Customer Reviews
Better than Bamboo, works on XP & older software 
2008-08-21
I have owned one of these tablets for a couple years now and really love it. It works great with XP and older versions of adobe and MS Office. When you spend $2000 for the entire Adobe collection and nearly as much for the full Office collection you expect your software to last a while.
The only problems I have had are due to the way I use the tablet heavily all day long on the arm of a recliner. It falls onto the carpet a lot and constant movement each time I get up and set it off to the side... which has now worn through the cable shielding and only the two wires are holding it in place. Another problem is the tablet would be better about 1/3 smaller on the arm of the chair for my needs.
With heavy use the rubber cover on the pen between the two buttons will eventually tear in that spot but does not affect the use or performance. It stays in place unless you mess with it.
The only other complaint was the lack of information which came with the tablet. It never explained how the product worked. Nor did it state that the product was of a magnetic nature and never required batteries. Even an experienced computer user who had never used a device like this may not know these do not need batteries.
Wacom should spell this out clearly in the instructions. If you have never used a product like this and with the total lack of info about the pen in the package, you would be wanting to know if it heId batteries or not and thus you would be inclined to check out the pen... which is not something you want to do. To open the pen is to break the pen. It cannot open unless you destroy it. Even though I'm an engineer, I broke the first one trying to look inside when I couldn't find info on the pen and was having problems with it because I had it too close to other devices which were interfering with each other. So I had to buy a new pen... pricey.. over $30 for the pen. If you want to know what is inside the pen, I will tell you. It is a very long narrow circuit board with magnets inside copper windings. If you try to pull the pen apart, it will break the tiny circuit board in half and unless you feel like resoldering the runs and gluing the board together, I wouldn't recommend it. There are microcircuits on it which can break in half along with the circuit board.
Keep the pen away from wireless keyboards and don't lay it on your chest if you have a pacemaker or defibrillator. The magnet is weak but can cause your cardiac device to reset or produce glitches. So if you are being constantly paced, you might want to avoid laying the pen or mouse on your chest... keep your cell phone away from your chest and wireless keyboards, etc., as well.
The Bamboo tablet is for Vista and doesn't work with older software according to others who bought it... so don't let them get away with forcing you to spend a ton of money to upgrade. This one works fine. Like I said on another commentary... it is just like the automakers who were greedy and would not listen... if a product is not user friendly and affordable, they will lose their shirts because most people are at the point where they are not going to be forced into buying a bunch of upgrades. Products should be able to handle older software. The Bamboo is the first time I have ever seen a product limited to Vista and 2007 software only. That is a sign of lazy software developers work on the drivers. Maybe they will get the message like the car companies if people stop buying their newer products.
I have become so accustomed to using the pen, I never use a mouse at all anymore. I particularly like the pinpoint accuracy I can get when editing images on Adobe Photoshop or CS3. Pen size is perfect and comfortable. I definitely recommend this product. I have never had any problems with the performance.
Quality unit, very nicely done 
2008-04-03
As many mentioned it already, the unit is very well made and provides years of trouble free operations. I have mine for some two years and it is reliably fun to use it. The bundled software is huge value!
watch the stylus 2008-02-12
The rubber grip of the stylus disintegrated in a few weeks. Then with an unprotected skeleton of a pen, one of the buttons fell out. (It still works, just looks bad.) I have used the same tablet before, though, and it lasted for years, so I would recommend it all over again and buy it again. The tablet is protected by a strong acrylic casing, so the entire surface is smooth.
Works great 2007-11-24
Works perfectly, no reason to get the more expensive version. Size is good for drawing.
Great for size and price 2007-10-18
The Wacom Graphire4 may be a little small at only 4x5, but it is a great option for those looking for a cheap tablet. I purchased this item partly because of the great programs packaged with it. It is a great option for the casual artist.
A Gift for an Amazing Lady 2007-10-06
Wacom Graphire 4x5 Graphics Tablet - A graphics tablet gives you the ability to be more creative on your computer, and with much more precision than a mouse. Using a pressure sensitive pen, you can more easily and more naturally enhance photos, draw, paint, jot notes, write your signature, and more. It works with any program your mouse does, but Wacom will start you off on the right foot by giving you a free copy of Adobe Photoshop Elements 3, Color Efex Pro 2 GE, and Corel Painter Essentials 2. Graphire Pen with Eraser 512 levels of pressure sensitivity for natural brush control. Patented cordless, battery-free technology for a natural feel and superior performance. Two programmable side buttons for efficiency right at your fingertips. Pressure-sensitive eraser for easy fixes. Graphire Cordless Mouse. Cordless, battery-free technology. Scrolling finger wheel also functions as a 3rd programmable button. Optical Technology. Connects to a PC or Mac via USB. Color--Silver
OK, but not exactly pen on paper 
2007-09-28
I bought the tablet to write cursive notes for others, but it requires more pressure than what I normally use when writing - especially when writing fast. Also, not using it all the time, it's tough to transition between mouse and tablet. I hadn't used photoshop before, and I do really like the Photoshop Elements software that's included. The product is probably just fine for artistic types.
Great Overall Mouse Alternative 2007-09-21
Not just for graphics, though that was one of my original reasons for purchase. I use Photoshop a lot in my work, and felt I was missing out on much of the software's functionality by not being able to utilize pressure sensitivity. The Wacom pen does open doors for expressiveness in digital graphics, though for some it takes getting used to the feel of it at first. I had difficulty performing other functions (ie: guide positioning) with the same precision as a standard mouse, but once I got over that little hump, I never wanted to go back to using anything else. Cursor control feels so much more natural using the pen, you can get across your screen much faster, and you don't have to worry about getting all sorts of crud jammed into it because you're hardly in contact with any surface for most movement.
One of the most important things I discovered -- In the past, working with graphics (or whatever) all day on the Mac, all the continuous use of the mouse was taking a toll on my right upper arm. Some days I could barely lift it because of the pain. I tried switching to a track ball, which was better but still strenuous over time. When I switched to the Wacom, it caused me to use my arm in a different way, and about a month or so later I no longer felt so much as an ache, and haven't since. The freedom from pain of RSS alone was worth the investment.
Only time I run into a problem with the Graphire is when a guest needs to use my Mac and they've never used a pen tablet before.... of course Wacom is nice enough to include a wireless standard mouse, which also works well, though only on the tablet. I never use it: I call it my "Guest Mouse". There have been instances when the function of the pen got stuck in Select mode; I'm not sure what causes that, but I've found that tapping the tip gently on another surface seems to make it work normally again.
To sum: The Wacom Graphire is a great, reasonably-priced entry item for anyone who ever considered using a pen stylus for input. For me it would be a standard necessary inclusion for any home computer purchase.
Thanks 2007-09-19
Thank you for the great transaction. The delivery was quick and my Tablet is wonderful!
Amazing 2007-09-10
I design jewelry, and this tablet is perfect because it is very easy to use the pen. The mouse is also really handy, and I actually use the pen as a mouse too. It's a really great product for its price. I highly recommend it.
