CES 2012: MashButtons goes design happy with the Bamboo Create

It seems we are finally getting close to wrapping up our coverage from this year's Consumer Electronics Show and may have unintentionally left the best for last. Wacom has provided us with a review unit of the Bamboo Create and the available wireless accessory for the tablet. I have been using design products for the past two years for freelance graphic design work and have been rather curious as to whether a tablet would make a difference in the quality of work along with time spent on projects. The Bamboo Create is similar in regards to features to its smaller siblings, the Capture and the Connect, but where is differs is in the real estate with twice the workspace and some great introductory software, i.e. Photoshop Elements and Corel Painter Essentials.

For reference, I am using the Bamboo Create on this year's Macbook Pro connected to a 25 inch monitor and found the response to be great. The tablet also doubles as a trackpad when not being used for graphic design work supporting multi touch features so you can have the tablet in the workspace without having to rely on a mouse as well. I am in the lower majority being a south paw, but I found you can change the orientation depending on whether you are a lefty or righty. There is also a pen holder to help make sure it does not get misplaced...while we are talking about the pen, I had no problems with functionality and though I am quite heavy handed, the tablet surface did not have any etch marks or indents after numerous hours of photo editing and drawing with both the provided software and Photoshop CS5. Being able to use the pen for drawing, cropping, and erasing small errors was new to me and took a good two to three hours without feeling foreign and it is easy to locate your cursor as all you need to do is hold the pen about a quarter inch from the tablet's surface. There is a button that I did not get along with on the pen that can be mapped along with the four buttons on the tablet, that I had to turn off as with the way I used the pen the button kept accidentally getting pressed by my thumb.

Out of the box, the Create is not wireless and uses a micro USB to connect to your PC or Mac. This is fine and well for users who do not move their workstations, but when it comes to working on the go and making changes for clients or at school, it does get tiresome moving and setting up workstations. This is where the wireless option comes incredibly handy, as the accessory is moderately priced at $39.00, works on the Capture and Create models only, and lasts up to 15 hours with a 3 to 6 hour charge. The kit works amazingly and can be used while being charged but make portability much easier along with not being limited by a cord as to the positioning of the tablet when in use and using a micro wireless dongle. Unfortunately, the wireless option does not come packaged with the tablets, as much as I wish it would, but this is definitely a must have for users with portable workstations or multiple devices as this works for both the PC and Mac.

All in all, this is my designing go-to device now over my wireless mouse or iPad with stylus. Though this is my first tablet and after comparing prices and included software, Wacom pulled no punches bringing the Bamboo tablets to the marketplace for both beginner and intermediate designers. Aside from the little nuances such as the easily pressed button on the pen and an inconveniently short micro USB cable, I could not come up with any other issues. Hell, when using the pen, you can even rest your palm on the surface and not get any false detection on the display. I must say that if you are in the market to purchase a tablet and are novice designers looking to step your game up, I highly suggest the Bamboo Create and Capture products and be sure to add the wireless option and kiss your mouse goodbye.

Darkness II launch trailer is a heaping serving of Bad Ass

Last week we let you know that the Darkness II demo was available and if that was not enough to whet your whistle, there is now a launch trailer. This is no ordinary trailer as it features not only Jackie Estacado, but a montage of demons and bullets with a soundtrack from NIN. It has gotten to the point that I am now counting down to quad weilding on February 7th.

CES 2012: MB reviews Valentine's Gift Ideas for Her

So this is a MashButtons first, but as we get closer to Valentine’s Day, I figured we look out for those that have to put up with us gamers. Lelo has provided us with one of their newest massagers, the Tiani™ in which will now be reviewed by my wife.  Tiani™ can use during intercourse or for hands-free fun and features SenseMotion™ technology with a wireless remote that possesses several vibration patterns and speeds. Tiani™ is made of waterproof silicone and has a smooth flexible form for absolute comfort to both partners and can be used for up to one hour at a time between charging along a 39 foot wireless range.  This intimate toy can be obtained in two attractive colors from their user-friendly website Lelo.com.

When I first opened the Tiani™ I noticed and appreciated the smooth texture of the silicone.  In comparison to other silicone vibrators I have come in contact with, it was much smoother and did not possess that almost sticky silicone feel.  I could see that my husband was thrilled with the wireless remote option; he started considering all the possibilities.  Both the remote and the vibrator vibrate, which is great for 2 person play as the operator will be aware of how much vibration is going on and not rattle their partner’s teeth out.  The remote also allows the operator to have some fun, as tilting and moving it changes the intensity of the vibrations.  True to its claims, the vibration goes strong for an hour plus between charges and I found it only needs to be charged for approximately 5 to 10 minutes before it is ready for another round.  As someone who is easily frustrated by electronics, I found the written instructions to be clear and concise coupled with easy to understand pictures. I do not care for the noise of the vibrator as I feel that the point of a remote control vibrator is discretion in a public setting.  The noise is minimal for the vibrator, but still audible and the wireless control is a bit louder. 

 

The Tiani™ is a must-have with its fantastic texture and its smooth, multi-vibration settings.  I would keep it in the house or to a secluded setting where the noise cannot be heard, but all in all I was fully satisfied.

CES: 2012 Styli Shootout…Length vs. Girth

Do I have your attention now? Good, because in this segment we put two tablet stylus’, styli, styluses given to us by Wacom and Ten1 Design against each other to see who will come out on top for my creative and note taking needs on the iPad. I will get some things out of the way before I begin, both styli are available now, the Bamboo Stylus from Wacom retails at $29.99 while the pogo sketch pro from Ten 1 Design retails at $24.95. Along with similar pricing points, both of these products have very similar features in opposite proportions, so lets see how they hold up.

We will begin with the pogo sketch pro, crafted from a solid piece of aluminum, being the longer and skinnier of the two, comes with two tips, pro and classic, and lastly a soft cloth pouch for portability and longevity. I do not know which tip is the pro or standard tip, but I found myself loving the softer, smooth tip for its sensitivity to detection from the iPad at every possible angle, whereas the firmer, rougher tip requires more pressure for detection. I especially appreciated the length, weight, and rubber grip makes it easier to use for longer sessions and note taking. I would have liked it more if it were the same thickness from top to bottom and were less easy to lose when not stowed behind my ear.

 

The other stylus that we received from the show was the Bamboo Stylus, which has more of a traditional pen feel. I definitely like the thickness of the stylus and the balanced feel in which it provides. The tip is also removable so you can easily replace when worm out rather than having to purchase a new stylus. You can also personalize it to your liking, as they are available in a handful of colors (see below). Unfortunately, I did feel like the stylus could have been at least a half an inch longer I like to choke up on it to make sure the side of my palm does not make content with the screen. This product was a lot more portable for me as it has a clip, which I used to attach to the apple case that isn’t but should be included when you buy an iPad, but I will save that for another article.

In comparison to the more affordable brands at about half the price point, these two are far and away worth difference in price as the additional weight and less pressure needed for detection provides a more pleasant experience. Lets face it, drawing and painting on the iPad is a lot easier on the iPad than taking notes, most likely due to having to keep your hand hovering about the screen by this southpaw, so it isn’t detected, as you will quickly learn that undo is your best friend. However, if it were possible, a very sexy love child (stylus) would be the outcome from the two…well that or a skinner, impractical, dwarfed stylus.