Intuous5 Touch Professional Pen Tablet Review (PTH-650-EN)

1. Introduction2. Specifications and Overview3. Packaging4. The Tablet and Operation5. Closing Thoughts6. View All Pages

The Intuous5 Touch Professional Pen Tablet is more than adequate for the designer or small business owner who wants to dabble and design their own logos, or for artists who want to experiment in the world of digital art.

The software for this tablet is also accessible and easy to use and it works first time (on an iMac at least), and installs easily. It is also very well equipped for the serious pro designer as it contains more than enough functionality for any design studio. The only other option would be the money no object Wacom Cintiq range of screen tablets.

Anything less than this medium tablet is, in my view, money down the drain. I tried the Bamboo range and each successive tablet just sits on the shelf gathering dust.

On the issue of cost I feel that this tablet (because Wacom have cornered the market) is a tad over priced and my main gripe is the need to accessorise if you want to have a greater level of freedom. A wired USB connection tethers you to the desktop. Many arty folk enjoy the freedom of sitting back and resting a tablet on their lap or having the ability to shove a tablet into a bag and go.

To leave out of a device, in this age, wireless technology is an oversight that verges on being a rip off if you were purchasing at the original recommended retail price of £399.99 (for the Pro version). That's a little steep for a device without this capability.

That said, we did a scour of the web at the point when this review was about to go live and we have found an Amazon listing at £254. Scrolling down the page, it said that the Item Model Number is PTH-650-EN which is correct.

The device also comes with a download key for other software such as Adobe Photoshop Elements and other software. I did not download this software as I have the full Adobe suite installed, but it is a means of getting started if you do not have any graphics software yet.

The talking point regarding this tablet should be the stylish design, ease of use, easy install and how this device really does improve your workflow and the trackpad features that are now built into this tablet, as opposed to its predecessor, all of which are very easy to adapt to.

The overall accuracy that can be achieved with this pen and tablet is extremely good, especially on fine detailed drawing and painting work. Designing is also much easier with this device than with a mouse, or with cheaper tablets such as the Bamboo range. Wacom should ditch their cheaper tablets, concentrate upon this line and bundle more freebie software and build in the wireless functionality for what will become a stalwart of tablets.

If you need a tablet for any form of regular graphics work, then this is an ideal tool for the job. It matters not whether you are a pro, or a dabbler, this is the ideal workhorse and benchmark.

But can this device replace a faithful servant such as the optical mouse. After ten days of using this tablet the evidence in my office is clear. My magic mouse is feeling rather unloved and it is about to be put up for sale on ebay!

Pros:

• Great looking tablet
• Easy to use
• Eases workflow and accuracy – tenfold
• Quality build
• Good software
• Good number of different nibs
• Download key to graphical software packages

Cons:

• Bulging grip on pen possibly a little too large
• A normal art type acute angle of a pen is not possible
• Lack of built in wireless technology
• No rechargeable battery

At £399 we were happy. If you manage to pick one up at just £254, then you should be very pleased indeed.

Kitguru says: If you are looking for a quality graphics tablet, look no further!

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