Although typing on a keyboard is inherent to the computing experience, sometimes you may want to push the keyboard away and pick up a pen to write or draw using your computer. Genius has a slew of new Pen/Tablets available and today we will look at the G-Pen F610. This tablet features a 6×10 working area and includes twenty nine programmable Hot Key buttons.
So if you have a desire to create some computer generated art, then this is definitely the right tool for the job. Some people are so talented with these tablets and programs such as Photoshop, they can create photorealistic pictures. One such artist is Bert Monroy, check out his work, if you get a chance.
The beauty of a graphics tablet is that it lets you control your cursor in a totally different way than a mouse, but in a way that is still natural for most people. Combined with programs such as Adobe Photoshop or GIMP, you can truly unleash your inner artist.
Lets get started
Genius G-Pen F610 Drawing Tablet Review
Reviewed by: Tomas Ratas
Sponsor: Genius
Tech Specs,Features or the Basic Info:
6 x 10 ultra slim tablet for pen writing
G-Pen F610 is the brand new slim tablet with 6×10 working area and one cordless pen for PC Windows and MACs to write, draw, sketch and sign emails. Using the pen tablet gives you ultra convenience and better control than your mouse. The cursor moves precisely where you position the pen.
The sleek slim design in a 6 by 10 size is a perfect match for flat and wide screens. There is a twenty-nine programmable Hot-Key area for Office, Internet and Vista functions to be used for super shortcuts. The cordless pen features two buttons and 1024 level pressure sensitivity. While drawing with the digital pen, you can control all kinds of shapes and thickness easily. The two pen buttons can also be programmed as left and right mouse buttons. The battery life of the pen is up to one year and the pen holder keeps your pen nearby.
Just plug it in and you can use built-in Vista functions like personal note taking, email signing, handwriting recognition, handwritten emails and pen flick navigation. Bring art-style to your life, and be more creative and more colorful with the G-Pen F610.
Key features:
-6 x 10 working area operates with latest screen size
-Exquisite slim pad design
-1024-level pressure sensitivity for all shapes and thickness control
-Make handwriting notes/drawings efficiently in e-mail, MSN, documents, or any application program
-Vista plug and play; handwriting recognition compatible, pen flicks, digital inking in Office and snipping functions for convenient operation
-Office tools, Office applications and Internet hot keys.
-2-button pen: 1024 level pressure sensitivity
-Hot keys for My document, My picture, MSN, etc.
-Pen holder
-Hot keys for Flip-3D, Magnifier, Snipping Tool, etc.
-Works with any screen size: lets you draw or sketch more precisely
Interface support: USB
System support: Windows Vista/XP/2000
Macintosh with OS X 10.2.8+
Resolution: 2,000 lpi
Active area: 10 x 6.25
Report rate: 125 rps
Pen pressure: 1,024 levels
Reading high: Max 10 mm
Macro keys: 29
System Requirements:
-IBM PC/ Pentium 233 compatible or higher
-Windows Vista/XP/2000
-Macintosh with OS X 10.2.8or later
-Available USB port
-CD/DVD-ROM drive for software installation
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A Better Look at Things
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The Genius G-Pen F610 comes in a red and white box with the pen tablet featured prominently on the center of the box. In the background there is a digitized drawing of a woman in a field. The left hand side of the front lists some of the features of the F610.
The back of the box lists the specs of the F610 in twenty three different languages. Sprechen zie deutsche?
Upon opening the box, the F610 tablet is protected by a cloth sack. Underneath it, the pen, installation disks and pen holder are found.
The Genius G-Pen F610 tablet is very slick in its appearance. The border is a piano black finish reminiscent of the Logitech DiNovo keyboard.
A Better Look at Things
Continued:
The working surface measures 10 x 6 inches. Actual physical dimensions for the F610 are 12 x 11. One of the first things noticeable about this tablet is its low profile. In fact, it is thinner than most gaming mouse pads.
The surface of the tablet has a clear plastic overlay which can be used for tracing pictures held underneath it. Beneath this tracing surface is a black sheet with icons for the Hot Key buttons which are found along the periphery of the working surface. There are two sets of these black sheets, one designed for Windows Vista, the other for Windows 2000/XP.
