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Painting and drawing on a sketchbook or a PowerBook are vastly different experiences. On a Mac, mouse movements--which are sufficient for most tasks--aren't nearly as precise and free-flowing as ink on paper. Computer artists with any experience using analog tools or traditional artists who are adding a Mac to their workflow will see significant benefits from a good drawing tablet. Even photographers will achieve quicker and better results modifying photos. Adesso's CyberTablet 8600 is a useful mid-range drawing tablet for any graphic job; just move its stylus as if you're holding a traditional pencil to make marks onscreen. While the CyberTablet lacks several features of its Wacom competitors--and it requires batteries in the stylus and typical threebutton- with-scroll-wheel mouse--it's a boon for artists on a budget.
We installed the CyberTablet without any problems; the only confusing part was that its driver settings were contained in the HyperPen application instead of the System Preferences. The stylus clicks when pushed down on the tablet's surface, and it also includes a two-button rocker switch.
The mouse felt too jerky to entirely replace a standalone device, but it worked well enough for temporary functions, scrolling and Controlclicking with its extra buttons. But we admittedly didn't care as much about the mouse; after adjusting the driver to accept a lighter touch, the stylus expertly recorded our movements in graphic applications.
We tried painting and sketching in programs like Toon Boom Studio Express 2.5 ($144; www. toonboom.com) and Painter IX ($430; www.corel. com) with good results. Especially in Painter, a light touch produced thinner, translucent marks, while a heavy hand etched dark lines into the image. Because of the pressure sensitivity, we could gently erase the canvas with multiple strokes and instantly vary the opacity of clones and other advanced effects. To reproduce the same effect with a mouse, we would have to adjust an opacity setting between each stroke. For this alone, it's easy to recommend a drawing tablet to hobbyists and artists.
Whether you choose the CyberTablet depends on how much you'll miss a few features of Wacom tablets, and whether you want to pay the extra $70 for the closest competitor, the Graphire3 6x8 Pen Tablet ($200; www.graphire3.com). It's a moderate hassle that the CyberTablet's tools require batteries, but at least Adesso claims that the included batteries will last for several months. The tablet has no tilt sensitivity, which would allow a program to better approximate an irregularly shaped tool--like a calligraphy pen--with the angle you hold the stylus. The stylus also omits an eraser end; instead of flipping it over in your hand to call up the eraser or a different tool, you'll have to select those from a palette. It's also a BYOS (bring your own software) device; it includes no Mac software bundle other than the driver utility. We missed the eraser button most of all, but we could still create great sketches and photo manipulations without any of these features.
The stylus kept pace across the tablet's full 8"x6" active area; the CyberTablet is just the right size for most users, giving enough space for larger strokes and high-resolution displays. We think the butterfly pattern definitely won't suite everyone, but the active area is covered with a clear, plastic sheet that will hold an image for tracing.
The CyberTablet 8600 requires batteries in its tools, lacks tilt-sensitivity and has no eraser button on its stylus. But that stylus--the most important feature--worked well, always approximating our pressure and movement. Our productivity and results with the CyberTablet were far better than a traditional mouse and yours should be too.
-ZACK STERN
CyberTablet 8600: 
Adesso | www.adesso.com | 909-839-2929 | $130
Pros: Smooth control, pressure sensitive, includes mouse.
Cons: No Mac software bundle, requires batteries, no eraser or tilt functions.
Requires: OS X, 32MB RAM, USB port
macHOME recommends: Graphic applications
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