This is my review about the the Wacom Intuos Draw Graphic Tablet.
This tablet is the smallest in this brand, and this one it's only a pen tablet, it doesn't have the touch functionality.
The tablet has 4 expressive keys that can be maped with the driver (undo, redo, pan/scroll/zoom), and the pen has also two buttons that also can be mapped to different functions (eraser, pressure).
It includes a free software bundle with the program ArtRage Lite and a few tutorial videos, I didn't have any problems at all with the download and registration of the software and the tablet to Wacom's page. Obviously you register first your Wacom tablet and then they give you the serial number for your ArtRage product.
1-Drivers: I had a couple of problems with this, the tablet came with a CD with the driver installer, although I rather'd download the driver from the Wacom website. I downloaded and installed it (tablet not connected), then I connected my tablet and it worked, I mapped the expressive keys with the driver and I tried the tablet with ArtRage and it worked fine, then all of sudden, pen wasn't working and also the expressive keys, so I opened the Wacom Tablet Properties and nothing! It appeared a message that said DRIVER NOT FOUND, weird as hell! So, I deleted the tablet's driver and installed it again, and it worked for a few minutes, and then... nothing! The same thing happened! So I deleted again, reinstalled it again, but this time I changed the usb port, I plugged my tablet in a different usb port and that's was it! Mistery solved! Apparently the usb port lost connection with the tablet, so that's why the message DRIVER NOT FOUND, when I changed the tablet to another port the tablet didn't fail again. So it's important try this if it happens the same to you.
2-Software: Like I said before, the Intuos Draw includes the ArtRage Lite, I also tried the Autodesk Sketchbook and both work flawless, I mapped the expressive keys for both programs and also the pen, they'r both amazing apps for you different kind of art.
3-Tablet and Pen: Here comes the most important, the tablet and pen work with EMR (Electromagnetic Resonance) the pen doesn't use batteries, so it works with electromagnetism. So, this has a downfall. I usually use my tablet with my laptop on my desk in my room. One day I took my laptop and tablet to the tv room, and I put my laptop on my lap and the tablet on the couch's arm, when I opened the software it started to behave really weird, the pen did lines that I wasn't doing, the expressive keys didn't work at all and things like that. So intermediately I took my laptop and tablet and went back to my room, put both on my desk, and the tablet and pen work perfectly again! So, it's simple to guess, there were some kind of interference in my tv room that made my tablet and pen behave that way, maybe an electric failure somewhere, some cable loose or I don't know really, what I Do know, is that something interrupted the connection between the tablet and pen. I think this is important to know, and it only happened in the tv room, in my room I have my speakers connected to my iPod on my desk, and I always listen to music when I'm drawing, and it doesn't interfere with the tablet or pen, they both work perfect even near my speakers and tv also on, so that's why I guess there must be some electric failure in my tv room. So, that's not a tablet or pen problem, I think it's the way they work together, you just have to make sure you won't have any problems where you're gonna use mostly your tablet.
The pen is absolutely accurate! And that's because of the EMR, the lines, eraser, everything you do it's completely accurate! The active area is 6'' x 3.7''
OVERALL: The Wacom brand is the best in the market. I would definitely recommend this tablet for people with small budget or with reduced space on the desk. It works amazing with the different software. The driver issue has nothing to do with the tablet itself, the Intuos Draw works as suppose to do and it's really cool for drawing or painting, it's easy to use and the pen has the right size, it feels like a graphite pencil in your hand. If you're not used to have your eyes and hand in different places, this might not be suited for you. I only used paper and graphite pencils but I wanted to try to draw also in digital, it's a little bit hard at the beginning but I think you can get used to.
This is an amazing tablet, and I wouldn't hesitate in recommend it to someone or buying another one.
