Product Name/Version: Graphire 2
OS X Plans?: Just download the latest OS X driver (not included on CD)
Company: Wacom
Category: Commercial, Hardware Interface
Price: $99
Requirements: Mac OS 8.5, 9 or 10.1; powered USB port, CD-ROM drive & color monitor.
Date of Review: 11/1/01
Rating: 4 Bounces — Pure Lust

Introduction

Once again, Wacom delivers an exceptional hardware experience at an affordable level. The mouse has improved and the pen holder holds, what more could anyone want? A more logical installation would help, but a familiar, capable customization program saves the software experience.

Installation

Diving straight into OS X with the Graphire 2 is trickier than it looks. Never mind the fact that no OS X compatibility comes on the accompanying disc, which is mildly frustrating but not an alien occurance in our 9-X transition, but pay close attention to your instructions after you’ve visited the Wacom site and retrieved the latest driver set installer. In an odder procedure than we’re used to, the out-of-the-box tablet has to be plugged in when you install this latest Wacom Driver package. This might not sound like an odd complaint, but hear me out. What is weird is, without actually prompting you to insert the USB plug (what you actually do have to do) or merely having you select from a pull down menu of sorts the model you have, the installer is preparing you to only install the very particular kind of tablet driver you need.

Multiple tablets (such as my older Graphire) have to be configured separately and (here’s the kicker) overwrites the previously installed driver. Did I mention that you have to have the tablet plugged in at start up for it to work at all? So to recap, to install the OS X drivers you have to download the newest installer, make sure you have the tablet in question plugged in (this step only mentioned in the “read me”) restart with it plugged in, and expect to repeat the process (driver install and all) if you need to use a second tablet. The “un-plug” and play convience has vanished in OS X, and suddenly the tablet is a very needy peripheral. One last interesting OS X note is the “not available” denotation of the driver version and name in the system profiler, thereby not distinguishing between different tablets or even versions clearly (regardless of the need for extra steps to load a second tablet).

Understanding the second tablet issue will be moot for most users, the OS X process is strangely complicated on its own, especially compared to the OS 9 procedure. In OS 9, you are walked through it with much more thought to the process, explaining that you need to have it plugged in, et all. The need to have the tablet in on restart is a new requirement, but not a horrible one.

Beginning

Let me stress that once you succumb to the process, when you get your hands on the carefully weighted mouse as you pull it across the tablet and do the instinctive mouse-jiggle, it’s incredible. Sweeping along the dock with this new Graphire 2 mouse is much improved over the first iteration and a dream for new users. The movement is sleek and natural when combined with OS X’s smooth interaction. Wireless, battery-less and without a ball or ever an optical sensor, it literally moves without restriction (the fact it works at all is a mystery, somehow lacking a power supply of any kind). Previous owners of the first Graphire will notice and appreciate the improvements made to the mouse first and most over the old version, which was adequate but eerily weightless and Happy-Meal-Toy-esque. The pen comes with 512 levels of pressure according to the packaging, but to be honest I never tried to count- it just works and works well. The most difficult concept to understand (after “how does it do it?”) is getting used to drawing on screen with the pen, not normal navigation. Hand-eye coordination is pleasantly adaptable to using the pen as our normal interface, briskly scurrying the tip from one end of the tablet’s pad to the other, tapping for a click or using the switch.

Graphire Reborn

While the first Graphire brought the “gee whiz” and production possibilities of computer tablet interfaces to an affordable level, (especially with the mouse/pen combo) this upgrade carries a level of quality several steps up in appearance and practical use. The pen is the same in form, but has a very subtle weight difference. In short, it finally feels more like a real pen, not a plastic shell. It still has the same pressure sensitive tip, smooth vertical button and flip-eraser head. The mouse, however, has a more dramatic change in both weight and form. Sleeker and more profound in slope from its center, it manages the same footprint as the older version with less upper girth; it takes on qualities more akin to the recent optical mice (and in performance glides with similar ease). The two buttons have a distinct sturdy median now, where the scroll wheel is affixed. The form slides easily with the palm, particularly with the newly weighted back end.

The tablet itself is more cosmetically altered than dramatically improved. Squaring its ends and offering a translucent center, (scoring the “how-does-it-work” effect a’la Swatch and Apple products) I suppose makes it look “hipper” but doesn’t alter the functionality. The one real tweak to the tablet is a welcome one: the pen holder at the top actually (gasp!) holds the pen. The slickly invisible tracing sheet is still a sturdy and reliable fixation, as are the sturdy rubberized feet, stabilizing the platform. New users probably won’t find this a shocking development, but owners of previous models will no doubt give a knowing smirk to this “improvement” that should have been in place in the Graphire v. 1.

