Since I'm unlikely to get my hands on either a Wacom MobileStudio Pro or Cintiq Pro anytime soon, I'll be offering videos from trusted reviewers as I find them.
(The MobileStudio Pro 16 went on sale in the US this week, but the Surface Studio will be my last hardware purchase for a very long time. Please remember to turn off your ad blocker, donate a couple of bucks or start your Amazon sessions via our product links to help defray the site's massive debt.)
First up is this very thorough walk-through of the MobileStudio Pro 13 from NihongoGamer. The video is very well produced and answers critical questions about fan noise, parallax, edge accuracy and much more. It's definitely worth a look and quite informative.
I've been testing the Wacom MobileStudio Pro for about a week but I've received a LOT of questions so hopefully this video will help you decide what to buy. After I've spent more time with it I plan to make a more in-depth review :) I'm on Twitter and Instagram as @NihongoGamer If you have a question feel free to ask it in the comments section below!
To my ears, the fans are running quite loudly during the ZBrush session. However, the fans on my Wacom Cintiq Companion 2 run at least as loudly on power up. What do you think?
Surface Dial: must-have peripheral or novelty act?
Although I have a Surface Dial due to arrive soon, bundled with my new Surface Studio, I decided to buy a standalone peripheral when it went on sale recently.
The $99 Surface Dial was the surprise star of the Surface Studio unveiling (take a look at any of dozens of reaction videos available on YouTube) and I was eager to see how functional it was on existing PCs.
An upcoming firmware update to the Surface Pro 4 and Surface Book will enable on-screen use on those devices, but the Dial already works in desktop mode with any Windows 10 PC with Bluetooth. To confirm this, I also tested with a Huawei MateBook.
Although the on-screen usage in novel, I think most users will opt to use it next to their tablets, because the Dial’s size makes it impractical to keep on the display for long, taking up too much real estate. The Dial also has the annoying habit of sliding down the screen even on the mild incline of the Surface Pro.
Roughly the size of a paperweight, the Dial reminds me of a tuner knob on a radio or stereo console.
You won’t feel any physical clicks as you rotate the Dial, but you will get haptic feedback as you “tune” from one command to another. Pushing down on the Dial to select a command also provides a haptic response.
The Dial offers five standard commands that are available system-wide and a customizable command for keyboard shortcuts. These OS level options can be changed (as shown above) in Windows Settings> Devices> Wheel. (Someone from Microsoft marketing needs to tell the OS coders of the name change).
Even with all commands configured, not all commands will show up at all times, as the operating system will generally offer only those that are available on the given screen. For example, pushing the Dial on the desktop only shows the volume and brightness commands.
When you activate the Dial within an application that supports it, those commands can override all of the settings you set at the OS level. This works well in practice, but it limits the functionality of the Dial as well.
An obvious use of the Dial might be to access on-screen toolbars created with something like Tablet Pro or Toolbar Creator. But with applications being able to override control, such a utility would only work for software that doesn’t yet support the peripheral. Perhaps in future updates, Microsoft could enable a “manual override” option.
There’s something very elegant about the dial command interface and I think it could point the way to much less cluttered UI design (assuming developers are able nest commands several levels deep).
Microsoft lists the following apps as ready for Surface Dial: Sketchable, Mental Canvas, Drawboard PDF, Moho 12, StaffPad and Bluebeam Revu. Additionally, Plumbago, Sketchpad, Word, Excel, Powerpoint, OneNote, Maps and Groove Music all offer some Dial functionality. I tested many of the creative applications and found that the degree of implementation varies widely.
Sketchable's Dial control menus.
The default brush control is brush tip diameter.
Sketchable
The program with the most sophisticated set of Dial controls is Sketchable from Silicon Benders, which offers controls for navigation, HSB and RGB color palettes and brush settings.
I find the palette controls redundant with Sketchable’s native shortcut panel (which looks remarkably similar to the Dial menus). It would be nice to see the two combined or at least have a way to turn off the native shortcut panel while the Dial is in use. Similarly, the navigation controls are just as easily performed with two finger gestures.
It’s in the brush settings that the Silicon Benders team have gone out of their way to add Dial controls. By default, the brush control dials diameter up and down. But by accessing the Sketchable preferences (right), you can choose to “speed dial” 11 additional brush attributes: stroke opacity, tip opacity, tip rotation, tip roundness, flow, feather, penetration, spacing, scattering, bleed and resaturation.
With so many parameters to set, you will find yourself clicking the Dial often to get to the desired function. I’m a bit too left-brained to get the most out of this level of variability. I prefer to lock in a value numerically and rely on it not changing the next time I go to use it. But if you’re a more experimental type, I think the happy accidents that these fluid controls provide may delight you.
As with the shortcut menu, I’d prefer to see more of the Sketchable UI available in Dial form, hiding redundant controls from view, especially brush preset selections that are currently parked along the bottom on the screen.
Mental Canvas Player
The Mental Canvas Player app is a viewer for interactive content created on the as-yet-unreleased Mental Canvas Authoring system.
That software will enable users to create 2D sketches and assemble them within a 3D space. The concept is intriguing and the demo scenes are fascinating, but Dial functionality is quite limited.
Rotate the Dial to move to the creator’s bookmarked views, click to play the animation and click again to pause.
It’s unclear whether the Dial will play a role in the authoring system.
The Drawboard PDF protractor and ruler is very elegant and easy to manipulate with the Dial, although I wasn't able to figure out how to move its origin from the default location.
Drawboard PDF
Drawboard PDF is a PDF viewing and annotation app and its Dial controls are the only ones I encountered that overflow onto a secondary set of menus. If you neglect to dial over to the < or > commands, you’ll miss them.
App specific controls allow you to rotate the PDF, use a protractor tool, add rules and gridlines, and select pen line widths.
As with other protractor tools in Windows 10, the Dial rotates in one degree increments. It would be great to add modifier functions in order to rotate the degrees in finer increments or in 10- or 15-degree chunks.
I also couldn’t divine how to move the protractor origin from the lower left corner of the screen.
Besides offering intuitive timeline controls, the Dial allows you to cycle through Moho 12's bones which can be difficult to select manually.
Moho 12
Moho is the animation program from Smith Micro formerly known as Anime Studio. With its recent update to version 12.2, the software also integrates vital Dial controls.
I first learned to edit video in the old analog days where a knob was used to fast forward and rewind. In the transition to digital editing, mouse control of a timeline made for a very poor substitute when desiring to advance video a frame at a time or rock back and forth over an edit.
Using the Dial to control Moho’s timeline was the first time in my testing where the analog device made absolute sense. There is no new muscle memory to develop: turn the knob right, you go forward, turn to the left you go back. Clicking plays and pauses.
I can’t wait to see video editing applications like Adobe Premiere Pro adopt the Dial interface.
Moho also allows users to cycle through smart bones with the Dial. This is definitely a useful feature as it’s sometimes difficult to pick a bone that might be obscured by another one in the rig.
The other Dial functions zoom and rotate the canvas and set brush stroke width.
Plumbago's wheel UI is already efficient and the Dial controls are redundant.
Plumbago
Plumbago is the Microsoft Garage sketching and notetaking app. It also features a wheel interface UI that the Dial can control.
Selecting Tool Size, Tool Picker or Color Wheel and then rotating dials through the small number of options in the standard menu. I frankly found the experience totally redundant. It’s much easier to just tap on the item and option you want and move on.
And like in all the programs, panning and zooming is much better with gestures than with Dial control.
The Dial makes it easy to rotate the Sketchpad ruler to exact increments.
Sketchpad
The new drawing utility that was introduced with the Anniversary Update, Sketchpad is accessed via the Ink Workspace.
The Dial allows you to select Pens (something easily accomplished by tapping directly). Selecting Size opens the current pen’s palette and size settings. With the settings panel open, the Dial options change to allow you to either manipulate the size slider or cycle through colors.
If you open the on-screen ruler, the Dial allows you to rotate it in one degree increments.
With Undo selected on the Dial, you can move through your drawing history. Unfortunately, strokes pop on and off. It would be great if strokes could be traced on and off.
OneNote
Only the standard OS Dial controls are available on the desktop version of OneNote, but they all work well.
The OneNote app includes a Playback function. You can either rock back and forth with your Dial or click to play and pause. This is a fun feature, but strokes pop on and off instead of tracing themselves. The latter would be much more instructive for drawing playback or emphatic text.
Conclusions
The Surface Dial is an interesting new addition to the desktop and points the way to more streamlined and intuitive user interfaces moving forward.
However, with the exception of timeline control, none of its current functions are “must haves” and many feel like novelties.
Artists who are either more coordinated or who like to experiment with line widths and brush settings as they draw may disagree, but I’d advise waiting a few months to see how other developers implement the Dial before spending $100.
The Mix Plus is the successor to the Cube i7 Book, which I reviewed positively earlier this year.
The new tablet features a Kaby Lake Core M3-7Y30 Dual Core 1.61GHz processor, 10.6 inch IPS Capacitive Screen, 4GB RAM, 128GB SSD, 2.0MP + 5.0MP Cameras, Bluetooth 4.0 OTA OTG and a Wacom EMR digitizer. Pen and clamshell keyboard cover are sold separately.
Gearbest.com is now taking pre-orders for $475 for the standalone tablet. The device is scheduled to ship after Dec. 14.
The Mix Plus appears to be a dual OS device, shipping with Windows 10 and Android pre-installed. Not much information on the Android functionality is listed, but the Gearbest product description offers the following ominous warning: "Any alterations such as upgrades, modding with custom ROM, rooting or flashing the Android device with other firmware will automatically cause the device experience matters as well as void the device's warranty. Please think twice before operating all these actions."
From the images, the Cube Mix Plus design and build quality appears to have been refined over the i7 Book or the original i7 Stylus, which I reviewed as the Mytrix Complex 11t. The new processor should yield a very satisfactory sketching experience.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Huan Tran is a veteran illustrator and creator of the "Art Frak" project, which he describes as "melding editorial illustration, photography, geekiness and pin-up art.". He contacted me recently to tell me about his work, which is created entirely on the Surface Pro 4 with Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop. Because I also share many of his geeky interests (including a healthy admiration for tasteful pin-ups), I asked him to provide a walkthrough of his process on one of his more SFW illustrations. You can find more over at ArtFrak.com, but be aware that most of it includes stylized nudity.
