new tablets vs old vs cintiq's

[russell]

hi, i have an old tablet pc (toshiba dynabook/portege)

its quite hard to use, slow disk caching, memory issues, isnt very fast as far as reaction times go, stuff like that. i have a few questions about the current state of tablet pc's and/or cintiqs.

1) are cintiqs better than tablet pc's? (i have a fast desktop with a nice gfx card, will this translate to the cintiq if i bought one? or is the slow reaction times i witness on the tablet mostly due to the lcd?)

2) anyone who has used an old tablet pc, are they much better now? i am talking for drawing with, i am starting an animation project, and might consider upgrading if it will be a leap forward from my old tablet.

3.) the cheap $3-400 'cintiq' copies you can buy from the far east.. anyone used one of these before? i am not so bothered about a small screen, its the reaction times of my portege im trying to eliminate.. and it has a dodgy screen (these models have a design flaw).. :(


4.) as above with regards to accuracy as well. and ease of calibration



there might be some other questions but its keeping me from my work ;)



many thanks



russ

[Interceptor]

I'm not the greatest authority on tablets. But, as a general rule of thumb I've noticed when it comes to art supplies and such. You get what you pay for. When I got my first tablet.. a little graphire 3... a friend of mine got his at the same store, right after me, but it was a cheaper brand. that costs 30 dollars less. In 3 months his wound up already having responsive issues. Plus his pen was actually battery powered whereas mine requires nothing to power it but my own hand. And 3 years later, it's still going strong.

[russell]

waa, and with a big 10,000 dollars scholarship gif at the top of the page, those cintiqs are still so expensive.. /cry
shows what monopolys will do, huh.

:confident

[dbclemons]

I'm still using a 6x9 wacom SD-510 attached to my serial port. I guess I've had it about 10 years or so now. Never had any problems with it. No bells/whistles, but I don't miss them.

-DBC

[JoshuaTheJames]

I have worked much with both and would personally prefer a Old Cintiq over a New Tablet any day. There is just too great of a difference. Even though there is a immediate notice in the difference of Pressure Sensitivity in the Old Cintiq I found you can compensate fairly well just by adjusting your 'Flow' down a notch under the brush options.

But. Nothing Compares to the New Cintiq which has a vastly greater screen(You can actually tell the difference between 10% grey and white..heh) and it also retains the Same Pressure Sensitivity of the Newer Wacom Tablets.

But, Everyone should note this! You are at a Great Advantage if you use a Nostromo pad with your Cintiq. I don't even want to imagine using the Keyboard while working with a Cintiq. :$

I also heard Wacom raised the price of the New Cintiq up 500 bucks to 3000! That's madness.


Haha. Sorry if that didn't answer any of your questions.

-Joshua

[YVerloc]

I've used:(in order of goodness)

Fujitsu tablet PC with indoor/outdoor screen
Graphire, older Wacom tablets.
Cintiq (15")
Intuous III
New Cintiq 21ux

YMMV. Nothing beats the new Cintiq IMO. The tablet PC's suck. That is, unless you want to buy mine :)

I'm thinking about maybe buying another 21ux, and mating it to a high end laptop to make something 'luggable'. I'll let you know if I do.

[russell]

so, im guessing by the way you talk about cintiqs, that the reaction times and accuracy are really good with them?



there isnt anywhere to try them in my town, so i will have to travel to have a go on one.


thanks.

[Chingwa]

You know I really wish I hadn't come across this thread.... I had forgotten about the new cintiq... now it's all I can think about!!! :(

[Aly Fell]

At home I use an A4 Intuos, but at work we have 21" Cintiqs, and without out a shadow of a doubt these are fantastic pieces of equipment. It is intuitive, responsive and almost completely natural using one. Can't fault it at all! I tend to get in early to work and try to stay late just to do my own stuff on it... JoshuatheJames, is that true about the price? I'm saving for one now, and we already pay studidly over the odds for Cintiqs here in the UK, so I don't like to think we are going to be fleeced further... We pay almost the same in £ as you do in $, for which there is NO excuse Wacom!

[russell]

when it comes to cintiqs & uk prices, lets all get in a circle and /cry a bit.

ill say it again. damn they are expensive.