Wacom is best known for their interactive pen displays, pen tablets and digital interactive products.

Photographers and graphics artists have used Wacom tables for years in conjunction with illustration, web design and photoediting software from Corel and Adobe. The latest product from Wacom is the Intuous5 pen tablet with multitouch functionality.

Wacom Intuos Tablets

 

Pros: Multi-touch features, programmable express keys and touch ring, headsup display, right or left handed setup, pen stand doubles as storage for extra pen nibs

Cons: Current software does not allow you to copy settings from one application to another.Pen grip attracts dust and lint.
Compatibility mode is required for some older applications. When this mode is enabled, newer applications are limited to 1024 levels of pressure.
Options are limited for setting up custom multi-touch gestures. Not all available gestures are customizable. No mouse with the Intuous5, just pen or finger

Overall: The Wacom Intuos5 tablet is well-designed,. Pros heavily outweigh cons. Intuous5 greatly enhances workflow dor graphic artist and photographers

Wacom has introduced their Intuous5 in 3 sizes, small, medium and large, ranging in price from $230 -$470. The slim profile tablet comes complete with a Wacom pen, pen holder with extra nibs and a USB cable. If going wireless is important to you, it is available at an extra kit at $40. The Intuous5 is also very sleek with a black matte rubberized bezel and digitizing surface.

The most impressive feature of the new Intuous 5 is the multitouch gestures features. Standard gestures such as swiping the table to scroll up and down and pinch-to-zoom, rotate and pan work extremely well. Tap to click gestures however, were awkward. Custom gestures are programmable for 3 to 5 fingers, however, I think adding this feature for one or two fingers would be beneficial

The Intuous5 still has an incredible and precise pen input that handles up to 60 degrees of tilt recognition and 2048 levels of pressure sensitivity. There are eight programmable function keys and a touch ring which
allow you not only to customize and program your short cuts, but in the process, speed up your workflow. The programmability of these keys for Adobe Photshop commands is

One common problem users have with programming function keys is remembering what is actually programmed. The Intuous5 has solved this problem with a HUD solution. If you let your finger hover over the express key, a transparent overlay appears on your screen showing you the function assigned. By programming on of the express keys, you also can have access to one additionak HUD which will give you a full screen overlay of every function assigned on the pen and tablet.

For those just enterring into the world of tablets, the Intuous5 is well worth the price and functionality. If you currently own an Intuous 4, you need to make a decision if the new features are worth the upgrade