GUEST POST by HUAN TRAN
Over the course 12 years as a freelance illustrator, one inescapable truth has defined my work habits: work happens when I'm planted in front of the desktop in my studio. Don't get me wrong; I like working in my studio, having adorned the walls and lined the shelves with prints, collectibles and figurines-- all of the things that inspire me, provoke thought, and make me laugh.
The Surface Pro 4 disrupted all of that, affecting my creative process in the best possible way. The versatility and portability of the Surface Pro 4 means that a third of the time, I'm still working in my studio. Another third, I'm sitting at the local caffeine dispensary putting finishing touches on a project. The remainder of the time, I'm nestled on the sofa sketching and painting on the Surface. It might seem trivial, but changing your surroundings changes the ideas that come to mind and influences the work that you create.
After 12 years of sitting in front of my desktop computer, it's amazing to be able to cut the cord and still be fully productive.
Rather than using the flip cover keyboard that the Surface is recognized for, I prefer using the Microsoft Universal Foldable Keyboard (above). I find it hard to draw on the Surface with the official keyboard attached. Working primarily in Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator, putting the keyboard to the side, I'm still able to utilize all of my shortcut keys.
The ability to use the full fledged software suites is what makes the Surface something more than simply a doodle sketch pad tablet. I'm able to take a project from conception to end product on the same device, without having to move my files over to the desktop computer to actually complete the work.
It all begins with an idea. I wanted to create an image from the X-Men universe that showed the duality of technology versus nature, danger versus safety, future versus past. I envisioned a scenario where Emma Frost is relaxing in the hand of a long destroyed Sentinel, a dangerous machine that has since been reclaimed by the jungle. Collaborating with the model, we nail the shots that I'm looking for during the photoshoot (above).
For the line work (left), I start pulling bezier points in Illustrator with the pen tool, drawing the hand and head of the robot.
The line layers are exported as a .psd file. Loading up Photoshop (above), I create a new canvas and begin blocking in some rough color areas.
Overlaying the black line layer, I adjust its transparency to "Multiply", which zaps away the white areas, leaving only the black lines (above, top). I start painting in the robot, adding shadows, highlights, textures and scratches.
I start working on the photo of Emma Frost, adjust her colors using the "Curves" feature. Next, I work on her hair, simplifying the shape and details. On her head, I clean up her skin, painting over it to give it a consistent look with the rest of the illustrated piece.
For her corset, gloves and boots, I start by blocking in the shape over the model's body and work her skin and clothing simultaneously for overall cohesiveness.
I wanted to additional show the contrast between Emma Frost's hard diamond form and her softer skin. After painting in the shape of her boot, I focus on the sparkles, transparency and highlights that make up the diamond.
Using a variety of brushes and transparency effects, the rest of the illustration is done with regular old fashioned drawing and painting. The aim in the end is to achieve a result that seamlessly blends the photography with the illustration.
Visit the Art Frak ( http://www.artfrak.com ) project website for more works in the series. For sketches, and WIP, follow my progress on Instragram ( @artfrak ) and Twitter ( @art_frak ).
Microsoft has seen the light and declared this to be the year of the Windows creative. And as a result, many artists will find new Surface Pros, Surface Books or Surface Studios stuffed inside their (enormous) Christmas stockings in the next few days.
Others of you will also be unwrapping a variety of Windows tablets and convertible laptops from makers like Dell, HP and Lenovo.
And many among these two groups will be disaffected Mac creatives who haven’t touched Windows in a long time (if ever).
You will all have many questions.
To all of you, we offer this holiday gift: a newbie’s guide to the steps you should take to get your new device up and running with a minimum of hassles.
Read on and save yourselves hours of potential aggravation. And if there’s anything we’ve forgotten to cover, reach out to us in the comments section below or via Twitter or Facebook.
If you find any of this advice or any of the other content we offer here useful, please support us by turning off your AdBlocker for this domain, clicking on an occasional ad, starting your Amazon buying sessions from one of our links or donating via the links found at the top of the home page!
Your generous support is even more critical in the new year as I fight to keep this site alive and up to date with the content that matters most to you. Thanks!
Our good buddy illustrator and YouTube sensation Brad Colbow is back today with a great review of his new Wacom MobileStudio Pro 16.
As entertaining and informative as usual, Brad tells it like it is and answers many of the questions we've been dying to know about Wacom's new Windows tablet PC.
As an added bonus, he also creates some fun Zelda fanart in the process.
I can’t recall a device ever receiving such universal--and nearly uniform--praise like the Microsoft Surface Studio has since its unveiling.
I got my unit only two nights ago and normally I’d say that that’s too soon to make a proper evaluation. But after reading and watching countless reviews over the last month-and-a-half, and even playing with Studios a couple of times at the Microsoft Store, I already knew exactly what the product’s strengths and weaknesses are. And you probably already know them too:
Gorgeous, humongous display that you want to dive into. Check.
Great pen performance. Check.
Spectacular design and craftsmanship. Check.
Middling specifications, bound for premature obsolescence. Check.
Bank balance-depleting, starving artists-need-not-apply price tag. Check and mate.
So as I sit here tonight writing this review, I struggle with telling you something more than what you already know. I’m tempted to just leave it at this: the Surface Studio is the best Surface ever and, if you can afford it or can talk your company into buying you one, don’t hesitate.
But you want to know more, so here are my observations after 48 hours of close contact.
The Surface Studio is big. If you’ve seen it in person at the Microsoft Store, you may be under the impression that it’s not too much bigger than the 22-inch monitor you’ve got sitting at home. But let me set you straight: six inches and a 3:2 vs. 16:9 aspect ratio is a HUGE difference.
Assuming your desktop is big enough to accommodate it, you’ll need to be conscious of how far back you push the stand. If you set the Studio too far away from you, reaching for the File menu when the screen is reclined is sure to cause shoulder strain for right handers.
Tapping the close gadget or notifications icon might pull your shoulder out of its socket for left handers.
You’ll want to set the base just far enough so that the bottom of the Studio is flush with your desk’s edge when it’s reclined. And if you have short arms, you may need to place the base flush with your desk and have the display overhang it by about four inches (see right). This really works better than it sounds and allows you to cradle your work in your lap like you’re accustomed to with tablets.
If you plan on using the keyboard when the Studio is reclined, you’ll want a keyboard tray for your desk (see right), so it can still be centered as you type. Otherwise you will need to use it on either side of the display, which may be uncomfortably far for using hotkeys.
While following my recommended checklist of installing updates before attempting to run any software, I checked in on Twitter to announce the new toy’s arrival. Like many sites, Twitter wastes a ridiculous amount of screen space on either side of the feed. Running a full screen browser is totally inefficient on the Studio. Its display is made for split screen use and the 4K resolution invites you to scale everything to at least 200% without sacrificing any real estate.
As I began testing the Studio with a vertical format drawing in Clip Studio Paint, it was obvious that I was wasting a good portion of the display and working inefficiently by having to reach over for the toolbar. I was reminded that Tweetdeck still exists and is far more compact than the Twitter website or app because it always displays your feed alongside notifications and messages in three narrow columns. And as an added bonus, it auto-refreshes for round-the-clock hands-free feed monitoring.
So I sized up the Edge browser and Tweetdeck to occupy the left third of the screen and resized Clip Studio Paint to take up the rest (see above). Remarkably, a 10x15 canvas is only slightly reduced on the Studio, perhaps to 9x13, leaving plenty of room for Clip Studio Paint’s efficient UI.
Having Tweetdeck open may be too distracting for you, but you can easily think of other more productive ways to use the extra space. For example, I was able to load up a sub-view image to 100% alongside my file (see below). Imagine trying that on your 10.6-inch Surface Pro 1 or 2!
The Surface Studio display is bright. So is the display on my Surface Pro 4, which I often use at 25% brightness at night time. But given its size, the Studio’s display is positively blinding in typical indoor lighting.
Since my shipment arrived at night, I had to set the display to 15% brightness in sRGB mode. The following day, despite the daylight streaming into the room through a translucent window shade, I kept the brightness at 15% and haven’t moved it since. I caution all users to protect their eyes and lower the brightness whenever possible, raising it only for color evaluation. As much as you may want to, staring in to a white hot canvas as you lose yourself in your sketching cannot be good for you! You’ve been warned.
The Surface Pen works really well. Maybe it’s because I’m an inker and not a painter, but I’ve never had the issues that some have with the Surface line’s relatively high initial activation force. But Microsoft has definitely been tweaking its Ink response and the improvements are plainly evident with the Studio.
iFixIt’s recent tear-down of the Studio revealed that the display contains a new ARM chip that many speculate may be assisting in the ink processing. Microsoft hasn’t said if this is correct, but I also have seen marked improvement in the Surface Pro 4’s inking since the release of Insider Build 14986.
I’ve mostly worked with Clip Studio Paint so far, but even Photoshop brushes feel silky now.
One change that I’ve made in my workflow is that I’ve adopted the hard 2H nib from the replacement tip pack. The standard tip that ships with the Surface Pen is the HB nib. The slight tack that I used to enjoy seems to contribute to the occasional stroke skipping that many users report. As the 2H tip glides more smoothly along the glass display, I’m not missing any strokes at all.
For the last several devices I’ve reviewed, I’ve been inking the same artwork, a very tightly penciled cover for All-American Western drawn in 1951 by Gil Kane. Ironically, when that cover was published, it was inked by Alex Toth who took massive liberties with Kane’s work. It also was colored garishly, effectively ruining the original (see above).
By carefully trying to reproduce Kane’s original line work, I’m able to evaluate the accuracy of the digitizer and exactly compare its performance vs. other devices. Completing the page often takes several days on other devices. For instance, I had a heck of a time completing it when I first got the iPad Pro because there was no software at the time that had acceptable ink brushes. On the Surface Studio (see right), I was able to complete the page in about six hours, and with very minor brush stabilization (for me) of about 15%. I probably could have dialed it down further, but it’s difficult for me to get rid of the training wheels completely. On the Surface Pro 3, I often had to dial up stabilization to 45% in Clip Studio Paint (any higher produces unacceptable lag).
The bottom line is that at least for comics illustration, the Surface Studio is a winner. I suspect that any artist who does not require tilt support or extremely light IAF will be very satisfied with its performance.