On the top of the tablet, one finds the Genius logo on the left hand side and on the right there is a blue LED light which blinks when the F610 is plugged into the USB port.
The USB cord measures five feet in length and features a Velcro ring for cord management.
The pen requires a single AAA which is included. The pen is composed of a slate grey plastic with a clip at the top and two buttons on the lower portion. These two buttons are equivalent to the left and right click buttons on most mice.
Genius gives you two replacement pen tips in case they get worn down. They include a metal ring that acts as a pen tip removal tool.
When not using the pen, there is a pen holder composed of clear plastic over a heavy rubberized black holder.
The Genius G-Pen F610 comes with an install discs for both Windows and Macs. The PC version includes the MacroKey Manager for mapping the Hot Key buttons, Power Presenter RE, Free Notes and Office Ink. The Mac installation disc just features the Mac Driver and works for OS X 10.2.8 and higher.
The software bundle also includes Ulead PhotoImpact 12 SE which is an image editing program.
Installation, Testing and Comparison
The Genius G-Pen F610 is a plug and play device when used with Windows Vista and does not require any additional software installation. If you want to take advantage of the Hot Keys, then you will need to install the Macro Key Manager.
For Windows 2000/XP and Vista Basic, the Macro Key Manager includes the driver and needs to be installed before using the F610.
When using OS X, driver installation is required before the tablet becomes functional.
The F610 plugs into a standard USB port. When connected to a PC, the blue LED in the top right corner blinks on and off every few seconds.
When using the tablet as a mouse replacement, the tablet surface correlates to the screen surface. So if you have your pen touching the top right hand corner of the tablets work surface, then the cursor will reside in that area of the screen. Move the pen to the middle of the tablet, the cursor appears on the middle of your screen. It does take some getting use to, but becomes natural after a quick learning curve.
The Pen is thick, about the size of a Sharpie marker.
I have a big hand, so accessing the buttons is not very comfortable, but this is true for most graphic tablet pens that I have tried in the past.
When used with Vista Ultimate and Office 2007, the tablet was instantly recognized by Word and I was able to write using the tablet with ease and proficiency. The Office 2007 handwriting recognition software was particularly forgiving of my chicken scratch handwriting.
(Video)
The YouTube video is a bit small but you can get an idea, if you wish you can download the full movie HERE, it is approximately 25mb and a resolution of 1680×1048
The Hot Keys are a nice addition, giving you the ability to launch various programs or short cuts right off the tablet. Using the Macro Key Manager, users can map specified commands to the tablet buttons. This is definitely a time saving feature. However, these macro buttons are close to the edges of the workable surface area and can accidentally be activated if you are not careful with your pen.
To open one of these Hot Keys, you can either double tap your pen or click the pen button while holding your pen over the specific macro button.
With a 1024 levels of pressure sensitivity, the G610, allows you to virtually paint with the G610, giving you thick or thin pen strokes.
Unfortunately, unless you have a tablet edition of Windows XP installed on your computer, then the handwriting option does not work in Office 2007. The Free Notes and Office Ink programs give you the ability to draw and write using Windows XP.
During my testing of the Genius G-Pen F610 with OS X, the tablet worked with the Apple Ink feature. I personally found the Ink handwriting recognition to be poorer than the Vista version. The OS X driver installs a program that launches on start up for tablet to be functional and does not give you the ability to use the Hot Keys on the tablet. Hopefully Genius will release a driver update for the Mac.
My daughter was able to quickly pick up and use the Genius G-Pen F610 and was drawing and painting pictures using the Free Notes Program.
Here is an image of the Free Notes program in action.
Summary:
The Genius G-Pen F610 is a great value and a good performer. Similarly sized tablets will cost twice the money. Besides its feature set, the F610 has an elegant and streamlined appearance. The software and drivers could use some more polish, but if you are using Vista, then it works great as a plug and play device.
If you are looking for a great first graphics tablet with plenty of working room, then the Genius G-Pen F610 is the right product for you.
DragonSteelMods gives the Genius G-Pen F610 a 4.5 out of 5 score.
Pros:
-Large Work Area
-Macro Keys
-Extra Pen Tips
-Low profile Tablet
Cons:
-Included software could be better
I would like to thank Genius for the chance to review the Genius G-Pen F610 and for their support of DSM.
Discuss, Questions HERE
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