Customer Reviews

Bamboo Fun (Small) Silver Tablet with Pen, Mouse & Graphics Software

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

My first tablet ever was a Wacom Graphire that, at the time, was $99 and about the same size as this one. It worked beautifully, and I upgraded eventually to a larger active area tablet with Wacom as well. Needless to say, when that one broke and I couldn't find just a regular Wacom Graphire tablet (that wasn't wireless for $300), I was a little devastated.

Not wanting to try a different brand because honestly, I've grown used to the Wacom line, I started looking into their other options. I do animation and a lot of digial paiting in Adobe Photoshop CS3. I was a little bit wary of using anything but Graphire (which is what I get for spoiling myself). On Wacom's website, though, I came across the Bamboo and Bamboo Fun. The name did scare me off a bit because this is supposed to be mainly for professional use and commission work, but after more research I decided to give the Bamboo Fun a try. Couldn't hurt, right? And I could always return it if I didn't enjoy it.

So far, it's a joy.

The transition from my Graphire to the Bamboo Fun was rather simple. Nothing too complicated to learn, and it took under five minutes before it was up and running and I could get back to work. If it works almost right out of the box, I can't complain.

+ The pen feels like a real pen - too bad real pens aren't always that comfortable, though. It doesn't hurt my hand as bad as the one with my Graphire used to when I used it for hours on end which is definitely good.

+ The mouse is a delight, too. Especially for those of us who don't really NEED a mouse (and therefore don't own one) for our laptops, it's a nice little bonus to have even if it doesn't get much use, it does come in handy because for me the touch pad on my laptop can be irritating at times.

+ Being able to switch the pen upside down and use it as an eraser has always been my favorite feature of my Wacom tablets. Though it DOES take a few seconds to actually recognize which direction it's pointing (sometimes, not frustratingly often), it's still a nice addition and I'm glad they moved it over to the Bamboo, too.

+ Pen and paint strokes are very smooth. Towards the end of its life, my last Graphire started to get very jagged in its movements and wouldn't cooperatively let me draw a straight line. Being able to do so again is something I missed a lot and didn't realize just how much until I got to do it again, LOL.

~ I don't use it for handwriting documents or anything, but when I draw something and need to sign or just write a comment on it for me to remember to do later, it's in my handwriting as if I were writing it on paper. Definitely a plus, especially if you're looking for something to use both in work and as a hobby artist.

I don't really have anything negative to say here. The small size isn't a problem for me at all, and is just as easy to use as a bigger tablet (I've had 2 different sizes of tablets). Though I like smaller better because it keeps more desk space open. I don't really feel restricted, but that's also just my opinion - everyone works differently. If you feel you need the bigger size, go for it! I'm sure it works the exact same way as it's smaller counter part.

And as many people have already said... The price is definitely something to be happy about! If you factor in the prices of the included software, you're getting a steal. Though I personally will stick to Adobe Photoshop CS3, if you're just looking for something to mess around in while you get used to the software or are content with what they give you, then you'll be a happy camper.

Either way, it's a steal.

Happy creating!

Wacom has brought this technology a long way. This product is more affordable than the higher end Intuos3 models, yet powerful enough for many pros.

For me, the small size is perfect and will fit most users needs. The "medium" sized tablet is suited for hard core graphics people who need to work at the pixel level for large images. Those using this for the mouse also may prefer the medium size. Either way, the tablet maps to your screen size for any of these models.


This unit comes in a variety of colors and configurations. I prefer the look of the black tablet, but there are silver, white and blue ones also.
Bamboo Fun (Medium) Silver Tablet with Pen, Mouse & Graphics Software
Bamboo Fun (Medium) Black Tablet with Pen, Mouse & Graphics Software
Bamboo Fun (Medium) Blue Tablet with Pen, Mouse & Graphics Software
Bamboo Fun (Medium) Silver Tablet with Pen, Mouse & Graphics Software
Bamboo Fun (Small) White Tablet with Pen, Mouse & Graphics Software
Bamboo Fun (Small) Silver Tablet with Pen, Mouse & Graphics Software
Bamboo Fun (Small) Blue Tablet with Pen, Mouse & Graphics Software
Bamboo Fun (Small) Black Tablet with Pen, Mouse & Graphics Software

Upon plugging in the device, it works immediately! The pen works as a mouse or as a pen/brush for drawing applications. The tablet also has function buttons.

The mouse is nice because it allows you to free up a USB port if you're using a USB mouse. Power users will need more from a mouse though. If you're anything like me, you prefer a mouse with many more options than this one provides.

Installing the drivers and software allows you to access the settings and tools that make this device versatile and customizable. Be prepared to spend some time tweaking this unit to your likes. The Bamboo software allows you to customize the mouse or pen buttons. Left-handers will greatly appreciate this!

The software included with this device is a nice to have. Many people who buy this will already have or need full blown Adobe Photoshop. Adobe Elements gives you everything casual users need. The Corel application is nice to play with. But other than a few "macro" type functions I have yet to find anything I can't already do with Adobe. Perhaps newer users may find the Corel product more user-friendly.