The Surface Studio will chain you to your desk. After all the strides the Surface and Microsoft teams have made in bringing full pc performance to mobile devices, it’s a little ironic that those tablet PCs will feel a lot less desirable after you’ve spent some time working on the Studio. Work that you might have taken with you to the couch or coffee shop may just sit and wait until you can complete it on the big screen.
Now for some of the drawbacks.
The Surface Dial is a bit of a gimmick. As I wrote in my standalone review, the Dial points the way to an interesting new interaction paradigm, but as it is currently implemented, I don’t see myself using it very often.
Placing it on screen in Sketchable is very interesting but it requires a level of coordination to operate while drawing that I’m not yet up to managing.
The Dial also has the annoying habit of gradually sliding down the screen, which is very distracting and could be costly if it ends up falling on the floor.
If you get your Dial bundled for free, it’s worth learning to use for timeline manipulation and undo/redo functionality, but I don’t advise paying $100 for it at this time.
The Surface Mouse and Surface Keyboard could be better. The Apple-like keyboard doesn’t have a palm rest, so it could be hard on the wrists over time. The numpad and other various keys are grouped very tightly along the right side of the keyboard and will take getting used to to avoid accidentally hitting them. Key travel is decent. The keyboard is too wide to use comfortably on either side of the display. I would have preferred a more compact design, perhaps without a numpad.
The Surface Mouse feels a little retro in my hands. I’ve definitely owned more ergonomic Microsoft mice. The scroll wheel is a little too mechanical, and offers a bit more resistance while scrolling than I’d like. The buttons also need some effort to depress.
The Surface Studio isn’t silent. While not as loud as the Wacom Companion 2, the Studio’s fans run constantly and since the base sits on top of your desk, it’s impossible to ignore them.
Fortunately, some of that fan noise can be drowned out by the Studio’s speakers, which are surprisingly loud. Watching YouTube videos at 50% volume was still too much.
The hard drive is slow. I haven’t performed benchmarks yet, but one of the easiest ways to tell is during the initial update process. Devices with slow drives always take longer than those with SSDs. Save times in Clip Studio Paint are also a little slow.
I can’t say how the GPU performs yet, but I haven’t noticed any issues redrawing or manipulating full-screen images. I’ll run and post benchmark results as soon as I can.
It will be painful when Microsoft releases the inevitable hardware refresh. This unit cost $3500 for an Intel i7-6820HQ with NVidia 965M GPU, 16 GB of RAM and 1 TB hybrid drive. There are already better parts on the market and for its premium price, it’s very disappointing that Microsoft didn’t opt to use the latest and greatest.
The reality is that I will have a hard time pushing the current hardware with 2D drawing applications. It’s only video editing and rendering that should push this configuration to a breaking point, but as a device designed for creative users, adequate power should never have been a question mark.
All I can selfishly hope is that the Surface Studio 2 is at least a year away and that by then Microsoft has figured out a way to upgrade just the base without replacing the display, which is clearly the most expensive component in this PC.
(I’m also holding out hope that the Surface Book’s Performance Base is eventually sold separately from the Clipboard. Come on, Panos Panay, you know this is just a marketing decision!)
Regardless of its limitations, I’m in love with my Surface Studio. And I don’t expect the feeling to fade anytime soon. As I wrote after its unveiling, this is the device that I’ve dreamed of owning since I saw my first Cintiq and all-in-one. In fact, my yearning for this device goes all the way back to my first creative computer, the Commodore Amiga.
The interest and enthusiasm the Studio has awakened in creatives and tech enthusiasts around the world makes it clear that many of us shared that vision and that the world was ready for a PC dedicated to the creative spirit.
As I wrote towards the top, if you have the resources to buy the Surface Studio today, go for it. You won’t be disappointed.
But if you can’t afford it now, start saving your pennies, because it’s a sure thing that the next generation Surface Studio will be even better.
Kate Bush Sensual World sketched on the Wacom MobileStudio Pro 16 in Clip Studio Paint
Although I was a fan of the Wacom Cintiq Companion 2, which I reviewed in March, 2015, the device had just enough issues that I couldn’t recommend it wholeheartedly to the average artist.
Chief among these deficiencies are its loud, high pitched fans, which whir into action the moment the tablet is powered on.
While I ‘ve been focused on the Surface Studio for the last month, I let video reviewers like Nihongo Gamer and Brian Colbow cover the MobileStudio Pro. But a local retailer got in a large quantity of the MSP 16s two weeks ago and I couldn’t resist the opportunity to take one out for a test spin. The highest end model was snatched up immediately. The “entry level” Core i5 model discussed in this review retails for $2400 and comes with a 256GB SSD, 8 GB of RAM and an NVidia Quadro M600M.
The MobileStudio Pro 16 (above top) is not dramatically larger than the Cintiq Companion 2, but it weighs 1.1 lbs. more.
Unlike my instant love affair with the Surface all-in-one, I needed to spend as much time as I could with the MSP around the holidays before I could render my final verdict. There’s a lot to like about the MSP 16, but it’s not perfect for everyone. Some mobile professionals might prefer its smaller cousin the MobileStudio Pro 13, while others might be better served by a larger Cintiq pen display. Hobbyists and home users might be better off with a more general purpose device.
The first thing you’ll notice when you take the MobileStudio Pro 16 out of the box is that the tablet is big and heavy, measuring 16.5 x 10.3 x 0.75 inches and weighing 4.85 lbs.
That’s over a pound more than the Companion 2, which is no lightweight at a solid 3.75 lbs. for its 14.7 x 9.8 x 0.6 inch frame.
But weight notwithstanding, the MobileStudio Pro is a beautifully crafted device, with rounded top and bottom edges and 8 Wacom signature ExpressKeys and Rocker Ring to the left of the display.
The concave left edge contains a volume rocker, rotation lock, power switch, headphone jack and MicroSD slot. The right edge contains a Kensington security slot and three USB Type C ports.
The Dell Inspiron 7568 (above bottom) also has a 15.6 inch screen, but the MobileStudio Pro's ExpressKeys make it a little more awkward to manipulate on a lap.
As smooth and nice as the top and bottom edges feel to the touch, I found the ridged sides and back edges a little uncomfortable after prolonged lap use. Although I’ve used other 15.6 inch convertibles like the Dell Inspiron 7568 in my lap, the extra width of the ExpressKeys makes the MSP 16 a bit more awkward to use this way.
The MobileStudio Pro is a beautifully crafted device
While on a desktop, a stand is an absolute necessity for the MobileStudio Pro, but it’s no longer included with the device, as it was with the Companion 2. The stand is also not available for purchase as of this writing. From the images on the Wacom site, the new stand will be nearly identical to the CC2’s. Like most reviewers, I criticized the clunky design of that stand. But since a design overhaul doesn’t appear to be happening, anything would have been better than nothing.
Stand slots in the back of the MSP have hardware that obstructs the CC2 stand's tabs.
I tried to use it with the CC2 stand with the new device, but hardware inside the MSP’s slots (left) obstructs the stand’s tabs. It would have been nice for the MSP to include tabbed feet like the new Cintiq Pro models do.
Fortunately, I had the Artisul Freestyle Stand 051 on hand and the MobileStudio Pro fits very securely into it. Although the Artisul claims to work in any angle between 10 and 110 degrees, I found it would only stay in place while I drew at its highest or lowest angles. The stand is also wide enough to keep the MSP steady while pressing on either side of the display.
The standard carrying case of the Cintiq Companion's Pro Pen has been replaced by a telescoping cigar shaped case for the Pro Pen 2 (above top). Instead of nine replacement nibs, the new pen only brings three.
The nibs on the Pro Pen 2 are shorter than the Pro Pen's. An assortment of colored washers are also included to help personalize your pen.
The new Wacom Pro Pen 2 ships in a cigar shaped case that telescopes to reveal the pen nestled inside. A twist-off top reveals three replacement nibs: 2 standard, 1 felt. This is a little cheap, given that the compartment has slots for six replacement tips. Unless I missed it, I couldn’t find a nib extractor ring in my package. [UPDATE: The carrying case has a washer with a small hole that is supposed to be the nib extractor. I have no idea how to use it, obviously.] You can personalize your pen with an assortment of colored washers that screw in just above the pen barrel. I suppose this is valuable in a studio environment where multiple pens might be in use?
The concave sides of the MobileStudio Pro can be a little uncomfortable to hold. The pen holder fits in the Kensington slot, but the inserted pen obstructs all of the Type C connectors! [UPDATE: It hadn't occurred to me to insert the pen vertically, like a fountain pen.]
A pen holder fits into the Kensington slot and you can slide your pen in eraser-end-first for safe keeping. Unfortunately, this solution obstructs all of your Type C ports! Even with only the lower-most port occupied, with say a power connector, you’ll have to twist your pen to clear it (above right). It’s a frankly inexcusable design blunder. [UPDATE: I hadn't thought to insert the pen vertically like a quill. See below.]
Now that makes sense, though it would be nice to be able to rotate the stored pen into another orientation.
When you power on your MobileStudio Pro, you’ll be thankful to hear that Wacom engineers corrected the biggest problem with the Cintiq Companion 2. While not absolutely silent, the MSP’s fans run very quietly even when computing processor-intensive benchmarks.
Although my photos have a reddish cast, they don’t do the MSP display justice, as it is significantly more vibrant than the CC2’s. The matte etched glass finish slightly opaques the image vs. other comparable displays, but at least you won’t have to lower the brightness to avoid eye strain.
The 15.6-inch screen has a UHD resolution of 3840 x 2160 and can display 94% of Adobe RGB (the CC2 could only muster 72% NTSC; I couldn’t find its Adobe rating).
The matte textured display is a smudge magnet and the included cleaning cloth isn’t much help. If smudging bothers you, as much as it does me, you may want to use a glove while drawing on the tablet.
The Pro Pen 2 offers a whopping 8192 levels of pressure sensitivity. Unfortunately, I don’t have the hand control to notice much difference versus 2048 or even 1024 pressure levels. Suffice it to say you get a nice range of pressure control. However, I had a bit of unexpected trouble with the pressure settings on my review unit.
In the Wacom Tablet Properties, there is gauge which displays current pressure as you press down the pen. At the medium tip sensitivity setting, I couldn’t reach 100% pressure unless I pressed down extremely hard with the pen. Typically, I would set my tip to a notch or two towards the firm end, but at that setting, I couldn’t achieve more than 80% pressure. Moving the tip sensitivity toward the soft end resulted in much less line variation in Clip Studio Paint and Photoshop.
