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This tablet was purchased as a part of a cheap whiteboard solution for our new conference room. It works great. The Bluetooth works anywhere in the conference room and you can save the data to a file.
If I get tired of the pen and just want to surf the web and goof off, I can use the included mouse on the tablet's pad like a regular USB mouse.I've even found that the tablet is the perfect size to fit on top of my MacBook's keyboard -- it's almost like I'm using my IBM tablet PC. The handwriting recognition in OS X totally blows so I'm mostly in OneNote to take my notes and get handwriting recognition, while I'm mostly in OS X to do any of the fancy drawing and picture type work.
As it got older and other machines got faster, I switched to a MacBook Pro 13" with its brighter screen, faster processor, and well-built design. However, I found that writing on paper then transcribing my notes to the MacBook got annoying really fast (Johns Hopkins profs don't like typing in their classes, plus writing formulas with a keyboard is a pain, hence all the handwriting).Anyway, I searched on-line for a tablet "replacement" and stumbled on this device.
I used to carry and IBM/Lenovo tablet PC to school for taking notes in OneNote and to work for taking notes during meetings. I find that I can use it either in OS X or in Windows 7 (where I'm using Parallels 5 to run Win7 in Crystal Mode).
It has been a lifesaver in class and at work. It's bluetooth, so I'm able to use it easily, whether I'm at my MacBook (where I can see the screen while drawing) or somewhere else within the room (where it's a tougher and I have to use my imagination to figure out where I'm writing/drawing).
In both cases, I can use the tablet's pen to get everything done. Highly recommended if you do any kind of pen-type work.
The pens do not like to be dropped , handle with care. But for work they are sturdy , I have used them since they came onto the market.My original tablet is a windows 95 model and still works just fine , I wound up taping the connectors to the tablet after years of work.I dropped the pen for my new Bamboo and that cost me 30 bucks here at Amazon.Wacom has a first class tech service by email./ phone.I disassembled the pen that broke , they are manufactured to a high standard , the board inside of the pen is nice. Breaks occur around a coil at pen tips , this is how they usually die. They are repairable but at 30 each for the low end I just bought a new one instead.
They even sent it to me for free and simply asked that I send the broken one back so they could figure out why it broke.If I have any warnings, it's to make sure your hardware and software will do what you want. If you need this for super accurate pen strokes, then I could see how one of the more expensive tablets would serve you better.For my purpose though, it works great. A friend tried one of these on a 5 year old MacBook using a usb/bluetooth adapter.and it was terrible. Use it for several hours, over several days before you make a judgement call.
While PowerPoint slides with our math curriculum have been around for a while, the main thing holding me back was that I couldn't interact with the notes. In the past I used an overhead for most of my instruction. I can assign the two buttons at the top for left and right arrows, allowing me to navigate within PowerPoint. The pen holder built into the tablet is AWESOME to have too.
I also found using the clicker on the side difficult, because it was hard to hover and press the button at the same time. It's wireless, so I can walk around the classroom and use it. Using it with Vista is a dream. I can use Windows Journal to quickly go over math problems, or ink in PowerPoint 2007. First, I am a math teacher.
The tabletop one is a joke.Only problem I've had is that the little rubber feet are falling off easily when I put it in my laptop bag. I plan on putting a drop of superglue under each one before I lose any of them. In Vista it is much easier to just press and hold for a right click.Finally, I was originally worried about the hover distance, and that I had to hold the pen too close to register.but it works great. There is definitely a learning curve to using this. I've used it for over a week, and I've only charged it once.The pen is a little "light" I guess.but it isn't hindering my ability to write at all. Now I can.Now that you know where I'm coming from, I'm not an artist. I love mine, and it has seriously changed my teaching.Update: I've been using this now for over 3 months, and it's great.
In Vista it even puts a battery indicator at the bottom telling you how much charge is left on the tablet. I like that you can put a picture under the plastic surface. I'm now using it with Windows 7, and it's fine.The only problem I've had was the eraser portion of the pen died, but Wacom replaced it quickly. So I recommend a newer machine with good bluetooth.
Works just like the wired version. The normal Graphire pens and mouse work from other tablets of the same series. I have had no lag problems, but I use Mac OSX. Bluetooth on a Mac works great.
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