Attention art droids!

[Noisybast]

Techy question for art droids and spods alike.

My mum was sent an offer by Serif for a cheap graphics tablet, and I wanted to know if you reckon it's any cop, cos I want one & can't afford a Wacom.

It sez here:

HYPERPEN 6000 graphics tablet - ?14.95

* Pressure sensitive tablet
* Cordless graphics pen
* Standard serial port connection
* 12 programmable macro keys
* 512 levels of pressure sensitivity
* Ultra-high 3048 lpi resolution
* Transparent trace fracility
* Cadix digital signature recognition
* Intelligent handwriting recognition
* Programmable symbol translation
* Microsoft Word annotation software

...and you get a free mouse (which I don't really need or want)& a bunch of other swag as well.

The thing is, fifteen quid seems a bit cheap for a decent tablet, but I don't know word one about this stuff. I've looked on Google, and it seems OK (apparently it has a usable area of 4.5x6 inches, which is bigger than the Wacom Graphire), particularly for the price, but fifteen quid for a piece of junk still gets you a piece of junk, right? Anybody got any advice?

[James]

I bought a TRUST 400 tablet last year(about ?70). It does the job and having never used a WACOM, I don't really have anything to compare with.

I'm sure for the hundreds of pounds they charge for the Wacoms of similar size the must be a bit special, maybe that Irving chap or that nice Mr. Fraser will fillyou in a bit more than I can.

Still, as you said, fifteen quid for a basic piece of shit has got to be a good deal. See if they've got a slightly larger one though.

James

[Bart Oliver]

Check out Thread 4350 Message for Blythe/Jock and others- Wacom tablet vs. Mouse.

There's some points of interest in there some where.

As for this HYPERPEN 6000 graphics tablet, well it sounds the business
but all that for fifteen notes does seem too good to be true..

Have you read all the small print in the offer?

[Noisybast]

Yeah, I think it's straight up. For some reason, my mum regularly gets these offers from Serif, usually for old versions of their software (PagePlus, Photoplus, Etc.)  for next to nowt.

She's bought a few bits & bobs, and she seems happy enough with the stuff.

I usually scoff & dismiss the software as old tat (snobby git that I am), but laat year's graphics tablet's got to be better than this year's mouse for digital art, right?

[Bart Oliver]

'but laat year's graphics tablet's got to be better than this year's mouse for digital art, right?'

Since you put it that way, go for it. The pad might just be what it first appears- a steal!

[Buddy]

For 15 nicker you can't go wrong. Buy it before the offer ends... You'll be sorry if you dont.

If it turns out to be crap (which it probably wont) you could always flog it on ebay or somethin.

[Simon Fraser]

I`d have to say I`ve never heard of this thing.

From the spec I`d expect it to be a bit slow, a serial port device is going to have a poor update frequency, rather like an old serial mouse. That`s going to make it feel pretty vague and imprecise, but having used a Serial port, non Wacom, pad for several years I`d say that was something you can get used to working around. If your not used to an expensive pad then you won`t feel the pain too much.

For the price I`d say what the heck, unless your flat broke, 15quid is buggar all.

Simon F.

Link: http://simonfraser.net" target="_blank">http://simonfraser.net

[Noisybast]

Cheers Mr F!

I've ordered one, so I'll let you know how it turns out when it arrives.