Wacom Graphire4 Graphics Tablet (4x5, refurb) Any good?

[OttawaGuy]

Hello,

My daughter would like to have a tablet for Christmas this year.
She can draw freehand fairly well, and would like to try her luck on her mac.

I don't want to rush out and buy her an expensive tablet until I see if she is going to stick with it.

So, is the Wacom Graphire4 Graphics Tablet (4x5) worth picking up for her?

Also, are there any other forums where I could ask this question?

Thanks,
OG

 

[LeviG]

Depends on how much it costs, graphire 4 has been superseded by the bamboo range (usually around £50-100 mark depending on model etc).

Its not a bad tablet but whether or not its worth buying depends purely on the price which you forgot to mention

As to questions - most tablet questions have been asked here at one point or another so the search tool at the top is highly recommended, if that doesn't answer the question try a post here as I would say just about all the regulars of this part of the forum have a tablet of some sort

 

[OttawaGuy]

Sorry, it is 39.00 dollars.

 

[LeviG]

Personally I would say thats a little overpriced but I'm going by a quick google on prices (as I'm in UK) of the bamboo fun small (5.8" W x 3.7" D active area - closest to the graphire and also better for widescreen) which is $59 on amazon, probably available cheaper too.

 

[ChrisA]

Sorry, it is 39.00 dollars.

I have one of those and a newer Bamboo. They are very much alike. The Bamboo is slightly nicer with is mat finished writing surface and the controls. But for real life work they are abut the same.

Both have the same problem. Neither is a Wacom Intous. The lower priced tablets allow drawing with a crayon-like effect but not with a flat nib pen or flat brush or with a airbrush. The Bambo/Graphire always assumes the ped is 90 degrees to the paper

For free hand "real media" drawing you want to Intous but for photography the less expensive tablets are just right.

Look at the software that comes bundled. the Bamboo Fun for $100 has some usfull software, if you need it. But $39 is a bunch less money

 

[OttawaGuy]

Good info, thanks.
So do you think my kid will enjoy it or the bamboo as a starting point?

 

[Kyrahlynn]

I've got my trusty 4x5 Graphire 4 sitting right in front of me- I've been using it for almost a year and a half, and it really is an awesome tablet. I've never used a Bamboo, so I don't have an opinion as far as that one is concerned, but I do love my little Graphire 4 (However, if it ever dies, I'm totally getting an Intuos ) A Graphire or a Bamboo may be a good starting point, in case your daughter finds out she doesn't like working digitally - though I'm guessing that won't be the case

 

[OttawaGuy]

You just never know.

 

[LeviG]

Good info, thanks.
So do you think my kid will enjoy it or the bamboo as a starting point?

From a personal perspective - I started playing around with a graphire 2 (showing my age here ) when I was younger (ie still at school) and had no real need for a high end tablet. It was a great way to find out if I liked working that way as it is kind of love it or hate it at first.

It may be worth looking for a refurbed intuos 3 (the smaller sizes?) as it does offer more features but in my opinion the flat nib pen isn't really worth having (I have the standard, airbrush and the flat nib intuos pens) as it very rarely gets used in my case - just doesn't seem natural for some reason. The extra pressure probably wouldn't be missed but the tilt/rotation might make a difference as your daughter gets more accustomed to working with a tablet (assuming she likes it )

I would say its really down to how much are you prepared to spend, theres usually a a fairly large markup over the bamboo in relation to an intuos of the same size. You've also got the cintiq (intuos with tft screen built in) range which in my view is the best option now for someone who is going to use the pen a lot so it might be an idea of looking at the options and seeing which direction your daughter might go further down the line perhaps.
Is she heavily into her design/art then it may be best to buy a bamboo and then maybe upgrade to a cintiq later perhaps?

 

[geoffreak]

I just bought a 6 x 8 Intuos3 refurb from Amazon for $210 (less than a new Intuos3 4 x 6!). I'm waiting for it to arrive now, but I can tell you that there are some great deals out there.

 

[OttawaGuy]

Thanks for the info everyone.