Note: The Bamboo reviewed here has been replaced by the Wacom Bamboo Pen and Touch product line released in September 2009.
The Bamboo Fun tablet from Wacom is the successor to the Graphire4 series of consumer level pen tablets. Improving on the Graphire4, Bamboo Fun has an updated look, a wide-format active area, a new textured feel to the tablet surface, and a finger-sensitive touch ring for zooming and scrolling. Unlike the Bamboo standard tablet, Bamboo Fun comes with a mouse and a bundle of creative software. It is also available in two different sizes and four color options--Black, White, Silver, and Blue.
- No batteries required.
- Tablet surface has a pleasant texture that feels like writing on paper.
- Hot swappable USB connection with detachable USB cable for portability.
- Comes in two different size options and four color choices.
- Compatible with Windows and Macintosh.
- Touch ring was often slow to respond and behaved unexpectedly.
- Control panel does not allow for application-specific settings.
- Small size seems like it would be awfully cramped for mouse use.
- Tablet comes in small or medium size with wide aspect ratio and 512 levels of pressure sensitivity.
- Pen features two programmable buttons, pressure-sensitive tip and eraser. Pen stand and 3 extra pen nibs are included.
- Tablet features four programmable ExpressKeys and a finger-sensitive touch ring for zooming and scrolling.
- Includes a 3-button, cordless, scroll mouse which works on the tablet surface.
- More comfortable than using a mouse. Works in graphics software to add pressure-sensitivity to your brush strokes and lines.
- Works with handwriting recognition and pen features built into Windows Vista and Mac OS X.
- Tablet has a textured surface designed to feel like pen on paper.
- One year warranty. Free tech support in the US (not toll-free). Electronic User Manual.
- Software DVD includes: Adobe Photoshop Elements 5 Win/4 Mac, Corel Painter Essentials 3, and Nik Color Efex Pro 2 GE.
- Colors: Black, White, Silver, Blue. Sizes: Small-5.8"x3.7" active area; Medium-8.5"x5.3" active area. Resolution: 2,540 lpi.
Note: The Bamboo reviewed here has been replaced by the Wacom Bamboo Pen and Touch product line released in September 2009.
For creative work like painting, drawing, and touching up photos, the medium size Bamboo Fun tablet is ideal. It has a fresh, fun look, and performs well. If you're tight on desk space or budget, the small size, at half the price, is a nice option to have (although if you don't need a mouse or software, you can save about $20 by going with the regular Bamboo).
With Bamboo Fun, I had the same issues with the touch ring as I did with the regular Bamboo tablet (see my Bamboo review for details). As mentioned in my Bamboo review, the new pen-on-paper feel to the surface of this tablet is a wonderful improvement over past Wacom models.
Wacom has done away with the clear acrylic removable surface, replacing it with a new textured surface that feels remarkably like a true pen-on-paper experience. I see this as an improvement rather than a loss because the clear cover was susceptible to scratches and I doubt may people used it for tracing.
Although the tablet performs wonderfully, I would have liked to have seen some additional capabilities in the control panel for the Bamboo Fun beyond the capabilities of the standard Bamboo tablet. Application specific settings for the ExpressKeys and touch ring would be a welcome improvement.
All in all, the Bamboo Fun tablet is an excellent graphics tablet, particularly for folks who enjoy getting creative with a computer as a hobby. The included software adds a nice value for those who don't already have creative software, and the Wacom privileges web site offers discounts on other creative software for registered users.