Use and Customization

Plugging it in is easy, once you get past the installation caveats I’ve already mentioned. It’s USB, and draws little power, so you can confidently plug it into your keyboard ports. And once it’s in and you’re set, you can start playing instantly. Without any configuration you could get by for days on the default functions. Some apps (particularly in OS X) aren’t fully ready for the pressure-sensitive abilities of the pen, but that doesn’t mean the pen is useless. In fact, the interface is just as useful for the average consumer considering the Graphire model, whose price and size are carefully aimed. If you’d like to customize your interaction with your system’s GUI, or better yet, individual applications, the control-panel-like “Wacom Tablet” program is still easy to use. In OS X, the program is a bit puzzling in placement since it rests in the Applications folder (this would certainly be more natural as a System Preference, just as it’s OS 9 cousin resides in the Control Panels) and hopefully further iterations will put it there. Thankfully, the actual program operates with the same ease (if the guts of it don’t really take on the Aqua appearance). In simple, logical, Mac ways you can add specific programs to your list of custom commands, so that when you are using your Graphire mouse or pen in those apps, they behave with the sensitivity, button functions and mapping speed that you have specified. Adding a program is simple, and the OS X version allows for settings of Classic apps (but if you boot into OS 9, you’ll need to configure the separate Wacom Control Panel there). I’ve enjoyed the versatility of this with my older Graphire in OS 9, and I was eager to put the Graphire 2 to the test in OS X.

Tablet Test

With the Word Test Drive, Painter 7, and Freehand 10 open in OS X, and Fireworks in Classic, all opened and previously programmed with different settings, I began my stress-test. Clicking between windows of the various apps, the various attributes I set stuck, even in the Classic app I had set through the OS X Wacom Tablet configure program. Other options include the landscape tablet option if the rectangle is too restrictive and you’d rather have the motion give-room vertically, and even functional variances for the mouse’s scroll wheel. One clever feature is the ability to test the settings you’ve chosen in an example box before committing to your setting.

I tend to program the mouse to the hilt for various programs. The pen I tend to enjoy without customizing too much, since its interface is unique enough. In fact, using the pen to click (tap) and briskly mouse-about is akin to a very accurate trackpad (especially since I’m using a pointed pen versus my ape-fingers).

Bundles of Lukewarm Joy

One thing I haven’t mentioned is the bundled applications the Graphire 2 comes with, and it’s mainly because they’re an invisible bonus to anyone just looking for an entry-level or cheap tablet-experience. The apps are twice as useless for those of us trying to live in an OS X world. The guilty parties are: Painter Classic and Photoshop LE (neutered OS 9 versions of the legacy apps not related to the new Painter 7 or the ethereal, unannounced OS X version of Photoshop). They are nice to have, but the lack of an OS X app is painfully apparent. Frankly, I wouldn’t be buying the Graphire 2 for the free applications, but if you were looking at Photoshop LE I’d certainly opt to get it in this bundle than alone. Waaaay back in the days of OS 9 having Painter Classic or Photoshop LE thrown in might be a real deal-maker, but most of us aren’t dazzled now.

A Better Mouse Than Some

Obviously, the interface is a joy with drawing and painting programs but the pen/mouse offers a welcome and competent alternative to your regular mouse interface in basic operation as well. And for those that have older iMacs fitted with puck-mice (like me, who hasn’t spent the money to upgrade to an optical mouse) the $100 price tag is a no-brainer considering the tool-upgrade you’ll be making. It’s a great buy for everyone else too, but for those of us looking for ways to spice up the lives of our older machines (and we wince when we consider our $1,000+, 2-year-old machines truly old) this is a great toy — er, I mean tool.

Conclusion

If you are looking for a unique, programmable, fun interface at a reasonable price, the Graphire 2 is a clear winner. How else could a Mac user and budding designer (or even just playful user) get a wireless two-button mouse with scroll wheel, wireless pen, and a tablet interface with tracing area for a hundred bucks? How about even a wireless mouse? For an owner of the previous Graphire, I’d say if you use it on a daily basis I’d consider upgrading to this new version — the changes to the mouse alone are worth the move up (your hand will thank you). The OS X installation is an unnecessary bear that will hopefully improve as they develop new drivers. While that is likely to be a frustrating obstacle, the payoff and actual hardware features of the Graphire 2 provides still far outweigh the initial difficulty.

Postscript

To Wacom developers’ credit (and to my wacky Mac’s discredit) I have dispelled the need to reinstall a new driver for my older tablet, and have been able to take advantage of hot-plugging the Graphire 2 to my heart’s content after a successful install. The actual install process is still a bit different and unexpected, but the lasting problems I had with plugging have been solved and it was of no error of the Wacom Drivers. Given that my only concerns were about the downloaded OS X drivers (which are still being improved by Wacom) I have all confidence that the installation process will get better (and to be frank, maybe we should be happy that an OS X driver is ready at all considering our prolonged wait for primary OS X native apps).