Pros
+ USB connection
+ Works on XP and Vista almost plug and play - before software installation
+ Nice customizable software
+ Nice bundled applications - Adobe Elements and Corel Draw
+ No additional power adapter needed
+ Traditional or pen mouse for casual users

Cons
- The scrolling zoom function does not work uniformly on all applications
- The mouse with this model will not suffice for power users
- Default settings require a lot of adjusting for graphics editing
- The tablet would have been ideal with several additional USB ports

Overall, the graphic artist or visual junkie NEEDS one of these. If you are a casual user, it is worth getting one on sale.

Enjoy.

I bought the small Bamboo Fun tablet after buying and returning the medium tablet. I immediately fell in love with the first one, but quickly realized that the medium tablet was too large for comfortable and efficient use, plus it took up a lot of keyboard tray real estate. The active area on the pad maps to the screen, and I could not quickly or comfortably move the pointer from one corner to the next without raising my arm a bit to traverse the distance.

If you think the small tablet is just too small to be useful, think again. It is the perfect size to be able to move your pointer anywhere on the screen with just a small movement of the hand.

The mouse is not as fluid in its response as I would like, so I don't use it often, hence only four stars. Otherwise, this is a stellar gadget to own and use. It includes a really well-designed tutorial, and the extra few bucks for the mouse and Photoshop Elements is a bargain.

I recieved the Bamboo Fun Tablet as a gift, and it is just wonderful! I used to be in Drafting and so used some of the first pen/tablet combinations. I have always longed for one to use with graphics and photo touch-ups. This is a great little unit for not a whole lot of money! Comes with fun software, too.
If you've never used a pen/tablet combination before, it does take some getting used to, but once you've got it down, it's tons easier than drawing with a mouse (which I tell people is similar to drawing with a rock).

I bought this to use for marking up pdf files of powerpoint presentations and other digital images. As a mac student, I was extremely frustrated by the lack of a comparable mac version of "onenote" or "pdf annotator". For note taking prior to getting the tablet, I typically typed in my notes in little boxes using "preview" or the free program "skim". But a lot of the slides contain radiograph images, histology slides and pathology images where the instructor points out key details on the screen using a pointer. It is necessary to be able to quickly draw an arrow or scrawl a quick note pointing out abnormal details.

The bamboo worked great upon installation--which by the way, for a mac, is SOOOOO easy. I spent a couple hours using the pen as a mouse and playing with the shortcut buttons and customizing the right click function. The inkwell program is kinda useless IMO. Two free programs that are a must have are COCOPAD and SKITCH. Using COCOPAD, you can set the background to transparent and "trace" an object, which I have used a lot. I opened up a picture of my puppy and using cocopad I cheated and made a really cool digital sketch. SKITCH is awesome in that in works like capture and takes a snapshot and then allows you to doodle all over it. Its similar to cocopad and I use it mainly to "grab" and image from a powerpoint presentation and draw on it. The best thing about SKITCH is you dont have to "save as" you can just drag the edited image onto your desktop and wipe the screen and your ready to go again.

The software included with the bamboo was pretty useless for me. The adobe photoshop elements is SLOW and cumbersome and I don't have any graphics/photo editing experience and after a few minutes of trying to learn it I became frustrated and gave up. I actually uninstalled all the included software from my computer because I just dont have time to learn it right now.

The mouse included in the bamboo was also something I found useless. The mouse only works on the small drawing area, and since I regularly use a wireless usb mouse I couldn't adjust to the restricted freedom. Besides, the pen itself works great as a mouse. I can even type while holding it which makes switching between mouse and keyboard easier for me.

One other thing for other mac students considering buying this for notetaking purposes: I did find a program that allows you to annotate pdf files. Both SKITCH and COCOPAD are free and great for images, but a long document like a PDF is almost impossible to annotate in those programs. I tried JARNAL (free) but its still in beta and its kinda hard to use. For actual note taking in class, I use CURIO (~70bucks but has a free trial). Curio doesn't advertise it well, but you can drag and drop a pdf file in your workspace and then annotate the living hell out of it. You can add text, images and scribble/write/highlight anywhere you want. The best feature is you can work outside the pages of the pdf itself, which was helpful for me when I have to pick apart and analyze a pdf journal article. I can cut and paste text and images from other papers alongside the pdf page, which is especially useful if you need more background information to understand the context of a paper.

I hope this review helps other mac students out there, especially those of us who are in a veterinary/medical related field and have a need to be able to draw and annotate images.

Wacom is well known for superior tablets and graphic design products. This little tablet is no exception! You might expect the quality to be so-so because this is one of their least expensive models, but that is far from the case. Even experienced artists unable to afford the pricier models will find that the Bamboo FUN is extremely accurate. The stylus doesn't need a battery, and the tablet works the minute you plug it into a USB port. The tablet driver, once installed, coordinates the tablet to an amazing level of precision. If you're used to doing digital art with a mouse, you'll never go back once you've used this tablet. It's easier by far and makes the whole process much more enjoyable.

