9.8

Wacon Intuos 3 6x8

The Intuos 3 graphics tablet would have to be one of the best things I have ever used on a computer bar none. A graphics tablet is used by those who wish to get the most out of their pc when using applications like photoshop and the like. Using a pen with a fine tip, the Intuos tablet provides a degree of control and fine work unlike anything I have ever used, enabling me to produce results I would not have achieved with half the ease using a traditional mouse, keyboard setup.

First things first, installation of the software is an absolute dream with the only disconcerting exception to the process being that it asks you to disable your antiviral software. So after that the process was a breeze. There are a number of discs that are provided with the package, the most relevant being the tablet driver software. There is also Adobe Photoshop Elements and a Corel package included so you can get started immediately if you don’t have full version Photoshop.

The tablet is set up to take advantage of some of the basic Photoshop commands that are zoom in and out, ctrl, shift etc. The pen doesn’t require a battery and has a brilliant grip with two button that facilitate a left and right mouse click. You can also change the nibs at the end of the pen to produce different results and it certainly gives you a different feel for the pen.

The package comes with a mouse which I found to be the only rough point in the program. It’s a little bit unwieldy and the mouse itself feels a bit heavy. There are a number of buttons on the mouse designed to increase workflow, however on occasion their placement is somewhat awkward and you can trigger them by mistake so I must confess that I’ve stuck to the regular mouse setup.

Painting with the Intuos is sheer bliss especially with the airbrush attachment, it’s a stack of fun and the wheel allows you greater control of the spray. At the time of this review, there are more items being developed for the pen and they look to totally change the way that designers view the amazing design applications that are on the market right now.

One of the points that I think should be made also is the sturdiness of this product. In the past some of the tablets in the market have been pretty flimsy and actually “scratched” when pressure was applied to the writing surface. I’ve not noticed this with the Intuos 3 although using it extensively every single day. The entire surface is built with durability in mind and although the tablet journeys regularly in a laptop bag, it certainly does not show it.

The results that can achieved with the Intuos 3 bring it a well deserved Highest Recommendation from the impulsegamer.com staff and although the price is at the top end of the scale (at time of writing roughly $450.00 to $500.00), It is worth every single cent and then some. Wacom’s dedication to quality products really is evident and provide quality solutions to both the professional and casual user alike.