Genius graphic tablet

[AcrylicAce]

Hey everyone,
Just came across this tablet and it seems extremely cheap for the size of it. Just wonder if anyone has used this and if it is any good or not? I found it on here. http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2959441&Tab=1&NoMapp=0

Please let me know either way if it would be bad to get this or if it would be good.

Thanks,
AcrylicAce

[VFXTalkDotCom]

never heard of them but it looks like a waccom rip-off, i guess the difference will come down to the drivers and integration with other tools - what do you plan on using it with?

[PaulF]

In the latest issue of 3D World magazine they did a group test of graphics tablets, and the Genius PenSketch won it, beating the Graphire 4, Intuos 3 and Cintiq 21UX.

They said that the PenSketch was incredibly versatile and came with some excellent software. The only problem with it is that you can't specify when to use relative and absolute modes. When you use the mouse, it's in relative mode, and when you use the pen it switches to absolute mode, and you can't override this.

I hope this helps.

[AcrylicAce]

I am planing to use it for photoshop right now but I am sure I will use it for everthing once I get used to it (if I like it).

PaulF - Thanks for the info. I am new to graphic tablets so if you wouldn't mind could you explain to me what it means to be in relative vs absolute modes?

Thanks guys,
AcrylicAce

[MartinL]

Whoa thats really cheap. Im also about to buy myself a tablet. And if this looks really promising. Becouse i can hardly afford a Wacom tablet.

1024 level pressure sensitivity. Oh thats awesome :D

Hmm i wonder if its possible to ship this to sweden. I hope so.

[AcrylicAce]

I would be careful... i have been looking into this for a little while now and the reviews are pretty mixed. Some say it is great and others say it barely works.

[ShadowMaker SdR]

never heard of them
Actually Genius goes WAY way back. I had one (still have actually) of their tablets for my Amiga back in 1992 - cost me 250$ without any pressure sensitivity and an A5 active area.
But I animated a 21 minute movie on it in DPaintIV when I was 15 - it was much better than painting with a mouse (especially an Amiga one) I have no idea what their current quality level is, but then they were great.

[MartinL]

Is there anyone else that have heard anything about this company and their tablets?!
It would be awesome if this tablet is worth buying. Becouse i really cant afford a Wacom tablet. And my old tablet (like 6years old) really needs to be replaced;)

[PaulF]

...could you explain to me what it means to be in relative vs absolute modes?
No problem.

In absolute mode, the surface of the tablet is directly mapped onto corresponding positions on the screen so, for example, putting the pen at the top left corner of the tablet will make the cursor jump to the top left corner of the screen.

In relative mode, just like a mouse, when you lift the stylus off the tablet and put it back down in a different place, the cursor doesn't jump to the new location. Instead it remains where it is until the stylus is moved.

[bassmanjam]

I'm not sure I would go for being locked into absolute mode... Although the price is right.

[icedeyes]

amazon reviews are not so good too

[avillabon]

wow nice price! if anyone owns one of these please drop us a line!! thanks for the explanation PaulF. Is it a fact that you CANT switch modes?? Can anyone specify? thanks!

Alex

[thebuilder]

The past 2 reviews of graphics tablets in 3D world mag were handed to one of the genius versions. I think price wise your talking £50-£70.
The primary reason they tipped there hat for that one was good pressure sensitivity and responsiveness and of course price. In the reviewers eyes there was no justification for Wacom to charge the prices they do when this tablet isnt really any worse. I do remember the absolute and relative modes being one of the cons. But then again every single tablet had more than one downside. The Wacoms primarily being price. Judging by 3D worlds review if cash is tight its a no brainer, take their advice. I have on many gadgets, scanners, cameras etc and cant say Ive ever been disappointed.

[bimdas]

There's no point in using a pen in mouse mode. After you have tried using a pen in pen mode, you'll see there is no point in using it as a mouse otherwise why bother getting a tablet in the first place.

[bburger]

Hey guys - I remembered this thread and thought I would pass along this deal I just ran into. I own a wacom 6x8 myself, so I can't say how good the genius tablets are. Don't know how familiar everyone is with woot.com, but they sell one item a day (usually an excellent deal of some sort). This deal will be good for about 23.5 hours from now. Price is $100 for a 6x8 genius tablet - and woot always charges $5 for shipping. Can't beat that price. Just wanted to let those interested in this tablet know.


Bryan

[boedy]

Hi all!

I found this thread on google and joined this forum to tell you not to buy this tablet! It does not work properly. I own a genius tablet for two months now and I am really disappointed. If you use the pen to hover above the tablet it auto right click allot! The support of genius is zero to none. So if you want to to buy a tablet then my advice is to buy a wacom. It's a bit more expensive, but you get value for your money.

I also read the review in 3dworldmagazine, but i was really disappointed when i tested it out. I'm going to write them an email soon.

cheers

[AcrylicAce]

Hm, well I ended up buying this tablet awhile ago... I have had a better experience than boedy has had. I don't have anything to compare it to really because I haven't worked on anything else.

I do find it frustrating that occasionally something gets screwed up with the drivers or something and it completely stops working. I then have to fiddle with it for awhile and restart my computer once or twice before it finally gets going again. I definetely would do more digital painting if I had one that worked ALL the time without any hassle.

The other problem is I have a widescreen monitor and a 6x8 tablet so I think it feels a little wonky.

When the tablet is working on my computer (which is probably about 80% of the time without fiddling) it seems to work pretty well to me.

I mean, you certainly get what you pay for but I just wanted to point out that my experience has not been as bad as boedy's.

With all that said... I am going to buy a 6x11 wacom once I scape together some extra cash.

-AcrylicAce

[boedy]

oh I thought you bought the 9 x 12 tablet, my bad. I don't have any experience with the 6 x 8 so i could not give any comment on that tablet.

[AcrylicAce]

Oh, yeah... didn't realize that was the link on the main page (was a long while ago that I posted that). Still though, it is a genius so I assume they are similar quality.