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slightly OT – Wacom driver warning
This is just a heads up to anyone who might be interested in getting a Graphire4 tablet from Wacom.
In the last month, I’ve tried both the Intuos and Graphire4 tablet. I ended up going with the Graphire4 because the Intuos doesn’t do anything different (so I thought) that I’d ever need. And, FWIW, I find it looks so much cooler (what’s with the 1980’s industrial grey Intuos?).
Anyway, I was dismayed to discover that the Graphire4 driver DOES NOT support application-specific commands. Considering there’s a new driver almost every day, I emailed Wacom thinking it might be an oversight. But, no. The rep fully admitted that the “consumer” driver is crippled on purpose and will not offer these features in the future. So, I’m a pro when I use the Intuos, but not when I use the Graphire. Oh well.
I guess I’ll get myself USB Overdrive to compensate for Wacom’s snotty attitude, but someone else might want to know this before they hand over their cash to a company that says you’re not a pro when you spend less.
(and please no flames from corporate apologists – this is only my opinion) ;O)
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4 Replies
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[reel2reel] “I guess I’ll get myself USB Overdrive to compensate for Wacom’s snotty attitude, but someone else might want to know this before they hand over their cash to a company that says you’re not a pro when you spend less.”
It’s the same as FC Express vs. FCP Pro. You get more features when you spend more. There is a definite difference in the way the Graphire and Intuos tablets feel and operate. The graphire to me feels like the old Art IIZ tablets. More plastic and clunky. the Intuos series are very smooth accurate. I would not recommend the Graphire series to anyone who edits for a living and wants a tablet.
Walter Biscardi, Jr.
https://www.biscardicreative.com“I reject your reality and substitute my own!” – Adam Savage, Mythbusters
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Really? I find it just great. I’ve used an Intuos and I really don’t feel that big a difference. What in particular do you notice? I’m curious, so I can keep it in mind when I go back to the Intuos.
FWIW, I like to move very fast, so pinpoint accuracy isn’t a big thing for me. I overcrank my mouse, also. One thing for sure, I refuse to pay $150 more for added driver features.
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[reel2reel] “I’ve used an Intuos and I really don’t feel that big a difference. What in particular do you notice? I’m curious, so I can keep it in mind when I go back to the Intuos.”
The entire operation is smoother, the surface seems to be smoother on the pen, the addition tab buttons on the side are awesome in Photoshop and After Effects and I think the pen operates better. And I haven’t had any driver issues whatsoever.
As for the pinpoint accuracy, that’s a huge deal here when I’m working on After Effects comps with hundreds of layers and dozens of animated masks. The Intuos seems to ‘hold position’ better than the Graphire when going into nooks and crannies on the screen.
Walter Biscardi, Jr.
https://www.biscardicreative.com“I reject your reality and substitute my own!” – Adam Savage, Mythbusters
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Yeah, pinpoint is exactly what I don’t need. I hear the scrolling works better on the Graphire. Someday I might grab an Intuos also, but the Graphire will serve me well for now. I don’t find it feels any cheaper than the Intuos, btw. Maybe you’re comparing to to the older Graphire?
I still get both the Intuos and the Graphire locking up in FCP when using the shuttle tool in either the Canvas or Viewer. Bummer. Must be a graphics card issue? Locks up on both a dual 2.7 and single 1.8 G5.
Great tools anyway, no matter which you get. Too bad Wacom doesn’t feel confident enough in their Intuos, though, and have to end up crippling the Graphire driver to compensate. That’s really what it comes down to.
BTW, for anyone who gets the Graphire, I love using the popup menu option. I mapped one of the tablet buttons to activate the pop up and you can add whatever functions you want. I’ve added all kinds of key commands (copy, paste, new tab, new bin, close window, etc) and I hardly need to reach for the keyboard or mouse now. Thankfully, they didn’t cripple that feature!
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