For those who want it brief: "this" product is Great. It comes with a Small XP Anti-fouling glove already, a Mini-display Port/HDMI converter for Mac Users, Replaceable nibs (8 of them), and a set of Voltage/Power Adapters for other countries. It falls short on not being a higher resolution screen, but for the size, that is negligible. At 8192 levels of pressure with a Built-in screen, this is by far the best purchase for a Drawing tablet this size!
Let me start by saying I've used a Wacom Bamboo for years (as well as another third party, larger tablet, which was atrocious). It was fine, but I never got quite used to the transition from looking away from my hand while drawing, which can be a major hurdle for many looking to get into using a tablet. When I bought the Bamboo, it was around $200, before taxes. While this product is $249.99 (without any coupons, which you may find some), it is well worth the price tag.
So the box arrives, and they went above and beyond to ensure the tablet was secure and safe. A padded interior top, a Screen protector placed on top of an Anti-glare screen protector, Styrofoam. This thing was pristine. The packaging on the inside is neat and organized, and you know where everything is.
As mentioned, it comes with an Anti-glare Screen which is already applied (though you will have to be careful removing the protective cover on top of it). Normally, Anti-glare screens can cost 20 or so dollars, so you are getting that straight away, hassle-free. For any tablet with a screen built in, this is a MUST, because if you press too hard with the pen, it can scratch. Alternatively, if you have bad room lighting, you don't want to compete with a glare. And lastly, if you are using it synced to another monitor, you do not want the light from the monitor to create trouble either. This is a GOD-SEND.
The pen is Battery free, as advertised. This is great, because now you don't have to run to the store and pick up a pack of triple-A's for what-ever they go for. You can use it right away, for as long as you want.
Next is the Nibs, you get 8 replaceable nibs, on them. This is awesome because, if you draw frequently (which you should be if you are looking at this sort of product anyways) you will find the nibs slowly get worse, regardless of brand. So having 8 replacements is pretty solid, and should last a long time. That said, for those who frequently throw away the instructions: DON'T. You may need them to quickly replace nibs in the future.
You get a free SMALL anti-fouling glove. This is fine, if you have a small hand, otherwise you may need to purchase a larger size. This is a negligible nitpick, just due to the fact that a glove is around $10.00, but more on that later.
Next, the cables. Cables are solid, and the point that connects to the tablet is set to a 90 degree angle, helping to prevent damage to the cable trying to twist around. This is really awesome, and I wish more tablets utilized this design especially around this price range. My only gripe is that I wish the cables were Braided, to further help prevent damage, but this is really minor. Set-up is easy, and you will NEED an available HDMI port either on your Graphics Card or Motherboard I/O. If you have a Macintosh, you are in luck, because it comes WITH an HDMI to Mini Display adapter in the box! This means you won't have to buy an over-priced one from Apple! (HOORAY!)
Screen clarity is nice, especially with the anti-glare screen on. The max resolution is determined by the size of the monitor, so I can't complain that it is only 1080p (Full HD). You can opt to use this as a traditional tablet minus the screen ability, or share the screen to the tablet (but that's a bit more technical), which means you can still use it with your 4k Ultra HD, 144 Hertz Monitor with a 1ms response (if you have that). That being said, if you do that, you will want to disable the screen on the Tablet, and focus on the better monitor, as that will be more Accurate to what you are drawing. Again, this takes getting used to, but instead of being forced into this option with a similarly priced Wacom Product, you have the OPTION to decide if that is what you want to do.
Installation of the Driver software to make it operate at it's full potential is about a 20 second download and install, which is average for most driver software in general.
Now, for something similar from Wacom, you might be looking at price tag of $500 to $1,000 or more, just for it to have a built-in Screen. So for the extra $50 dollars over a Bamboo CTH470 (Which does not have a built-in screen, or replacement nibs, or an anti-fouling glove, or a set of travel adapters or… you get the point), you are getting a Full-HD touch-screen tablet, Anti-glare cover pre-applied, a set of nibs and a glove, an adapter (which from Apple may cost another 20 or so dollars), and possibly the best part for a TRAVELLING artist: A set of Power Adapters for various countries! That's right, they packed in some European power Adapters for you (which generally are marketed at around 30 dollars). So if you have family over-seas, you are mostly covered and can use this (you will want to ensure the right power-adapter is in the Box. Alternatively, Air-ports sell them as well).
So a recap, 8 replacement Nibs, Anti-fouling glove Small, Anti-glare screen pre-applied, Travelling Adapters, and Mac Adapter. We'll be generous and say Nibs are cheap (though in my experience they haven't been), and valued at around $5.00, Anti-fouling glove is around $10.00, Anti-glare screen for a 12 inch is around $20.00, Travelling Adapters are around $15.00 to $30.00 (depending on brands and specials), and a Mac HDMI to Mini Display is around $15.00. Lowest total for all that extra stuff is around $65.00 at the cheapest (not including Tax). This is disregarding the fact that it has a Built-in screen, with no flicker! Hands down, this is going to be the go-to for art hobbyists who want to get into the Digital Medium. As far as I know, only the Cintiq Model Line from Wacom has built-in Screens, and those are bloody big and expensive!
So just do yourself a solid, and get this if you want to get into Digital Art. For the Enthusiasts, who are really into Digital Art, you may want to look at a bigger model for a better Resolution, especially if you do this for Commision or for a business.
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