I settled for leaving the tip feel in the middle of the range and adjusted the curve where I could in my applications. I find that I’m having to press much harder for maximum pressure than I would like.
The Wacom driver also allows you to create a radial pen menu, but I was disappointed to see it doesn’t scale properly with the UI. Because of the tablet’s high resolution, the menu is barely readable. [UPDATE: The driver has several size options for the on-screen menus, but they don't scale sufficiently for the 4K display, in my opinion.]
Corner accuracy with the pen is excellent and Wacom has managed to virtually eliminate parallax and pen offset with the much thinner display. Unfortunately, this means that you’ll see a significant amount of color puddling when press down very hard with your pen tip.
Touch responsiveness is another area that gave me fits. Panning and zooming with gestures are part of my workflow and they only work about 75% of the time. Perhaps because of the textured surface, finger taps don’t always register and I was often forced to tap multiple times before my gestures were recognized. The Wacom control panel has a setting for selecting Windows vs. Wacom gestures and switching to Windows helped, but didn’t alleviate the problem 100% of the time.
The Pro Pen 2 also offers Tilt recognition, but my tools and limited technique aren’t equipped to judge its effectiveness.
The powdery finish of the MobileStudio Pro display requires some adjustment for users of other devices. I personally had issues controlling my ink strokes, but coloring felt very natural.
Sketching on the MobileStudio Pro with the standard nib is powdery, with the nib gliding effortlessly and pen marks registering with the lightest touch. This is a bit of a two-edged sword for me, as I find this responsiveness a little difficult to handle. As I mostly ink, line work is harder to control without heavy stabilization. Conversely, while coloring, moving around big blobs of color feels almost brush-like.
If you’re accustomed to tablet PCs with active pens, you will definitely need some time to acclimate yourself to the Pro Pen 2. For myself, I prefer the drawing experience offered by the Surface Studio, though my preference may also be due to the size of the display.
Performance-wise, I didn’t notice any major issues with the MobileStudio Pro. I’ve recently discovered that pen lag is much more dependent on brush settings than hardware limitations. Playing with a variety of Kyle brushes on Photoshop I came across a couple that lagged significantly while most others performed perfectly.
I also installed the Photoshop extension Brushbox, which enables you to organize your third party brushes, as well as Lazy Nezumi Pro for that extra bit of stabilization that I require. Clip Studio Paint, Sketchable, Autodesk Sketchbook and ZBrush Core all ran flawlessly. Blender also worked well, but scaling the UI can be a challenge. When it first loads, the text is microscopic. I was able to scale up to 144 dpi, but only because I knew where to tap for the adjustment. I could never have read it otherwise.
In benchmarks, the i5 MSP 16 isn’t a top performer, given its dual core processor. The NVidia Quadro M600M isn’t a stellar video card either. Most benchmarks I tried didn’t recognize it as a valid card to test. My guess is that it performs no better than a GeForce 960M.
I’ve used the MobileStudio Pro for the last two weeks with only the on-screen keyboard, but given the touch issues I described above, this can be an extremely frustrating experience. Wacom will soon sell a Bluetooth keyboard, but any one should work.
With its oversized frame and larger than usual power brick, a separate stand, keyboard and pen carrying case, the MSP 16 isn’t the poster child for portability.
Like me, you may wish the display weren’t 16:9, but it’s hard to argue with the advantages of working on its roomy display. Nevertheless, the MSP 13 is probably the better choice for anyone desiring to work on the go. Carting it from home to the office is okay, but working at the local Starbucks may be cumbersome. Besides its size and weight, battery life is disappointing. I never got more than four hours in Clip Studio Paint, with brightness set between 25-50%.
The MobileStudio Pro 16 is definitely better suited to use in a studio setting, but given its limited power, there are also better choices for the price. A 22- or 27-inch Cintiq pen display attached to a powerful PC may cost the same as the i7 MSP 16. (I recently spotted 27-inch Cintiqs going for $1799).
And like the Companion 2, the MSP is a great art tablet but not an ideal tablet PC. If you need to perform traditional computing tasks, a convertible laptop or 2-in-1 like the Surface Pro may be better options.
Ultimately, the MobileStudio Pro represents a major improvement over the Companion 2 and I’m sure most artists will be very happy with it as part of their arsenals. But unless you have money to burn, think carefully about your needs before instinctively choosing the biggest and baddest model.
Lenovo's newly announced Active Pen 2 (Wacom ActiveES) features prominently in many of the company's CES 2017 announcements.
Thinkpad X1 Yoga, Thinkpad X1 Tablet, Miix 720 all feature Active Pen 2 support
PRESS RELEASE
LAS VEGAS - Jan 3, 2017: Lenovo (HKSE: 992) (ADR: LNVGY) today kicked off the 2017 Consumer Electronics Show with a full range of exciting products to show how “different innovates better.” Today’s consumers expect their devices to be tailor-made to meet their needs and fit their usage habits, whether at home, in the office or on the go. Today’s announcement solidifies Lenovo’s continued dedication to innovation through the lens of every individual and the demand of their distinct life.
“Our approach to innovation is to ensure we’re constantly evolving and understanding how technology is infused within every individual, business and home,” said Gianfranco Lanci, president and chief operating officer, Lenovo. “We’re dedicated to understanding our customers and will never stop creating better experiences, whether PCs for work, play or gaming, next generation AR/VR innovation or within the smarter home.”
2017 Thinkpad X1 Yoga is a 14-inch convertible notebooks with OLED display.
A premium PC experience with the ThinkPad X1 family The next generation of ThinkPad X1 products are committed to uncompromised innovation and embracing the needs of the evolving consumer, who now blurs the line between work and personal PC use. Customer feedback, insight and experience has pushed Lenovo to truly understand what matters most to users and match those wants with its products.
The 2017 ThinkPad X1 Carbon, available in classic ThinkPad Black and a new silver color, is the lightest 14-inch business notebook, weighing just 2.5 pounds and packs a 14-inch IPS display into a new sleek 13-inch form factor. Now offering up to 15 hours* of battery life for extended time away, the X1 Carbon has been redesigned to include Thunderbolt™ 3 ports, super-fast LTE-A Wireless WAN and WIFI CERTIFIED WiGigTM options that deliver superlative performance and connectivity. Feel protected from cybercrime threats with enhanced security features. A fingerprint sensor with a dedicated chip that handles biometric processing helps secure and simplify the Windows Hello logon experience with a new face recognition Infrared camera.
Also available in the new metallic silver, the updated ThinkPad X1 Yoga (see product images above)is flawlessly flexible and adapts to its users’ needs offering true multi-mode capability and can deliver stunning colors and absolute blacks on the only 14-inch notebook with an OLED screen. A redesigned rechargeable pen and improved ‘rise and fall” keyboard complete the improved experience.
Alongside it is the ThinkPad X1 Tablet (above), continuing to impress with its lightweight, modularity and serviceability. The device has unique modules that offer port expansion and up to 5 hours* of additional battery life, and an integrated projector option making it easier to go from creation to presentation.
Work-life integration with the Miix 720 The ultra-chic Miix 720 Windows® detachable includes the features needed to work smarter, combining an ultra-crisp 12-inch QHD+ display and precision touchpad-enabled keyboard with up to 7th Gen Intel® Core™ i7 processor and Thunderbolt™ 3, the fastest port available on a PC today. When it’s time to hit the road—or your next meeting—you can simply remove the keyboard to instantly transform the Miix 720 into a feature-rich touchscreen tablet. Paired with a multifaceted Lenovo Active Pen 2, the Miix 720 is ideal for effortless note taking or bringing creative concepts to life.
When it’s time to relax, the integrated infrared camera with Windows Hello™ facial recognition allows you to settle in for an evening binge-watch session of your favorite show—all without the hassle of having to recall or re-type your password. The up to 150-degree tablet kickstand easily adjusts to your preferred viewing angle so you can ensure an evening of comfort and entertainment.
Lenovo Active Pen 2 is sold separately and may be hard bundled or optional depending on the geography.
Taking Control with the Lenovo 500 Multimedia Controller
With the explosive growth of internet-enabled smart TV, we built Lenovo 500 Multimedia Controller, a state-of-the-art wireless keyboard and mouse that fits in the palm of your hand and dramatically improves not just the way homeowners connect to their PCs, the web and displays, but re-defines the very notion of how a compact, Human Interface Device (HID) should look, feel and function. The keyboard area doubles as a Windows 10 gesture-supported, multi-touch capacitive touchpad—meaning that users can type like a normal keypad with their thumbs or glide their fingers across the surface like a touchpad.
Pricing and Availability
Click each of the products below for detailed blog posts to learn more about the product insights. All Lenovo products are available on www.lenovo.com.
ThinkPad X1 Carbon starts at $1,349, available beginning in February 2017.
ThinkPad X1 Yoga starts at $1,499, available beginning in February 2017.
About Lenovo Lenovo (HKSE: 992) (ADR: LNVGY) is a $45 billion global Fortune 500 company and a leader in providing innovative consumer, commercial, and enterprise technology. Our portfolio of high-quality, secure products and services covers PCs (including the legendary Think and multimode Yoga brands), workstations, servers, storage, smart TVs and a family of mobile products like smartphones (including the Moto brand), tablets and apps. Join us on LinkedIn, follow us on Facebook or Twitter (@Lenovo) or visit us at www.lenovo.com.
Battery Disclaimer All battery life claims are approximate. Actual battery performance will vary and depends on many factors including usage pattern, features selected, device settings, age of battery, and operating temperature.
It was the critical darling of 2016, but we always found the Dell XPS 13 wanting because of its lack of pen support.
Dell has remedied that with the announcement of the 2017 XPS 13 2-in-1. Besides folding into tablet and tent modes, the edge to edge display supports the Dell Active Pen (Wacom ActiveES) with 2048 pressure levels.
Below are details from Dell's reviewers guide:
Smallest 13-inch 2-in-1 on the planet
The XPS 13 2-in-1 introduces the innovative InfinityEdge display to the 2-in-1 for the first time. With only a 5.2mm border on the top and both sides, the XPS 13 2-in-1 cleverly fits a stunning 13.3-inch display in an 11-inch size laptop, making the it the smallest 13-inch 2-in-1 on the planet. Less bezel means you can literally take your view to the edge, no matter what you are doing.
