The Adesso CyberTablet 12000 may be an ideal graphics tablet for casual use. It offers a very generous active workspace for a very affordable price. The price is actually a slightly better deal for Windows users than Mac users, because the default software package is Windows only, but Mac users can order a package that includes Adobe Photoshop Elements.
Features include a comfortable ergonomic design, a cordless, pressure-sensitive pen, and a wireless three-button scrolling mouse.
- Budget friendly.
- Lightweight, comfortable, ergonomic design.
- Generous active drawing area.
- Works with almost any software that accepts input from a mouse.
- Pen doesn’t have an eraser.
- Default bundled software package is Windows only.
- Doesn’t use rechargeable batteries.
- Mac and Windows compatible
- 512 levels of pressure sensitivity
- Resolution of up to 3048 lines per inch
- 12”x9” active area
- 16 function keys
- Cordless two-button pen
- Cordless three-button mouse
- USB compatible
The Adesso name isn’t particularly well known in the graphics tablet category, which is a shame, because the company’s line of tablets are both satisfactory and affordable. They’re no match for a Wacom, but their prices put them well within reach of casual users who have no need (or budget) for a professional-level graphics tablet.
The Adesso CyberTablet 12000 is a little large and awkward for those of us who like to use our graphics tablets in our laps, but we’ll forgive much for a 9”x12” active drawing area at this price point. I found the CyberTablet to be as comfortable for making large, sweeping gestures as it is for tentative or controlled edits.
The tablet plugs into a USB port (the package includes a USB cable), and is powered by the USB connection, so there’s no awkward power brick to deal with, no need to find an available power outlet, and one less cord hanging off your desk.
The Adesso CyberTablet 12000’s cordless pen uses a standard (not rechargeable) AAA battery, and supports up to 512 levels of pressure sensitivity, which is enough to feel similar to traditional drawing and painting tools, although not as accommodating as a pen that supports 1,024 levels of pressure. The pen doesn’t have an eraser, which cost it several points in my estimation.
The cordless mouse uses two standard AA batteries, and should be equally comfortable for lefties and righties. It has three buttons, plus a scroll wheel you can program to serve as another button.
The Adesso CyberTablet 12000 supports resolutions of up to 3,048 lines per inch, for more accurate output, and has 16 buttons that you can program for your favorite or most frequently used functions. It also includes a photo frame you can use as a transparent overlay for tracing parts of photos or illustrations.
