So, I'll ask again...

Isn't it the stylus that's pressure sensitive rather than the screen? I'm sure I read somewhere that in a Wacom tablet, it's the stylus that provides the pressure sensitivity and not the surface... If so, surely the stylus could be made for this tablet even if MS don't supply one with it.

Originally Posted by TeeJay

So, I'll ask again...

Isn't it the stylus that's pressure sensitive rather than the screen? I'm sure I read somewhere that in a Wacom tablet, it's the stylus that provides the pressure sensitivity and not the surface... If so, surely the stylus could be made for this tablet even if MS don't supply one with it.

Yes, but you can't just add on a wacom stylus to whatever you want. It needs special shit going on in the screen.

In the software / drivers, not the screen ;)

The surface (that you write on, the wacom tablet/wacom screen) has tech in it to know where you are pressing.

The pen says how hard. You need BOTH for it to work.


So with the surface (microsoft tablet) the screen knows where you are pressing,
therefore all you'd need is a pen to talk to the tablet, as microsoft is all for styluses then it COULD happen!


The closest the ipad can get is a pen that makes sound noises to talk to the ipad, and an app to work with it; that is the problem. for microsofts tablet the stylus stuff can be across all of the OS and not shoehorned into one app.

Hopefully microsoft or even wacom will push for this, but seeing as how the Microsoft Courier was cancelled, i wont hold my breath.

http://youtu.be/UmIgNfp-MdI

Ah ok thanks for clarifying, I thought that might be the case.

I think Wacom have patents on the stylus pressure though, not sure how specific they are but I'm guessing that's why you don't see many pressure-sensitive options other than ones made by Wacom.

Let's hope Wacom themselves do something for it.

So is the Samsung Series 7 slate still top dog when it comes to a decent pressure sensitive tablet (I'm thinking of purchasing one).

We don't know quite yet - we'll have to when the real deal Surfaces.

I meant at this current time at retail, if the price has dropped to £670 then it seems like a steal.

Likewise Baj, Im thinking the same. Im sure the new microsoft tablet will be better when it comes out, the samsung slate was used to show of windows 8 earlier this year, and im sure microsoft will have learnt all the lessons they can from it, like how much people liked the wacom functionality. However, its very unlikely that it will cost less than 670, and moreover its not out for another 6 months yet.

The only downside to the Samsung slate seems to be variable build quality, and some people have mentioned battery life. Would be great if some people here could chip in if they own one!

However, back on topic, I think the surface will improve on the Samsung Tablet, as I dont think microsoft would make anything inferior to the product they used as a demo platform for their flagship software

"like how much people liked the wacom functionality" I'm pretty sure having a stylus is a negative to the public at large, artist are a niche market. Tablets & PDAs didn't become popular until they dropped the stylus and went touch screen.

Originally Posted by Justin_Meisse

"like how much people liked the wacom functionality" I'm pretty sure having a stylus is a negative to the public at large, artist are a niche market. Tablets & PDAs didn't become popular until they dropped the stylus and went touch screen.

Thats the same arguement the local Mac prophet uses. Consumers maybe....* Medical and business will probably use and want such functionality. Local doctors use windows pen tablets. Allow much faster input and precision than a touch alone. Also allows document signing.

Most sites agree with the idea that the higher end version, ie the Pro one with stylus is especially meant for business use.

*Consumers also didn't need a tablet or retinal, until mac [s]showed[/s] told them so.

WTF is the strikethrough bb code?

Why did you reiterate what I just said but put a mac vs pc spin on it?

People don't hate styluses. They hate obligatory styluses. For most uses it's much nicer to just use a finger, so old tablets (optimized for stylii) feel clunky. You have to grab your tablet AND your pen. You have to hold the pen the entire time.

I'm an artist myself and even I don't like to use my tablet PC as a tablet because it only has a stylus and no touchscreen.

I think that's the key. If you can use your finger OR the stylus, that should be fine.

Again, samsung slate lets you use multitouch screen with finger etc, and stylus for finer browsing, writing or art.

