sorry for bringing up this old topic, because I know there have been quite a few on this before, but I'm still having trouble deciding (mostly because I've never used a laptop before)...
cintiq or tablet pc?
I'm most likely sticking with wacom, but I have a few questions for anyone who has a wacom tablet pc.
first... am I losing any quality if I go with the notebook instead of just the tablet?
second, and the big one is, I feel a lot safer getting the cintiq since I can use it with any computer, lest the laptop breaks down or just falls behind in terms of hardware since you can't really upgrade laptops. Wacom's site mentions that you can remove the display from the computer... does this mean you can buy like... half a laptop to replace it?
third, I'm assuming the wacom tablet pc swivels like the toshiba one I've seen. they have a picture of it on the wacom site, but I can't really tell what's going on. so I'm guessing when the laptop's swivelled, you don't have access to the keyboard, which means no hotkeys. how do the tablet pcs address that problem?
and finally, any opinions from anyone who uses either are welcome. it'll definitely help, since I can't really test any of these products before I buy them
thanks
I really like the Cintiq . I had an opportunity to briefly test out a "Nomad" Motion Computing tablet PC (from Bauhaus Software , with Mirage software loaded on the Nomad , http://www.bauhaussoftware.com/products_nomad_LP.php )
I liked the Nomad , but the work area (12" inch screen) felt just a bit too small for me. Maybe if I worked with it more I'd get used to it .
I prefer the much larger working area (21") of the Cintiq tablet .
I tend to draw with big , swooping strokes , my whole arm/shoulder into it , rather than little scratchy "sketch-sketch-sketch" strokes with the wrist , so maybe that's why I like the Cintiq's larger screen real estate.
But you can't beat the portablility factor of the Nomad . In a perfect world I'd like a Macintosh tablet computer , 15" to 17" screen .
Rusty Mills likes the Nomad tablet PC a lot . Check out his blog and his posts on the Bauhaus/Mirage forums for more about the Nomad tablet.
Rusty's blog :
http://the-plausible-impossible.blogspot.com/
Bauhaus/Mirage Forums (registration required) :
http://www.bauhaussoftware.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3965&highlight=nomad
"EustaceScrubb" has left the building
I love my Tablet PC, and now I have one, I find it tough to return to the Wacom attached to my desktop machine.
I picked up my HP tablet for half the price of a Cintiq, and I can take it around with me. It's a great doodle pad to have at my desk when I am working.
In summary, I couldn't recommend it highly enough!
: )
PS. I don't feel like there is any lost of resolution in using a TPC, and being able to draw on the screen makes a huge difference to me...
Also, my TPC is a "slate" model with a detachable keyboard, which I definitely prefer over the swivel designs. Smaller form factor, and much lighter!
I've been longing for a Wacom Cintiq for quite some time now. I regulary use a Wacom Intuos 3 4" x 5" and have gotten used to it a lot.
Two things that's been keeping me from getting a Cintiq:
1. The glare. Working with a Wacom Tablet, I am at least 20" away from the screen. With a Cintiq, I imagine I will probably suffer a lot of eye strain from the natural position of using it staring down at it like an animation light box. Though I have used a light box before, the glare from it is a bit diffused as compared to actually staring down at an LCD screen.
2. Keyboard Shortcuts. I use a lot of keyboard shortcuts in my work. I haven't actually tried a Cintiq before, but if any of you guys who have one, do you have any problems using it with your regular keyboard shortcut keys, meaning your left hand at a keyboard and your drawing hand on the screen?
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Xkeys products are the answer to that riddle! I use one at work, and am about to get one for home.
: )
http://www.xkeys.com/xkeys.php
The 20 key one is just right to have by the screen for your off-hand.
I'm getting a second-hand HP tablet for christmas, I tried it briefly and just loved sketching into it. Will let you know what it's like after I get to play with it.
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