Genius MousePen 8x6 - bit-tech.net Forums

The_Pope · 15th Nov 2005, 10:59

http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/200...pen_8x6/1.html

Marquee · 15th Nov 2005, 12:53

We you use to have tools like this in my school. The problem was that the mouse was very cheap in the construction and the board it self was a little cheap in the construction. They might have fixed this but that mouse still looks cheap. What I mean by construction is that the plastic make a noise when you press down on it to hard.

Over all that is a great product to own, if your an artist.

stephen2002 · 15th Nov 2005, 13:03

I spent $99 on my 4x6 Wacom Graphire nearly 3 years ago. Great piece of equipment and no batteries. I probably would have gone through $40 of AAA batteries in those 3 years.

I would say something like this would be great to get started or if you are unsure of the whole pen for a mouse thing, but if you really want a tablet go for a Wacom.

Bindibadgi · 15th Nov 2005, 13:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by stephen2002

I probably would have gone through $40 of AAA batteries in those 3 years.

Re-charge-able

fantastic invention.

RotoSequence · 15th Nov 2005, 15:13

The tablet is dirt cheap indeed, but theres no way I would have given it a good value for the money award; this isnt a tablet that provides the capabilities one is looking for when one buys a tablet in the first place, that being a way to emulate pen strokes just like those provided by pencil on paper. With those kinds of jagged lines, I wouldnt reccomend this in any way, shape, or form. This is a toy, not a genuine tool. </rant>

Honestly, once youve used a Wacom, its virtually impossible to reccomend anything else.

Meanmotion · 15th Nov 2005, 15:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by RotoSequence

With those kinds of jagged lines, I wouldnt reccomend this in any way, shape, or form.

Surely that depends on how fast a motion resulted in those lines? If it took a pretty fast motion to produce them then for the casual user it would still be ok.

Quote:

Originally Posted by The_Pope

A gesture application is one such inclusion (because for some reason people still seem to think mouse gestures are a good idea) however invoking them seems to take longer that just doing whatever it is you wanted to do in the first place.

Couldn't agree more. Just use key combinations!

:: kna :: · 15th Nov 2005, 16:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by RotoSequence

The tablet is dirt cheap indeed, but theres no way I would have given it a good value for the money award; this isnt a tablet that provides the capabilities one is looking for when one buys a tablet in the first place, that being a way to emulate pen strokes just like those provided by pencil on paper. With those kinds of jagged lines, I wouldnt reccomend this in any way, shape, or form. This is a toy, not a genuine tool. </rant>

Honestly, once youve used a Wacom, its virtually impossible to reccomend anything else.

If you read the paragraph afterwards you will find the jaggies are due to a limitation of the USB interface, so a USB Wacom would also suffer from them.. I can emulate that exact flaw using my extremely high prescison Razer Diamondback mouse.

supermonkey · 15th Nov 2005, 17:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by :: kna ::

If you read the paragraph afterwards you will find the jaggies are due to a limitation of the USB interface, so a USB Wacom would also suffer from them..

This is indeed true. I have the 4x6 Wacom Graphire and when I try to draw quick, long strokes they appear the same way. If you want long, curved lines, either draw slowly or use paths.

For the casual graphics use (minor photo retouching, scrapbooking, etc.) this would be a great option. I don't think it's intended for the serious artist, but rather for the weekend hobbyist.

Also The bundled PenSuite program makes this an affordable tool in an office environment for annotating and other documentation functions.

-monkey

WilHarris · 15th Nov 2005, 17:59

Are there not USB 2 tablets - faster?

:: kna :: · 15th Nov 2005, 18:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrhaz

Are there not USB 2 tablets - faster?

USB 1.1 and 2.0 both use the same refresh rate even though the bus speed is faster.

/me worries about getting into technical quicksand..

RotoSequence · 15th Nov 2005, 19:08

Me and my sister reviewed a Wacom Intuos 3 at moditory.com a little while back; the jagged problem did show up sometimes, but only when making REALLY fast pen movements. Otherwise, at a normal drawing pace, it never ever did anything like that. It may well be that it works faster in USB 2.0; however, Wacom really does know their stuff, especially with the higher end tablets.

:: kna :: · 15th Nov 2005, 22:27

aye, those lines are not at normal drawing pace.. they're drawn as fast as possible to show the effect.

Bindibadgi · 15th Nov 2005, 22:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by :: kna ::

USB 1.1 and 2.0 both use the same refresh rate even though the bus speed is faster.

/me worries about getting into technical quicksand..

Im pretty sure there's a program out there ive seen where you can up the USB refresh rate to up to around 250.

stephen2002 · 16th Nov 2005, 01:26

Those jagged lines can be resolved using your paint program. In Photoshop a "smoothing" checkbox can be found in the brushes option.

The top line is drawn with smoothing off, the bottom with it on. I drew them both at the same speed, pretty quick but not difficult if you are making quick strokes for something like grass, on a Wacom.