Again, i very much doubt Microsoft will take a step back from a pressure sensitive multitouch tablet with Wacom stylus support. One of the big advantages over the ipad is that you can run photoshop, painter max zbrush etc. Considering apple are supposed to be for creative types, this funcionality shits all over what is capable with an ipad, and Microsoft must have seen the potential here, especially on an open platform.

Art as we know it might be a niche market, but if you add graphic design, advertising and desktop publishing, then I disagree, its the market apple has been trading off for 20 years, and a portable photoshop tablet is one of the things everyone in that industry has been wanting for those 20 years.

Originally Posted by Drav

Art as we know it might be a niche market, but if you add graphic design, advertising and desktop publishing, then I disagree, its the market apple has been trading off for 20 years, and a portable photoshop tablet is one of the things everyone in that industry has been wanting for those 20 years.

I haven't seen a wide adaption of pressure sensitive tablets in those industries. I used to work at a newspaper and my girlfriend is a graphic designer, we haven't seen a graphic design department that uses tablets in our careers.

Interestingly ModBook has spun off from Axiotron and so far it seems they aren't involved with modifying apple laptops into tablets or even doing repairs on them. Perhaps they are going to launch an artist centric tablet? (fingers crossed)

apple haven't TRULY been for creative types since they got rid of the "G" series of machines and went with intel hardware.

now they're just any other pc, with a bigger price tag and a sexy look... and an OS that doesn't support half the important artistic shit lol.

Originally Posted by almighty_gir

apple haven't TRULY been for creative types since they got rid of the "G" series of machines and went with intel hardware.

now they're just any other pc, with a bigger price tag and a sexy look... and an OS that doesn't support half the important artistic shit lol.

Please don't turn this into a Mac vs. PC debate. Stay on topic.

Back to the point, I'd instantly get this if it has proper pen support. Provided it is affordable/cheaper than a cintiq. :P

Originally Posted by Justin_Meisse

I haven't seen a wide adaption of pressure sensitive tablets in those industries. I used to work at a newspaper and my girlfriend is a graphic designer, we haven't seen a graphic design department that uses tablets in our careers.

Interestingly ModBook has spun off from Axiotron and so far it seems they aren't involved with modifying apple laptops into tablets or even doing repairs on them. Perhaps they are going to launch an artist centric tablet? (fingers crossed)

I'm in advertising and I don't really see tablets around either, but there hasn't really been a fucking awesome pressure sensitive tablet released yet. There was the asus EP121, but that was buggy as shit.

Originally Posted by aesir

I'm in advertising and I don't really see tablets around either, but there hasn't really been a fucking awesome pressure sensitive tablet released yet. There was the asus EP121, but that was buggy as shit.

lulz, I guess I should have been more specific in a thread about tablet computers - I meant wacom tablets.

Originally Posted by Drav

s, this funcionality shits all over what is capable with an ipad, and Microsoft must have seen the potential here, especially on an open platform.

Yea.. I'm gonna go even further than Apple/Windows.

The only truly open platform is Android. As the code (mostly linux) is available for viewing/editing, and you can start your own markets or app without going through their specific store.


That said OSX and Windows have good art programs for both. Its iOS that does not. Maybe Apple will release a pro tablet that combines OSX with a retinal macbook.. Of course that would probably be near $2000.

Tablet Newspaper of the Future (1995) -...

Originally Posted by oXYnary

Its iOS that does not. Maybe Apple will release a pro tablet that combines OSX with a retinal macbook.. Of course that would probably be near $2000.

I'd pay that much for a high resolution tablet with a Nvidia graphics card. I've got some high hopes for what Modbook plans on unveiling - I hope it just doesn't turn out to be a wacom tablet alternative, right now all I know is it's a hardware company that is focusing on artists.

as far as that image - Microsoft unveiled the Tablet and imagined the amazing world of office applications and note taking and then tried to dictate how OEM's designed their tablets, if you deviated too much from their specs you couldn't ship it with Windows XP tablet edition. With the iPad and then the Android based tablets that followed, MS had competition in the tablet space forcing them to innovate or be abandoned in that sector.

Originally Posted by Justin_Meisse

lulz, I guess I should have been more specific in a thread about tablet computers - I meant wacom tablets.

ah, well then 3/4 of the creative team has wacom tablets here.