Sizing note: If you are an artist, you should probably have an awareness of your sketching style. If you are a small sketcher, this size will be perfect for you. However, if you usually draw with larger sweeping motions or just make large sketches in general, you will be more comfortable with a larger sized tablet.

This package is a great value for the money. The painting software is superb and the tablet works extremely well for my artist wife and the fun part of me. Great value for the money. Nice to have the mouse, but not really necessary unless you happen to need a better mouse.

Pros: the tablet is about the size of a mouse pad, but it offers the functionality of a pen in addition to a mouse. You also get four programmable buttons and a touch ring that will either scroll your documents or zoom in and out, you have to choose one or the other. Unlike many tablets, Wacom pens do not need batteries.

Cons: there is a learning curve associated with using a pen. At first, it is nearly impossible to get the pen to do anything at all. It takes a while using the pen before it starts seeming natural. However, once you adapt to the pen, you'll reach for it before the mouse. It does seem that there are a few things that you absolutely need the mouse to do. The one problem that I had with the Bamboo Fun had to do with installation. My computer uses Vista Home Premium, and the disc that came with the hardware did not seem to work. I kept getting messages saying that the driver did not install. However, I was able to fix this by going to the Wacom website and downloading the most current driver and installing it. After that, it worked fine!

I am sitting here are using Dragon NaturallySpeaking 10 Standard to dictate this review, with the pen in my hand ready to click where I need it. Dragon NaturallySpeaking is a voice-recognition program that allows you, after a training period, to simply talk into your computer and have it generate text to match what you say. Between the two of them, there is no need for keyboard at all!

The tablet is about the size of the mouse pad, and fits conveniently where my mouse used to go. It has four buttons and a touch ring. Each of the buttons is programmable by getting into the driver in the control panel, and you can program each one to do a wide variety of things. With the touch ring, you have the choice between either scrolling or zooming. You put your finger in a little ring and swirl it around in order to scroll your document. These are things that you could not get on a regular mouse pad! The mouse is pretty similar to any other mouse. The active surface of the tablet (which is much smaller than the full size of the tablet) is mapped onto the area of your monitor. For example, the upper left-hand corner of the active surface corresponds to the upper left hand corner of your monitor, and if you put either the pen or your mouse there then the cursor will move to the upper left-hand corner. With the mouse, this is pretty intuitive.

Using a pen takes a bit of getting used to. Its function is very similar to that of a mouse in that it moves the cursor around as you move the pen over the tablet. If you tap the pen on the tablet, that indicates a single click. Tapping twice indicates a double click, though I found that with some applications if I did not click on the exact same place twice, it did not work as a double click. There are two buttons on the pen that are both programmable. If you enter the driver from the control panel, you have a wide selection of options that you can program the buttons to do. I have chosen to have one button be a right click and the other one a double click. On the other end of the pen is an eraser. This comes in handy when you are working in Photoshop, and also for handwriting recognition.

The Vista operating system has handwriting recognition as one of its features. When you install your tablet, a small window becomes docked on one side of your screen. Normally, you see just the edge of it, but when you tap it with your pen it emerges. You can write whatever you want into this window, and the program will recognize your handwriting and convert it to text. You can insert text into practically anything this way. Personally, I don't have much use for handwriting recognition, except perhaps for jotting notes. For longer documents, it seems tiresome to try to write them out longhand on the computer.

I first became acquainted with tablets several years ago while I was using Adobe Photoshop Elements 7. There are many times when using Photoshop when it is necessary to draw a curved line, and this is difficult or impossible using a mouse. Since I am a photographer and artist, I decided that the thing to do was to invest in a Wacom Intuos3 6 x 8-Inch Pen Tablet tablet. This was a pricey investment, but well worth it. I am a fan of the Wacom brand tablets because their products work better, are more compatible with Windows, and there is better customer support then there are with cheaper tablets. My one complaint is that there are not enough hot keys on a Wacom tablet. I have seen other models that have up to 20 or more hotkeys around the edges, and I would really like to have that. My tablet has eight buttons and two touch strips. It is really hard to decide which keyboard shortcuts to program onto those eight buttons!

When I got my first tablet, it came with an introductory version of Corel Painter X [OLD VERSION]. This is a program that allows you to turn your computer into a fine art generator. It has hundreds of brushes that simulate many types of art media. For example, you can work with chalk, charcoal, watercolor, oil paint, and many other media. It is like having an entire art store in your computer. It simulates the texture of any kind of paper or you might want to work with. This was a hit with me, and I quickly moved to the full version of the program.

I am getting a little off topic here. Once I learned how the pen worked, my tablet became an important part of my computer setup. However, handling a full-size tablet is a little difficult when you are doing general computer work, and the Bamboo Fun tablet is an ideal companion to my laptop.

We loved this bamboo product!! My daughter is a talented artist and wanted to try this product..she's so happy with it!! We wanted to let you know it does everything it says it will and more.So buy it today and enjoy it in a few days!! Thanks again for this wonderful product and quick shipping procedures!

I am so happy to have purchased the bamboo fun. Very easy to use and lots of fun. The mouse is a good addition too- I like how it doesn't take batteries.