Sleek, silent design
The XPS 13 2-in-1 takes the sleek design of the beloved XPS 13 and kicks it up a notch. With a more aggressive back angle and less height on the table, what’s not to love? The sleek, silent design enables a thinner form factor (813.7mm) and a quieter laptop experience. No fans means no spinning noise and efficient processing means less heat. Plus, the XPS 13 2-in-1 is a 360-degree convertible, meaning in can be used in 4 modes, so you watch, work or surf the way you want.
Long battery life
Depending on how you use your laptop, your battery life will vary. Dell uses a variety of battery benchmarks to test our XPS laptops. When you are using productivity applications, like Word or Excel, experience exceptional battery life with up to 15 hours1 on a FHD model or enjoy up to 9 hours of when streaming Netflix content. On the go for even longer? Get up to 11 hours, 45 minutes additional of battery life (up to 26 hours total) with the optional Dell Hybrid Adapter + Power Banks, a power reserve for all of your devices (PCs and tablets).
Stunning viewing experience
Enjoy eye-popping clarity and detail with an UltraSharp Quad HD+ display, which boasts an incredible 5.7 million pixels. That is 4.4 million more pixels than an HD+ and 2.5 times that of a Full HD display. High resolution means, whatever you are doing, your image is precise and clear. With IPS wide-viewing angles, you can enjoy 170° views on a brilliantly bright, 400-nit screen. An anti-reflective coating gives the display a glossy finish without high glare, beneficial for outdoor use. High color gamut and contrast ratio provide rich color. Movies come to life. Presentations shine. And photos can be edited with pinpoint precision.
Fast mobile performance
With 7th Gen Intel® Core i5 and i7 processors, the XPS 13 2-in-1 delivers amazing performance and responsiveness at lower power. Plus, Dynamic Power Mode delivers extra processing power in short bursts when you need it, delivering up 10% more performance than previous generation XPS 13.2 Memory is expandable to 16GB and with solid state drives, the XPS 13 2-in-1 boots from cold in seconds. Whatever state it’s in, it comes back in a snap. With a maximum solid state capacity of up to 1TB, you have plenty of room to store your music, videos and photos. To accelerate performance even more, the XPS 13 2-in-1 also offers faster PCIe drives. USB Type-C and Thunderbolt™
The XPS 13 2-in-1 features 2 USB Type-C 3.1 ports, both supporting charging and display functionality. One is also a Thunderbolt 3 port, enabling up to 8x the transfer speeds of USB 3.0 at up to 40Gbps and twice as fast as Thunderbolt 2. This multi-use port than can charge your device, power up to two 4K displays and supports one cable docking. To support legacy peripherals, Dell ships a USB-A to USB-C adapter with every system.
Backlit keyboard and precision touchpad
Always an XPS standard, the XPS 13 2-in-1 comes with a backlit keyboard, for anytime, anywhere usage. Keys are illuminated so you can use your keyboard in low- and no-light situations. Dell’s precision touchpad delivers improved performance, making every click count. Your touchpad will deliver the exact action you intended, every time. Precision touchpads deliver fluid panning, pinching and zooming, for an experience that’s touchscreen-smooth and quick, and even use gestures similar to the ones you make on screen.
Crafted without compromise
XPS laptops are artfully constructed with premium materials for maximum durability. Sleek and beautiful overall design is a side effect of careful performance-driven construction. Machined aluminum provides strength and durability. The top cover and base are precision cut from a single block of aluminum. The carbon fiber palm rest is strong like aluminum, and thin, but feels cooler to the touch. Finally, edge-to-edge Corning® Gorilla Glass NBT™ is bonded to the aluminum display back for added strength. Durability continues with the hinge design, which is made of steel and encased in machined aluminum. We test the hinge over 20,000 times to ensure durability in the most rigorous of use cases. With quality craftsmanship and premium materials, XPS products are strong and durable, look stunning, and feel even better in your hands.
The best Windows ever keeps getting better
Windows 10 gives you all the features you know from the world’s most popular operating system, plus great improvements you’ll love.
Easily interact with your own personal digital assistant: Cortana. Using Cortana with the XPS 13 2-in-1 equipped with MaxxAudio® Pro by Waves gives you a natural voice interaction experience. Enjoy password-free sign-in with Microsoft Hello, giving you the fastest, most secure way to unlock your XPS 13 2-in-1. With just a swipe of your finger on the fingerprint reader, it waves you in with a friendly hello and even works on apps and Microsoft Edge websites. And when you want to use your laptop as a tablet, Tablet Mode is the exclusive Windows feature that kicks in to deliver a smooth, touch-first experience. Onscreen features adapt for easy navigation and apps scale smoothly from the smallest to the largest displays.
Quickest way to set ideas in motion
Quickly turn thoughts into action with the magic of Windows Ink. Naturally capture notes at the speed of thought – with no need to be- logged in. And powerfully pair inking with Office to effortlessly make edits, create content and drive ideas forward.
The optional Dell Active Pen, with thousands of levels of pressure sensitivity at pro-level precision (2048), allows for a more natural handwriting experience, mimicking the standard pen experience up to the highest possible level. Quick response, optimized pen tip materials and palm rejection also contribute to making the pen feel that comes as close to writing on paper when you are taking notes or drawing.
Designed with the environment in mind
XPS laptops are among our greenest laptops ever. From our design decisions to the product and packaging we choose to our recycle options for your old PC, the environment is top of mind. XPS laptops are designed with smarter materials, by avoiding materials of concern including cadmium, hexavalent chromium, mercury, some phthalates, and they are all BFR/PVC-free. All XPS notebooks ship in recyclable, compost-friendly packaging, including our highly renewable bamboo trays, and we offer options to responsibly recycle your old product through our Dell Reconnect partnership. With presence in 78 countries and territories, Dell has the widest reach of free consumer take-back offering in the industry with consumer drop off in over 2000 Goodwill locations in the United States. Without exception, all XPS notebooks are ENERGY STAR® qualified and anticipated EPEAT Gold registered.
Built for business
XPS is doing more than ever before to ensure it fits into a business environment. The XPS 13 has all of the manageability and select security features of Latitude™ in an aggressively thin and competitive form factor. The most manageable 13-inch 2-in-1 and best-in-class security for commercial customers. With both Thunderbolt™ 3 and USB-C ports, the XPS 13 2-in-1 offers the same one cable docking solutions that our Latitude™ products use. Both the Dell Thunderbolt dock and the Dell Dock are easily connected with one cable. (Docks sold separately).
Dell Active Pen PN556W
Interact effortlessly with your XPS with an active pen designed for drawing, writing, and note-taking. With thousands of levels of pressure sensitivity at pro-level precision (2048), it allows for a more natural handwriting experience, mimicking the standard pen experience up to the highest possible level.
Feature Technical specifications
Processor Options
7th Generation Intel® Core™ i5-7Y54 processor (4M Cache, up to 3.2 GHz)
7th Generation Intel® Core™ i7-7Y75 processor (4M Cache, up to 3.6 GHz)
Toshiba's previous two entries in the pen-abled category, the Encore 2 Write and the DynaPad, were excellent low-cost tablets that performed well for the price but disappeared from distribution channels relatively quickly.
The company has taken the wraps off its latest product, the Portégé X20W at CES 2017. While an official press release has yet to be issued, here is the announcement from the Microsoft Blog.
Ahead of the 2017 Consumer Electronics Show, Toshiba announced the new Portégé X20W, a premium 2-in-1 convertible PC running Windows 10 Pro. The New Portégé X20W features a 360-degree, dual-action hinge that allows this device to easily transform from a powerful, performance-oriented notebook into a premium digital inking tablet by simply rotating the display. Measuring 15.4mm thin and weighing less than 2.5 pounds, the Portégé X20W has a battery life of up to 16 hours and is designed for mobile professionals, educators and students.
The Portégé X20W is designed to take advantage of the best of Windows 10 and includes multi-directional microphones to support Cortana, a pair of IR cameras to allow you to login easily and securely with your face or fingerprint using Windows Hello and a touchscreen for digital inking with Windows Ink or marking up webpages in Microsoft Edge.
Here’s a closer look at the Portégé X20W:
To meet the demands of the modern workplace, the Portégé X20W encompasses a 7th Generation Intel Core Processor, Windows 10 Pro, 12.5-inch diagonal Full HD multi-touch wide viewing angle display, Intel 802.11ac Wi-Fi and a solid state drive all inside its durable magnesium casing.
A sturdy 360-degree dual-action hinge enables smooth transitions into five core viewing modes—Laptop, Tablet, Tabletop, Presentation and Audience. Tackle the day with a slim, high-performance laptop, flip the screen to conduct presentations or create through an engaging tablet and digital inking experience. When changing modes, the laptop smartly switches system settings and uses a smart-locking feature to protect the keyboard and prevent mishaps.
Other features of the Portégé X20W include:
Premium audio experience via Harman Kardon stereo speakers and DTS Sound software. Toshiba’s exclusive custom-tuned speakers adapt to the rotational view of the display, delivering a robust, crisp and natural audio from every angle
A USB Type-C port, USB 3.0 port and headphone/mic combo port. As the industry’s new universal standard, the USB Type-C port on the Portégé X20W features reversible plug orientation and supports Display, Power Delivery and Thunderbolt 3 with speeds up to 40Gbps
All-new Corning Gorilla Glass 4, offering higher levels of damage resistance as it’s better able to withstand the shock of accidental bumps
A 12.5-inch diagonal, Full HD (1920 x 1080), multi-touch wide viewing angle display packs over 2 million pixels onto the screen
Included TruPen using Wacom Feel technology, which can detect 2,048 levels of pressure, perfect for taking notes, drawing on webpages in Microsoft Edge and using Windows Ink
Compatibility with two advanced docking solutions– the Toshiba WiGig Dock and Toshiba Thunderbolt 3 Dock, which will be available later his quarter
Pricing and Availability: The pre-configured Portégé X20W (Slate Gray) will be available soon at Microsoft Store and microsoftstore.com.
The Lenovo Active Pen 2 is the first announced Wacom ActiveES Gen 13 pen
Today's press announcement of the Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Yoga, Thinkpad X1 Tablet, and Ideapad Miix 720 all mentioned the new Active Pen 2, but none provided any specs.
