Product Reviews

A mouse may be ideal for general navigation but, when it comes to graphical work, a touch-sensitive tablet is the preferred solution for most dedicated computer artists, and the Intuos A5 USB is the latest to arrive from Wacom.

The A5 workspace is landscape orientated, although the tablet itself is significantly larger than A4. This takes up much more deskspace than a mouse mat, but the smooth plastic surround gives a comfortable resting place for your hand. A cordless starter pen is supplied with an eraser button at the top and a rocker switch at each end to which various functions can be assigned.

Once installed, a Wacom applet is added to the Control Panel and from here extensive customisation is available. However, the USB plug and play isn't perfect. On an intermittent basis, reloading Windows after unplugging the tablet invoked an error message saying that a tablet resource couldn't be found. Reconnecting the tablet then occasionally resulted in Windows asking for the drivers again.

An extra-sensitive space at the top of the tablet is allocated for 18 function areas. Three allow you to change the pressure sensitivity of the tablet, and two more let you switch between mouse and pen mode. In the former mode, the mouse pointer exhibits the same sensitivity and acceleration as a conventional

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mouse, whereas pen mode is slower, allowing for greater precision in positioning and movement. The remaining 13 areas can be assigned keyboard macros across all apps or on a program-by-program basis. The Wacom software recognises the program you're working in and automatically selects the relevant keystroke set and any other customisations. Unfortunately, the legends on the tablet buttons are small and difficult to read. However, on screen, a pop-up is displayed when the pen is over a button. But, even if you assign button 2 to be and give it a name of 'Save', the on-screen button still says '2', which isn't helpful.

The extensive control panel lets you set a wide range of options covering click and double-click sensitivity, pen and eraser 'feel' and mapping of the tablet area to client areas. This last option is essential. With it you can choose to map, say, the whole of your Windows Desktop to just one part of the tablet's surface. This reduces hand movement considerably. It also counteracts a tendency of the pen's target to jump on to the function keys when you approach the top edge. Without mapping it can be almost impossible to select shortcuts, close buttons or anything else if they're near the top of your Desktop. Even when a sub-area of the tablet had been defined, touching the pen to the tablet or moving outside this area still moved the cursor, with changeable results.

When used in supporting apps, such as Photoshop 4 or PaintShop Pro 5, the tablet really comes into its own. The alterations of pressure provide new and exciting creative options, along with a greater feeling of control to the appropriate tools and brushes.

Anyone requiring a more sensitive control method should consider a graphics tablet. The premium on this USB variation may not appeal, but overall the Wacom Intuos A5 offers a more natural environment for graphics and design work.