too large and clumsy for my smaller hands, although it allows for quick switching between drawing and more common computer navigation since you don't have to detach the USB cable.

Systems requirements: Windows 2000, Windows XP, or Windows Vista for PCs; Mac OS X 10.3.9 or higher, with an Intel or Power PC processor. Installation of the included software (Photoshop, Corel, and Nik Color Efex requires a DVD drive.

The Bamboo Fun is a high quality graphics tablet that should satisfy most computer artists and Photoshop junkies.

(4 out of 5)

Wacom delivers with Bamboo Fun!

For those looking at these with fresh eyes, Wacom has brought this technology a long way. Most people 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. While I have struggled with rating this product a 3 or 4, it is definitely a good product.

First of all, the "medium" sized tablet will look large to most people. This size is perfect for hard core graphics people who need to work at the pixel level for large images. However, most users will find the small size probably fits the needs of occasional graphics use. Those using this for the mouse and function keys may prefer this size. Either way, the pen function will map to your screen size for any of the Wacom models.

This unit comes in a variety of colors and configurations. 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.

The Bamboo software also allows you to customize the buttons. Left-handers will greatly appreciate this!

Upon plugging in the device, the mouse worked immediately! The pen also works as a mouse or as a pen/brush for drawing applications. Be prepared to spend some time tweaking this unit to your likes though. Installing the drivers and software allows you to access the settings and tools that make this device versatile and customizable.

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

Cons
- Medium size is large for casual users not using the mouse
- The scrolling zoom function does not work uniformly on all applications
- The mouse with this model will not suffice for most 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. You just might want to lean towards the small one. The small model with pen only will meet most users' needs.

Enjoy.

(5 out of 5)

Wacom Bamboo Medium for professional results

Just a quick note for those of you considering to purchase a new Wacom Bamboo tablet...

I am a professional graphic artist and web developer. I use a Wacom Intuos2 at the office and was considering getting one for the home. After several weeks of research I decided to go with the less expensive and smaller Wacom Bamboo tablet for my home/personal use. My 2 reasons for deciding on the Bamboo were as follows: First off, I have a 4 year old son who wants to draw on everything, and paying $350+ for a tablet similar to my Intuos at work would just not be worth the risk, (those of you with kids can relate!); Secondly, I have a limited amount of space on my home desk and a large tablet similar to my 9x12 at work just would not fit where I need it. With that in mind, I opted for the Medium version of the Wacom Bamboo and after a month of heavy use, I have yet to discover a flaw. Although statistically it has half the pressure sensitivity of the Intuos models, after some minor adjusting of the settings, I can tell very little difference between the Bamboo and the Intuos at work. My main concern for this tablet was that the smaller size would require a large adjustment on my part since I am use to a larger tablet, however, the tablet is designed to match my widescreen display and I actually find the smaller size much easier and more manageable than the larger Intuos.

Bottom line is this, if you want a accurate and reliable tablet that doesn't take up a lot of space and still leaves you plenty of money to buy more gas for your car, the Wacom Bamboo Medium is a great choice. It will give you fast, reliable control with plenty of available options to move your creative side forward.

(4 out of 5)

Definitely for advanced users, not so much for the rest of us

This is a peripheral that has complex capabilities and permits to perform a variety of functions related to digital photos and graphics. There are two parts to this product, the actual physical tablet and the software included. The tablet allows using a pen that has the functionality of a mouse and more, including right and left click buttons. Handling the pen is a little awkward at first, especially because the starting point of the pen on the tablet alters the initial positioning of the cursor on the screen. This definitely makes sense, since it is necessary for being able to draw on the tablet using a set point of reference, but if you are using the pen for normal mouse functions, it takes a while to get used to. The mouse provided has the typical functionalities of a wireless mouse and does not provide any benefits beyond this. There are also customizable buttons on the tablet, similar to the hot keys you have on your keyboard for browsing the web, accessing your email, etc. One in particular allows for zooming in and out, which is very handy when working on pictures trying to perfect them.

The software provided with the product is pretty advanced too, and maybe this should have given me a hint regarding how user friendly the product was for novices. Corel allows creating artwork and has a variety of tools at your disposal. This is where I found the pen to be most useful, and I even tried creating handwritten notes, being reasonably successful. Photoshop provides tools to improve your digital photos and alter them in creative ways. My experience with this software is limited, so I had a hard time extracting serious benefits from using the tablet in this environment. I can see though, how professionals or serious users would benefit from using the pen and tablet to alter pictures. In my case, I could see the usefulness of Photoshop, especially with the nik Color Efex add on, but I did not understand how to incorporate the tablet usage in this process.

The installation of the drivers for the hardware and the software suite was straightforward and even though it took a few minutes, it was completely hassle free. I think Bamboo could definitely improve their User Guide with further ideas on how to use the tools in combination with the tablet. Overall, I believe that advanced users will find this peripheral very useful, but the rest of us are likely to be overwhelmed by its complexity.