But a follow-up post on the Lenovo blog included a throwaway mention of the pen's increased capabilities.
With the Lenovo Active Pen 2 in hand, you use the shortcut button to open your email and check for any last-minute edits from your boss. Her suggestion: add one more hand-drawn schematic to the presentation. As part of the over 20 percent of detachable users surveyed who use a pen or stylus on a daily basis, you rely on a digital pen to sketch out the drawing along with some supporting annotations with just the click of your Lenovo Active Pen 2 using Windows Ink™. The 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity on the pen offer a precise drawing experience, like writing on paper.
Could this picture mean the Active Pen 2 supports tilt as well?
Assuming this statement is correct, that makes the Active Pen 2 the first Wacom ActiveES Gen 13 pen to hit the market.
We first learned of Wacom's generational naming convention in a Windows Ink presentation made at WinHEC in early 2016. Most ActiveES pens released in 2016 were Gen 12 and all supported only 2048 pressure levels.
The presentation was also the first mention of the dual protocol pen that Wacom and Microsoft are supposed to be jointly developing. That pen was due out at the end of 2016 but never materialized. Let's hope its release is imminent.
It's unclear from the information provided whether the HP Sprout Pro supports the HP Active Pen or the Adonit Jot Pro which may be pictured here and is referenced in the Sprout Pro's educational site.
EliteBook x360, world’s thinnest business convertible, offers long battery life, collaboration and security.
Spectre x360 features 15.6” diagonal 4K display2 and discrete graphics for creators.
Sprout Pro by HP, the world’s first immersive PC, gets major hardware and software redesign to power HP’s Blended Reality 3D experiences.
PRESS RELEASE
Palo Alto, Calif., Jan. 3, 2017 – At CES 2017, HP Inc. today debuted exciting new PC innovations that will change the way people interact with their PCs.
“HP has been on an innovation roll over the last year and that momentum continues with major advances across our PC portfolio that create incredible customer experiences for both personal and business uses,” said Ron Coughlin, president,
Personal Systems, HP Inc. “By continuously seeking insights from customers we are changing the way we create and deliver computing experiences.”
For work, home or on the go, HP premium PCs are designed to exceed customer expectations for what they want to accomplish with their devices. New products debuting today include:
• HP EliteBook x360, the world’s thinnest business convertible1,combines HP Spectre’s powerful thin and light design, HP EliteBook Folio’s collaboration capabilities and HP Elite enterprise security and durability. It features the world’s longest battery life in a convertible 3 with up to 16 hours and 30 minutes 4. Its integrated collaboration capabilities enhance productivity and bring new life to meetings with dedicated conferencing keys, powerful audio, an optional 13.3” diagonal 4K UHD display2 with Windows Hello 5, and pen support6. As part of the HP Elite family, the world’s most secure and manageable PCs 7, the business convertible includes latest innovations such as HP Sure Start Gen38, the world’s only selfhealing BIOS now with run-time memory (SMM) protection. It also protects the office of the future with HP WorkWise9, the most advanced Smartphone App for PC Management and first to offer Tamper Protection10.
• HP Spectre x360, following the success of HP’s 13.3” diagonal model, the second generation of HP’s 15.6” diagonal x360 is the most powerful in the Spectre portfolio. A bigger battery allows for up to 12 hours and 45 minutes4 while powering a micro-edge 4K display2. This is close to the same battery life as the Full HD model launched last year. The new HP Spectre x360 features the latest Intel® Core™ processors11, high-performance NVIDIA® GeForce® 940MX graphics, adds two new front facing speakers expertly tuned by Bang & Olufsen for a great audio experience and an IR camera for Windows Hello5.
To better meet the needs of commercial customers, HP is introducing the new Sprout Pro by HP, the second generation immersive all-in-one PC. It incorporates a grounds-up redesign with a 2.2mm thick, 20-point capacitive Touch Mat display with a sharper, near 1080p projected resolution14. The advanced technologies and new features empower users in education, retail kiosk and manufacturing to create highly visual content and interactive experiences by blending the physical and digital worlds. This generation makes it easier to interact with Windows 10 Pro and streamlined software gives easy access to Sprout’s key features including faster 2D scanning and, for the first time, high-precision 3D scanning. Included is an Active Pen, allowing pressure-sensitive digital inking for annotation and design. It also now features an Intel® Core™ i7 processor11, 1TB of SSHD storage, up to 16GB of RAM, NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 960M graphics for faster 3D scanning14.
• The HP EliteBook x360 is expected to be available at the end of January 2017.
• The HP Spectre x360 15.6” is expected to be available for pre-order starting on January 3, 2017 via BestBuy.com and HP.com. It will be available for purchase late January 2017 via BestBuy.com and in U.S. Best Buy stores in February starting at $1,499. The HP Spectre x360 15.6” is expected to be available via HP.com on February 26, 2017 starting at $1,279.99.
• The Sprout Pro by HP pricing and availability for commercial consumers is expected in March 2017 in select countries.
An active stylus provides a human-computer interface that is natural and familiar. USI's active stylus solution is the only solution to deliver the same experience across platforms.
The 30-member companies of the Universal Stylus Initiative (USI) finalized their specification in September 2016 and the group will be at CES 2017 this week showing off its features, including the ability to use multiple styluses on a single device simultaneously.
Widely known promoter members of the USI include Hanvon, Intel, Lenovo, Mont Blanc, Sharp, Synaptics and Wacom. Dell, Elan and LG Display are contributor members. Notably, Microsoft is not listed as a member of the group at any level.
The USI hasn't issued any new press information, but yesterday posted the video above touting the specification's capabilities and benefits. The technology looks promising and we'll keep monitoring it as it evolves and compatible products eventually make it to market later this year or in early 2018. Thanks to @ThatComicsGuy over at the TabletPCReview.com forum for bringing it to my attention.
If the USI posts any official news this week, look for it here. To learn more about the Initiative, including the roster of member companies, visit http://www.universalstylus.org/
Almost overlooked in the hubbub over the announcement of the Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 at CES 2017 was the announcement of the company's Surface Pro lookalike, the Latitude 12 5285, which features a new pen accessory part number, the PN557W.
No further information on the pen was available, but below is a description of the 5285 gleaned from the Dell CES 2017 press site.
Ultimate 2-in-1 mobility that is sleek, power-packed and world’s most secure and manageable
Designed to be powerful, secure and last all day. This 2-n-1 device provides the performance of a laptop and flexibility of a tablet. It weighs less than 2lbs and is built with the latest 7th Gen Intel® Core™ Processors, best in class materials and components that are cool to the touch and reliable.
Flexibility abounds through its chassis design, travel keyboard and connectivity options. The unique auto-deploy kickstand extends up to 150 degrees for multiple viewing angles and connectivity options including2x2ac Wi-Fi, a USB 3.0 port, 2 USB Type-C ports, optional 4G/LTE and optional WiGig support keeps you productive.
Relax knowing that this 2-n-1 laptop is the world’s most secure featuring optional multi-factor authentication including touch finger print reader, contacted FIPS 201 Smart Card Reader, contactless smart card reader/NFC with Control Vault 2™ FIPS 140-2 Level 3 certification.
PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS
Latitude 12 5000 Series 2-in-1 (5285)
CPU
7th Generation Intel® Core™ Processors, U Dual Core, with vPro
Graphics
Intel® HD Graphics 620
Operating System
Microsoft® Windows® 10 64-bit
Memory
LPDDR3 1866MHz; 4GB or 8GB or 16GB (on board)
Display
12.3" FHDTouch with Corning® Gorilla Glass® (1920x1280), Anti-reflective and AntiSmudge, (3:2), 340 nits
Control Vault 2.0 Advanced Authentication with FIPS 140-2 Level 3 Certification
TPM2.0 FIPS 140-2 Certified, TCG Certified
Optional Dell Data Protection and Management Software such as Endpoint Security Suite Enterprise, Threat Defense, Protected Workspace, Secure Lifecycle, MozyPro®, MozyEnterprise®
Storage Options
Up to 256GB SATA SSD M.2 2280
Up to 1TB PCIe NVMe SSD M.2 2280
Up to 512GB PCIe OPAL SED M.2 2280
Battery Options
31.5Whr or 42WHr battery ExpressCharge capable
Power Options
45W or 65W (3' AC/6' DC Type C)
Multimedia
5MP Integrated Camera (User-Facing)
8MP Integrated Camera (World-Facing)
Face IR camera to support Windows Hello (Optional)
Stereo Speaker with MaxxAudio Pro (2)
Integrated Array Microphone (4)
Headphone/Microphone combo jack
Volume Up/Down Rocker
Windows Home Button
Connectivity options
Wireless LAN options
Qualcomm QCA61x4A 802.11ac Dual Band (2x2) Wireless Adapter+ BT 4.1
The original Wacom Bamboo Stylus feel Black (above top) and Carbon were the last Wacom EMR pens to work with the Surface Pro 1 and 2 before Microsoft's switch to N-Trig with the Surface Pro 3. That was at least six months before Wacom's similar Active ES tech was ready for market.
New Bamboo Stylus that will Support Both Active ES and Microsoft Pens
Though it was first announced by Microsoft in March, 2016, both companies have been silent ever since, leading some to worry that Wacom's dual protocol pen would never materialize. The confirmation of the continued development of the pen finally arrived in this announcement released yesterday.
TOKYO, Japan—January 2, 2017—Wacom Co., Ltd announced today that the company is developing a new stylus capable of using both Wacom’s own Active ES™ Pen protocol and Microsoft Pen Protocol.
The new stylus, which will be released under the Bamboo brand, is the first result of collaboration between Wacom and Microsoft based on the licensing agreement in March 2016. Incorporating the two leading pen protocols, the stylus will offer the broadest compatibility on the Windows market, enabling users to alternate seamlessly between multiple pen-equipped devices with a click and tap into ink applications including Windows Ink.
Styli have continued to gain popularity, amid growing recognition of their potential for improving productivity and creativity with mobile devices. Targeting this market, Wacom has since 2014 shipped its Active ES Pen solutions for a range of OEM customers. Microsoft has been actively promoting ink with Windows devices and this culminated in Windows Ink in 2016, where styli play a primary role for creating and manipulating content. Both companies concur the potential of digital ink and pen have in store for us.