:: kna :: · 16th Nov 2005, 08:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by stephen2002

Those jagged lines can be resolved using your paint program. In Photoshop a "smoothing" checkbox can be found in the brushes option.

The top line is drawn with smoothing off, the bottom with it on. I drew them both at the same speed, pretty quick but not difficult if you are making quick strokes for something like grass, on a Wacom.

He's not wrong.. well spotted! You learn something new every day.

[USRF]Obiwan · 16th Nov 2005, 12:26

To me the USB ms timing problem is totaly bull. If this is the case, why can i move my mouse as fast as i can and it still draws roundish stripes. If the usb timing is the limiting factor why should you buy a 2000dpi speed mouse. The pen is working on the same level as a mouse does. It measures dpi and submits them thru usb.

To me it sounds more like slow/cheap tablet hardware.

:: kna :: · 16th Nov 2005, 12:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by [USRF]Obiwan

To me the USB ms timing problem is totaly bull. If this is the case, why can i move my mouse as fast as i can and it still draws roundish stripes. If the usb timing is the limiting factor why should you buy a 2000dpi speed mouse. The pen is working on the same level as a mouse does. It measures dpi and submits them thru usb.

To me it sounds more like slow/cheap tablet hardware.

As I stated I recreated this problem on my Razer Diamondback which is neither slow nor cheap.

I'm not going to pretend to be an expert in this however if you read the product write up on the Razer series it talks about prescision and accuracy, not speed. Having used one I find the incresed resolution helps pin-point my targets, not make massive sweeping movements with the mouse (where you wouldn't care if it jumps from one point to another or not.)

15th Nov 2005, 10:59	#1
The_Pope Geoff Richards Moderator Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: UK Posts: 2,089	Genius MousePen 8x6 http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/200...pen_8x6/1.html

15th Nov 2005, 12:53	#2
Marquee Supermodder Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Toronto Canada Posts: 404	We you use to have tools like this in my school. The problem was that the mouse was very cheap in the construction and the board it self was a little cheap in the construction. They might have fixed this but that mouse still looks cheap. What I mean by construction is that the plastic make a noise when you press down on it to hard. Over all that is a great product to own, if your an artist. __________________ Project Log: Knight Rider CWC

15th Nov 2005, 15:13	#5
RotoSequence Lazy Lurker Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: 'States Posts: 4,533	The tablet is dirt cheap indeed, but theres no way I would have given it a good value for the money award; this isnt a tablet that provides the capabilities one is looking for when one buys a tablet in the first place, that being a way to emulate pen strokes just like those provided by pencil on paper. With those kinds of jagged lines, I wouldnt reccomend this in any way, shape, or form. This is a toy, not a genuine tool. </rant> Honestly, once youve used a Wacom, its virtually impossible to reccomend anything else. __________________ Technology Schmecnology

15th Nov 2005, 19:08	#11
RotoSequence Lazy Lurker Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: 'States Posts: 4,533	Me and my sister reviewed a Wacom Intuos 3 at moditory.com a little while back; the jagged problem did show up sometimes, but only when making REALLY fast pen movements. Otherwise, at a normal drawing pace, it never ever did anything like that. It may well be that it works faster in USB 2.0; however, Wacom really does know their stuff, especially with the higher end tablets. __________________ Technology Schmecnology

16th Nov 2005, 12:26	#16
[USRF]Obiwan Ultramodder Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Netherlands Posts: 1,220	To me the USB ms timing problem is totaly bull. If this is the case, why can i move my mouse as fast as i can and it still draws roundish stripes. If the usb timing is the limiting factor why should you buy a 2000dpi speed mouse. The pen is working on the same level as a mouse does. It measures dpi and submits them thru usb. To me it sounds more like slow/cheap tablet hardware. __________________ Mascleta: "The most accurate simulation of thunder, humans can simulate..." The answer is 42, so... whats the question again? If you know what 'Peek' and 'Poke' represents, then you are probably as old as me.

15th Nov 2005, 13:03	#3
stephen2002 Multimodder Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 182	I spent $99 on my 4x6 Wacom Graphire nearly 3 years ago. Great piece of equipment and no batteries. I probably would have gone through $40 of AAA batteries in those 3 years. I would say something like this would be great to get started or if you are unsure of the whole pen for a mouse thing, but if you really want a tablet go for a Wacom.

15th Nov 2005, 17:59	#9
WilHarris Just another nobody Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Oxford Posts: 2,671	Are there not USB 2 tablets - faster?

15th Nov 2005, 22:27	#12
:: kna :: POCOYO! Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Purple Posts: 4,210	aye, those lines are not at normal drawing pace.. they're drawn as fast as possible to show the effect.

16th Nov 2005, 01:26	#14
stephen2002 Multimodder Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 182	Those jagged lines can be resolved using your paint program. In Photoshop a "smoothing" checkbox can be found in the brushes option. The top line is drawn with smoothing off, the bottom with it on. I drew them both at the same speed, pretty quick but not difficult if you are making quick strokes for something like grass, on a Wacom.