Wacom Introduces Graphire3 Pen Tablet, Lowers Intuos2 Price

Wacom has updated its Graphire line of pen, tablet, and mouse combos. The new Graphire3 now comes in two sizes--4x5 or 6x8. It features an integrated pen compartment in addition to a separate pen stand, and supports the handwriting and inking capabilities of Microsoft Office XP and Apple Inkwell. In addition, Wacom is reducing the price of its Intuos2 Platinum 6x8 professional pen tablet.
Related Article: Before You Buy a Graphics Tablet
Details from Wacom press releases follow.

Wacom Introduces New Graphire3 Pen, Mouse & Tablet
Wacom’s new Graphire3 provides an easy and natural way to edit digital photos, sketch, paint, and mark up documents.

The new Graphire3 pen tablets provide the natural control required to quickly and easily enhance digital photos. The free bundled software introduces powerful photo enhancement tools along with the excitement of digital drawing and painting using a wide range of realistic natural media tools. In addition, the Graphire3 pen ties into the handwriting and inking capabilities included with Microsoft Office XP and Apple Inkwell. The new tablets come in a choice of three attractive colors (Sapphire Blue, Pearl White, and Graphite Gray) and, for the first time, a choice of sizes (either 4"x5" or the new 6"x8" active areas).

The Graphire3 pen utilizes Wacom's patented cordless, battery-free, pressure-sensitive technology. The new transparent Photo Frame enables personalization of tablets with photos, drawings, artwork, and other unique graphics, and it can also be used to easily trace pictures, diagrams and illustrations. The new pen stand and integrated pen storage compartment allow quick and easy access to the pen. Mobile users especially appreciate the convenient pen storage because the pen doesn't get lost and is always handy.

Photo enthusiast Steve Duncan speaks highly of the Wacom Graphire, "It's much more natural to use a pressure-sensitive pen for retouching photos, for marking up documents and for annotating presentations." The new 6x8 tablet size offers more space for navigation, editing photos, painting or simply signing your name. Graphire3 offers the right tool for any task, a pen for freehand control and a mouse for general navigation.

The Graphire3 mouse represents an all new design for improved comfort, finish and feel. From the metallic paint to the gentle curves of the ambidextrous design, the Graphire3 mouse possesses a high quality, solid feel. "Wacom's mice are very unique as the world's only cordless, battery-free, no ball mice. The tablet technology also avoids hiccups often related to optical mouse technology", said Mark Mehall, Wacom product manager. "Because the mouse works on the tablet surface, operation is always smooth and precise."

Wacom Graphire3 4x5 and 6x8 tablets will be available in stores and from the Wacom web site starting mid-September. The Graphire3 4x5 pen tablet has a suggested retail price of $99.95 and the new 6x8 model has an SRP of $199.95. Quantity shipments of all Graphire3 colors and sizes will begin in September 2003.

Graphire includes valuable bundled software: Adobe Photoshop Elements 1.0, Painter Classic by Corel, and penPalette LE by nik multimedia. The new Graphire3 driver CD includes a tablet tutorial, driver software, 'tips and tricks', and a 78-page electronic user's manual. The installer and driver software support 12 languages (English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, German, Italian, Dutch, Russian, Japanese, Korean, Traditional and Simplified Chinese.)

The Wacom Intuos2 pen tablet gets a new, lower price
Wacom Technology, the world's leading producer of pen technology, today announced that the price of the popular Intuos2 Platinum 6x8 professional pen tablet has been reduced. It should now be available at an estimated street price of just $299 (U.S.). The previous street price was $349.

Record level sales of the Intuos2 Platinum pen tablets have resulted in manufacturing cost reductions that Wacom is passing on to the customer.

Intuos2 tablets give you the natural feel and superior performance of Wacom's patented cordless and battery-free pen technology. The ergonomically designed Grip Pen provides greater control, comfort, and productivity for photographers, designers and artists. The cordless, Intuos2 mouse provides precise tracking and control, without a ball or batteries. Alternating between using the pen and the mouse reduces repetitive motion. Bundled software includes: Adobe Photoshop Elements 2.0 (Intuos2 4x5 and 6x8 models only), Painter Classic by Corel, penPalette by nik multimedia, and Wacom Brushes 1.0.

The Intuos2 Midnight 6x8 and serial models prices remain unchanged.

Related Resources:
 • Wacom Graphire3 Product Information
 • Wacom Intuos2 6x8 Product Information
 • Before You Buy a Graphics Tablet