“As more devices come onto the market equipped with styli and a broadening array ofink solutions emerge, it is vital to stay focused on the customer experience. The new stylus can be used seamlessly across devices, enabling the user to take advantage of digital ink solutions such as Windows Ink,” said Mike Gay, SVP in charge of Wacom’s Consumer Business Unit.
Wacom announced the establishment of Digital Stationery Consortium, Inc. in October 2016, which aims to promote the wide adoption and market development of digital stationery under an open partnership, harnessing the power of digital pens and digital ink, to serve creative minds in the most natural and intuitive way. A single stylus which can unify two different technologies fits this objective.
Wacom and Digital Stationery Consortium, Inc. will jointly host the event “Connected Ink Las Vegas” on January 6, to establish digital ink as universal, open and smart content format by promoting and managing WILL™ (Wacom Ink Layer Language)-based ink formats.
About Wacom
Founded in Japan in 1983, Wacom is now a global company with offices around the world supporting marketing and distribution in over 150 countries and areas. For more than 30 years, Wacom has worked with the most creative people and organizations to inspire and equip them to make the world a more creative place.
Wacom’s products have been used by loyal customers to create some of the most exciting digital art, films, special effects, fashion and product designs. They have also played a significant role in making technology accessible in a natural and intuitive way through pen tablets, interactive pen displays, digital interface solutions, stylus products and mobile studio tablets. These all make it possible for everyone to express their creativity in digital media, whether artists, business executives or people enjoying everyday creativity. Wacom’s interface technologies are offered as OEM solutions to leading manufacturers of tablet devices, smartphones and PCs.
For many artists and designers, creative expression starts on paper with the help of a favorite pencil, pen or brush. Only after starting their concepts on paper and scanning the results do artists and designers fire up their computers and start their digital workflow. But what if one could skip the scanning step and have editable, digital ink versions of sketches available at the touch of a button with the power to refine and complete the sketches later with Wacom's most natural pen tablet experience? Enter the new Wacom Intuos Pro Paper Edition - The pen tablet that works the way you do.
LAS VEGAS, Jan. 4, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Wacom presents their new Intuos Pro and Intuos Pro Paper Edition of pen and touch tablets to the global creative community and they will be shown for the first time at the ShowStoppers event during CES on January 5th, from 6PM to 10PM, at the Wynn Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. The new generation Intuos Pro provides a wealth of new features and benefits to artists, designers and photographers who demand the very best from their creative tools. The new Pro Pen 2 anchors the overall creative experience with enhanced pressure-sensitivity and precision, but it's the Intuos Pro Paper Edition that really stands out by giving users the ability to incorporate paper into their creative workflow. Ink-on-paper drawings are captured and stored digitally on board the Intuos Pro Paper Edition and can be refined later on the tablet with any compatible layered raster or vector software application. Gone are the days of tedious and time-consuming scanning.
"We know it's challenging to bring ideas to life when the tools lack the ability to easily unlock the potential of creative minds," said Masahiko Yamada, President and Chief Executive Officer of Wacom. "That is what the new Intuos Pro does. It offers a way to start the creative process by adapting to any workflow so users feel empowered as they dare to build a more creative world."
The Intuos Pro family of pen and touch tablets are born from customer feedback, with special focus on the importance paper plays in the creative process and the desire to have a seamless connection with the digital side of the creative workflow. The Intuos Pro Paper Edition boasts all the same amazing features as the Intuos Pro, but the Paper Edition model adds a Paper Clip (to attach the artists favorite drawing paper), pressure-sensitive Finetip gel ink pen and the Wacom Inkspace App to convert drawings for use with leading creative software applications. The Inkspace App environment also allows users to easily store and share their artwork.
Wacom Intuos Pro Paper Edition Product Trailer. Learn more: Subscribe to our channel or Follow us on social media: Twitter: https://twitter.com/wacom Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Wacom Instagram: http://instagram.com/wacom
Slim Design and Advanced Functions
Less than half an inch thick, the next-generation Intuos Pro is the slimmest of its kind and more compact than the previous version, offering the same sized active area in a smaller overall footprint. The Intuos Pro occupies very little desk space and is easy to carry in a backpack or laptop bag for the daily commute or a business trip. It comes equipped with anodized aluminum backing, a smaller pen stand with 10 nibs and a new pen case. Both sizes of the Intuos Pro, Medium and Large, use a TouchRing, Multi-Touch and eight ExpressKeys™ for the creation of customized shortcuts to speed up the creative workflow.
"Wacom is dedicated to helping artists harness inspiration and capture ideas," added Masahiko Yamada. "With the Intuos Pro and Intuos Pro Paper Edition, creative professionals will be able to evolve their ideas easily from inspiration, to expression, to impact."
Premier Pen Technology
The new Wacom Pro Pen 2 comes with the Intuos Pro and Intuos Pro Paper Edition, for the best Wacom pen experience to date. The Pro Pen 2 features four times the pressure sensitivity than the former Pro Pen, delivering 8,192 levels of pressure to support a natural and intuitive creative process.
The recently released Wacom Finetip Pen, included with the Intuos Pro Paper Edition, provides smooth-gel ink and unparalleled precision. Designed for those who begin their creative process on paper, the Finetip lets users visually depict ideas that are automatically digitized. Users can also select a Ballpoint Pen as an optional purchase.
Configuration, Pricing and Availability
Available in Medium and Large models, Intuos Pro is Bluetooth-enabled and compatible with Macs and PCs. The Intuos Pro comes with the Wacom Pro Pen 2, pen stand and features eight ExpressKeys™, a TouchRing and multi-touch gesture control. The Intuos Pro Medium ($349.95 USD, £329.99, €379.90) and Large ($499.95 USD, £449.99, €529.90) will be available in January.
Intuos Pro Paper Edition will contain added features as a bundled package to enable paper-to-digital creation. The Intuos Pro Paper Edition Medium ($399.95 USD, £379.99, €429.90) and Large ($549.95 USD, £499.99, €599.90) will be available in January.
The Intuos Pro product line has long been an essential part of Art, Design and Photography education programs worldwide. The unique capabilities of the Intuos Pro Paper Edition can help students master both traditional pen on paper drawing skills and the full range of 2D and 3D digital content creation. For information on Education pricing, qualified schools, colleges and universities can contact their local Wacom sales office.
LAS VEGAS (Jan. 4, 2017) – Brydge, the company that set a new benchmark for iPad keyboards, today unveiled its first keyboard for the Microsoft Surface—the Brydge 12.3. After designing and delivering innovative keyboards for iPads, Brydge is bringing its sleek design, high-quality construction and innovative functionality to Microsoft Surface users. The Brydge 12.3 has already been named a CES 2017 Innovation Awards Honoree. It will be on display at CES 2017 at booth #7933 in the North Hall of the LVCC as well as at CES Unveiled on Jan 3 at table 113.
Unlike any other keyboard on the market, the Brydge 12.3 transforms the Surface into the ultimate laptop. It is the only keyboard for the Microsoft Surface Pro that removes the dependency of a kickstand and allows the user to have a full laptop-like experience. Marketed as the perfect laptop/tablet hybrid, the Brydge 12.3 brings a 100 percent aluminum body with a full backlit keyboard, 180-degree screen rotation and an adaptive trackpad to the Microsoft Surface. The Surface customer now has a compelling option with more functionality than the entry level model at a better price than the Surface Book. Brydge also plans to release a model with integrated storage.
“Surface users have been waiting for a powerful keyboard like the Brydge 12.3. Since its release in 2012, the Surface has been the fastest-growing tablet—and this growth is only accelerating. It is a powerful and versatile device that deserves a keyboard that unlocks its true potential,” said Nicholas Smith, CEO of Brydge. “With the addition of the Brydge 12.3, we feel the Surface customer has greater options between the entry level Type 4 keyboard right up to the full laptop hybrid—the Surface Book. The combination of the Brydge 12.3 and Surface creates a game-changing package that transforms the Surface into a true laptop replacement and the ultimate in mobile computing for Windows users.”
Technical Specifications:
Thickness: .3 in
Weight: 1.3 lbs
Connectivity: Bluetooth 3.0
Color: Silver
180-degree viewing angles
Backlit, tactile keys with varying brightness levels
Rechargeable three-month battery
Optional expandable 128gb SSD storage
Starting at $149.99 MSRP, the Brydge 12.3 launches for preorder on January 5 at a special price of $129.99 with a spring 2017 delivery. The Brydge 12.3 is available at www.brydgekeyboards.com. Brydge will release details of its retail partners who will stock the Brydge 12.3 in the coming months.
About Brydge
Brydge believes in a seamless connection to the world around us; unlocking potential, enabling freedom and unleashing the digital nomad within everyone. Starting out with one of the most successful Kickstarter campaigns of 2012, Brydge quickly set the new benchmark for tablet keyboards, being recognized by industry and customers alike. In 2014, Brydge launched the highly successful BrydgeAir (now the Brydge 9.7) range, the leading keyboard for the iPad Air 1 & 2, selling to customers in over 100 countries and establishing a core foundation for continued rapid growth. Brydge built on this success when it was named a CES 2016 Innovation Awards Honoree for its BrydgeMini for iPad mini 1, 2 and 3, and again in 2016 when it was awarded a
Red Dot Design Award for the Brydge 9.7 and recently a GOOD Design award for the Brydge 12.9 for iPad Pro 12.9-inch. For more information please visit www.brydgekeyboards.com, or connect with Brydge on Facebook (www.facebook.com/brydgekeyboards/) or Instagram (https://instagram.com/brydgekeyboards/) or Twitter (https://twitter.com/brydgekeyboards).
When images of Dell's smart desk concept leaked in November, it was assumed to be a Surface Studio-like all-in-one. But today's announcement at CES 2017 revealed that the product now known as the Dell Canvas is virtually identical to the Wacom Cintiq 27QHD Touch.
Brian Eun, (@Shogmaster at TabletPCReviews.com forums) who is attending CES, had time to get up close and personal with the device earlier today and has confirmed that the 27-inch Dell Canvas pen display uses Wacom EMR technology and will ship with a Wacom driver. It's not known whether the driver will be the Feel driver found on other tablet PCs or the fuller-featured tablet driver found on Wacom's Cintiq products.
