|  The ACECAD Acecat Flair USB is a graphics tablet with the same roughly four by five inch drawing area as the Graphire, the same 512 pen pressure levels, the same roughly 1000 line per inch resolution and the same USB interface. And it only costs $AU176, delivered. It was $AU150-odd before an exchange-rate-related hike just the other day. Even at the higher price, its pricing makes the Graphire look like a luxury item.
There's little doubt that, effective as a mouse may be for browsing the internet and pouring gunfire onto hapless computer foes, it is a pretty poor alternative to a pen when it comes to drawing detailed pictures or even writing. Fortunately, every year graphic pads get cheaper and the quality improves; Selwyn Electronics' Acecat Flair is a good example at a bargain price of £35. For that you get the USB 5" x 3.75" pad and a 3-button cordless pen. It has a resolution of 2540lpi with accuracy to withing +/- 0.01" and the pen is pressure sensitive, its buttons are customisable as well. It also comes with Art Dabbler software, but if you already have a art package like Photoshop or Painter you probably won't really have much use for it. Not a bad idea for a Xmas pressie though. Features: - 5"x3.75" ultra-thin graphics tablet with 3-button cordless & pressure-sensitive pen.
- Adjustable pressure sensitivity (1024 levels) offers natural response and feel like a regular pen or paintbrush.
- Users can easily use the cordless pen to change line width, color density and opacity by exerting different pressure upon the pen tip.
- Natural electronic eraser – by pressing the barrel button, use the pen tip to erase (Mac).
- Does everything a mouse can do and even more, works with a mouse if you like.
- Ultimate handwriting input device for Microsoft Office XP (Handwriting Recognition, Handwritten Form & Drawing Pad).
- The best painting tool for children.
- Writing, highlighting, sketching in Net Meeting, internet communication and internet chat.
- Naturally and easily draw, write, sign, trace pictures, clip arts, retouch photos, animate and design Web.
- The natural tool for drawing, writing and signing.
- Retouching or modifying photos or images taken from digital cameras or scanners.
- Customizable pen buttons to invoke frequently-used commands.
- Fully compatible with Windows XP/2000/ME/98 and iMac/Mac.
- Plug & Play, USB device.
The acecat flair is one of the best graphics tablets around, and one of the best for the value of money. If your loooking for a tablet for handy jobs its great, i have one myself and as a web designer its great for those areas where a mouse just doesn't have the accuracy of your fingers. I used mine on average 5 times a week and several times a day, and the battey still managed to last me over 1 1/2 years. The only downside of it is that you can't buy AAAA batteries anywere near were i live, so i had to buy them at £1.50 for 2, which was a good price. |
