Best tablet for artists?

[Brian Cassil]

I'm in the market for a tablet computer. (not just a graphics tablet, like an intuos, but a computer that can travel with me... you guys get it.) I'm waaaaay behind on what is available, what the differences are, and what the capabilities are in general. I tried doing some homework on the subject but in terms of what is best for an artist, I got a lot of info that I really don't trust.

 

I'm interested in what would be the best option for an artist. My primary use for this would be digital sketching. I'd really like to use this for creating storyboard cartoons with as well as architectural sketches. Really what I would like is a cintiq that could travel with me... and at an affordable price. I've never owned an iPad and I have concerns about whether or not it could work as a true artists tablet. I know that Wacom has released a pressure sensitive pen for the iPad so maybe it can.

 

Does anyone have a tablet that they are using this way?

[johannestiner]

wacom companion

[AJLynn]

Adonit also has a pressure sensitive iPad stylus that's in its fourth generation. I think if I were looking for a conventional tablet, that or the Wacom one (depending on whether the apps I wanted are supported) and an iPad would be the way to go. The pressure sensitivity is handled by a sensor in the pen, which uses Bluetooth to link up with the iPad, and not all apps support that.

 

List of apps supported by the Adonit: http://adonit.net/jot-ready-apps/ I can't find a similar list for the Wacom.

 

The other option would be a tablet PC running Windows. Some of these are touch-only (not good for drawing) but some also use pens. (When I say "pen" here I'm referring to the screen having a Wacom or Wacom-like digitizer built in, not just a capacitive touch screen that you can use a stylus on, which is not nearly as good. Most or all newer models with pen also have touch.) Mine is a Thinkpad X61 Tablet, which uses a Wacom pen (a bit old, has a Core 2 Duo, but still quite usable and you can get them on eBay for under $300 easy - but look for the higher res SXGA screen). The Cintiq Companion looks flippin' sweet, runs real Windows on an i7 and uses a pen but costs a lot. The Sony Vaio Duo is another good option that uses a pen and costs less. (The only downside I see is that the hardware that holds the screen and lets it slide to go from laptop to tablet form seems like it would be the first thing to break.) The Thinkpad Helix also has a Wacom pen but I think the Twist and the Yoga do not. The Microsoft Surface Pro and Surface Pro 2 have pens.

[joelmcwilliam]

Sketching when traveling: just use pencil and paper.

 

When you get home you can scan it and finish it on the computer.

[AJLynn]

Sometimes there are good uses for tablet sketching on the go. You can keep a file of PDFs and mark them up. You can make redlines on your CDs and email them to your interns, etc.