According to the product specifications below, the Dell Canvas Pen will support 2048 pressure levels and tilt and feature two programmable buttons. The pen shown during the presentation does not appear to be a Wacom Pro Pen, but is closer to a typical low cost tablet PC pen. This may be the largest differentiator between the Canvas and the Cintiq. Eun brought along an Axiotron pen and confirmed that it worked (with no tilt in Photoshop).
The Dell Canvas displays a color gamut of 100% Adobe RGB vs. 95% for the Cintiq. Another major improvement is the touch 20 point touch panel, which means the display could accept input from more than one user at once.
The Canvas also has Surface Dial-like wheel accessories the company calls Totems. These are not battery powered according to Eun and do not require Bluetooth pairing. Each totem uses four touch points for location and a button for actuation. This means that it may be possible to use more than one totem at a time.
The Dell Canvas will be available for purchase in March, with shipments beginning in April, 2017, coinciding with the Windows 10 Creators Update. The price has been confirmed at $1799.
What do you think? Can the Dell Canvas dethrone the Wacom Cintiq? Does it quench some of your Surface Studio envy? Leave a comment below.
FROM DELL'S PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS
An entirely new innovation in interactive design and digital content creation.
Revolutionize the way you work and create with a 27” QHD, horizontal “do” surface that encourages interaction through touch, a highly precise pen, and totems – all while working seamlessly with your professional software and monitor setup. Welcome to your new workspace.
Innovative design
Display and input merge into one device, streamlining your interactions with system and content. Placed in a natural, horizontal location that encourages touch interaction, create and edit your work in stunning detail with the expansive 27” QHD Adobe RGB display. Purpose-built with direct bonded, anti-glare Corning® Gorilla® Glass for enhanced durability, experience your content in stunning detail, like never before.
Intuitive touch technology
The familiar touch of your own fingertips and the ability to collaborate with colleagues – with 20 points of touch recognition, Dell Canvas 27 allows you to work in a familiar way. A highly-precise pen for sketching and creating, and support for dual-handed productivity, ensures that creating feels natural. Physical objects that fit comfortably in your hand, referred to as totems, come standard, further enabling ease of use and productivity.
Evolved user interface
Intuitive new features, included withWindows® 10, and optimizations included in your high-powered software, enable a dynamic new experience. By combining an interactive touch screen with innovation in user experience and participation from key Independent Software Vendor (ISV) partners, Canvas 27 will change creative, design, and analysis workflows for the better while introducing a new, immersive way for professionals to interact with those demanding workflows.
After reviewing premium priced devices like the Microsoft Surface Studio and Wacom MobileStudio Pro in the last couple of months, it was almost a relief to take the opportunity to review a $400 tablet.
Ordinarily my expectations for such a bargain-priced device would be low, but I’d already been positively impressed by the two previous generations of tablets from Chinese manufacturer Shenzhen Alldo Cube, the Cube i7 Stylus and the Cube i7 Book.
The company’s latest release is called the Cube Mix Plus and the 10.6-inch tablet also happens to be the first Kaby Lake equipped device that I’ve had a chance to test.
The Mix Plus is now white on silver and the front edges of the tablet are chamfered to make a much more elegant first impression than previous generations, which were cobalt blue. Though its coloring has changed, its physical ports and dimensions haven’t. Proof of this is the MP’s compatibility with the keyboard cover of the Cube i7 Book. The Mix Plus’ keyboard cover is featured in most product photos, but is sold separately. Unfortunately it’s not available to purchase anywhere at the time of this writing.
A Mix Plus pen is also missing in action, but any Wacom EMR compatible tablet PC pen will work with it.
The MP has a screen protector film pre-installed on the tablet that creates a slightly tacky grip to both the fingertips and softer nibs. I recommend using hard (white) nibs sold by Wacom for the Bamboo Stylus Feel.
As I found on the Cube i7 Book, which was also sourced via GearBest.com, the Mix Plus arrived with a Cube user account already setup. To avoid any doubt, I did a complete PC Reset immediately. This process took about an hour, but I was then able to set up the device with my Microsoft ID.
I hit an additional snag at that point because I couldn’t invoke the touch keyboard during setup (I didn’t think to try attaching the Book’s keyboard at that moment). So I finished setup with a local user account and then replaced it with my Microsoft account.
After that, it was all smooth sailing as I installed all the available Windows updates. The generic nature of the Cube tablets is actually a positive, because I’ve yet to find any manufacturer-supplied driver support. Among the first things I did was to download and update all its Intel drivers. Video drivers are where most hardware manufacturers lock down their devices and as a result, you’re forced to run several versions behind the GPU makers’ latest and greatest.
Besides its price, the biggest appeal to of the Cube line is their old school Wacom EMR pen support with 1024 pressure levels and the Mix Plus did not disappoint. I was pleased to find that the device was calibrated perfectly out of the box, with excellent edge accuracy. The Wacom Feel driver is pre-installed and can be upgraded to the latest version.
I’m tempted to remove the screen protector because I somehow managed to mar it with a lot of superficial scratches within a day of use. However I’m not certain the film can be lifted without leaving significant residue. I’ve tried to pick lightly at the screen protector’s corners, but it’s held down very firmly.
Speaker grills are located along the right side of the tablet. The left side includes a headphone jack, TF card slot, USB Type C and USB 3.0 ports and a power input. A power supply and USB 3.0 adapter cable are included.
The Mix Plus is fanless and runs absolutely silently. While performing intensive operations like benchmarking, the left side of the tablet got very warm.
Perhaps because the tablet features a relatively new seventh generation (Kaby Lake) Core M3-7Y30 processor with Intel HD Graphics 615, Futuremark benchmarks reported that the GPU was not yet recognized.
This probably explains why the Mix Plus scored so poorly in 3DMark's Ice Storm benchmarks, where it underperformed all my other m3 tablets.
However, in all other benchmarks, the Mix Plus blew past those other devices, especially the Surface Pro 4. I have no answer for why the m3 SP4 is such a laggard in benchmarks. It might be that its higher resolution is pushing the integrated graphics harder than it should.
The Cube Mix Plus handily outperformed sixth generation M3 tablets I tested, except in a couple of 3D Mark Ice Storm tests. It's likely that an unrecognized video card or driver is to blame for that poor result.
Geekbench 4
TabletMark
PCMark8 Creative
3DMark
Maybe the smaller screen and HD resolution of the Mix Plus gives it an unfair advantage, but it seems to me that a low end device has no business performing as well as it does. These excellent benchmark results bode very well for other Kaby Lake devices on the horizon. Hopefully that will also include a quad core tablet which we haven’t seen since the VAIO Z Canvas.
Previous Cube tablets have been hobbled with 64 GB of storage, but the Mix Plus ships with a more reasonable 128 GB SSD which scored competitively with the Surface Pro 4’s drive in CrystalDiskMark tests.
At the time of this writing, the Mix Plus keyboard is not available for purchase.
Though the Cube Mix Plus first showed up at Gearbest.com in late December, it was immediately discounted to $400. The tablet has been pulled from Cube’s English language website, which may explain the unavailability of a keyboard. The Mix Plus was originally touted as a dual Windows/Android tablet. If mine includes Android, I have no idea how to boot into it.
If you decide to purchase the Cube Mix Plus, be aware that its parent’s plans for the device may have changed. It certainly wouldn’t be the first time a dual OS tablet PC ended up being scrapped. (Anyone remember the Samsung ATIV Q that was due out in 2014?)
The bottom line is that if you’re a bit adventurous, strapped for cash, in need of a Wacom EMR sketchpad tablet and don’t mind the 10.6-inch 16:9 display, the Cube Mix Plus is an outstanding value.
Specification
Basic Information
Brand: Cube Type: Tablet PC OS: Windows 10 CPU Brand: Intel CPU: Intel Kaby Lake Core M3-7Y30 GPU: Intel HD Graphice 615 Core: 1.61GHz,Dual Core
Storage
SSD: 128GB RAM: 4GB External Memory: TF card up to 128GB (not included)
Network
Support Network: WiFi WIFI: WiFi 802.11a/b/g/n wireless internet Bluetooth: Yes
Display
Screen type: Capacitive (10-Point),IPS Screen size: 10.6 inch Screen resolution: 1920 x 1080 (FHD)
Camera
Camera type: Dual cameras (one front one back) Back camera: 5.0MP with AF Front camera: 2.0MP
Connectivity
TF card slot: Yes Type-C: Yes Micro USB 3.0 Slot: Yes 3.5mm Headphone Jack: Yes DC Jack: Yes Docking Interface: Support
General
Battery Capacity(mAh): Built-in 7.4V / 4300mAh ( Printing: 4500mAh ) Lithium ion polymer battery Battery / Run Time (up to): 4 hours video playing time AC adapter: 100-240V 12V 2A Material of back cover: Plastic G-sensor: Supported Skype: Supported Youtube: Supported Speaker: Built-in Dual Channel Speaker MIC: Supported WIDI: Supported
Media Formats
Picture format: BMP,GIF,JPEG,JPG,PNG Music format: AAC,AC-3,DTS (need license),MP3,OGG,WAV,WMA Video format: 1080P,AVS,H.263,H.264,H.265,MJPEG,MP4,MPEG1,MPEG2,MPEG4,RMVB,VC-1,WMA MS Office format: Excel,PPT,Word E-book format: DOC,Excel,PDF,PowerPoint,TXT,Word
Product size: 27.30 x 17.20 x 0.96 cm / 10.75 x 6.77 x 0.38 inches Package size: 41.00 x 21.00 x 6.00 cm / 16.14 x 8.27 x 2.36 inches Product weight: 0.700 kg Package weight: 1.900 kg
Package Contents
Tablet PC: 1 USB Cable: 1 User Manual (Chinese - English): 1
Wacom DTHW1620H Mobile Studio Pro 16 Windows 10, Intel Core i7, 512GB SSD
$2,999.95
Wacom, Inc
Wacom DTHW1320H Mobile studio Pro 13 Windows 10, Intel Core i7, 512GB SSD
$2,499.95
Wacom, Inc
![The concave sides of the MobileStudio Pro can be a little uncomfortable to hold. The pen holder fits in the Kensington slot, but the inserted pen obstructs all of the Type C connectors! [UPDATE: It hadn't occurred to me to insert the pen vertically, like a fountain pen.]](http://static1.squarespace.com/static/51264ee5e4b0beeaf9d382e8/t/58633b526b8f5be00f99c50a/1482898266827/?format=1000w)
