Asus 8-inch Windows tablet with Wacom for only $299?

The racing glove inspired pin cushioned back of the Asus Nexus 7 is the most luxurious tablet we've ever fondled.

The Verge is reporting this morning that Asus is readying an 8-inch Windows 8.1 tablet with Wacom digitizer. The device will supposedly feature an Intel Baytrail Atom processor, 1280 x 800 display, 2 GB of RAM and 32- or 64 GB of storage.

This should be a great device for One Note or doodling on the go. But its true usefulness will be hampered by the mismatch between new Windows hardware and software development.

I like small tablets for casual gaming and media consumption. But ironically, after the dismal start of Windows RT, manufacturers are determined to cram full Windows 8.1 desktops into the smaller form factor.

I'm convinced this is a strategy that will fail as consumers discover what a miserable experience the desktop is on a tiny display.

The only thing that can salvage this situation is the development of a new breed of Windows store  applications (Metro) that are actually useful compared to the majority of what's currently available.

It's criminal that more than a full year after the release of Windows 8, Adobe has yet to release anything more capable than Photoshop Express or that Autodesk hasn't moved Sketchbook Pro onto the Windows store.

Without knowing any sales figures, it appears that Surfaces are doing well this holiday season, as is the Dell Venue 8. Based on its price and premium pen support, I suspect this Asus tablet will sell well too.

Will this groundswell of new users be the push that developers need to get their butts in gear? 

User review: Sony Tap 11 vs. Surface Pro 2

While picking up the Sony VAIO Flip 15A today, I had a chance to see the recently released Sony Tap 11, the Windows 8 tablet most likely to give the Surface Pro 2 a run for its money. 

Since I was focused on the convertible laptop, I didn't have the chance to really look closely at the Tap 11, but fortunately TabletPCReview forum member @ravisurdhar just posted a very interesting review of the new device with specific comparisons to the Surface Pro 2. 

He graciously agreed to let me reprint his story in full, but please make sure to visit his original thread if you'd like to share you thoughts on his predicament. 

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By RAVISURDHAR

I just got my Tap 11 yesterday and I've been running it through its paces this weekend. I also picked up a Surface Pro 2 a few weeks ago, with the intent of returning whichever device I didn't like. Bottom line: It's a hard choice. Both have a lot of strong positives, as well as a lot of strong negatives. (Note: When I use the term "Surface" below, I'm referring to the Surface Pro 2, not the original Surface). 

Initial impressions and build quality: WOW. You're telling me this 3/8 inch thick tablet has a dual core i5, 4GB of RAM, a 256 GB SSD, and runs Windows 8? Welcome to the future! Why can't all tablets be this thin and light? It really makes the Surface feel like a brick. However, when you start to examine it a little closer, you wonder also why Sony skimped on a lot of external design features. The port covers are incredibly flimsy, don't stay closed very well, and are ultimately unnecessary (reference the exposed ports on the Surface). The plastic casing on mine separates from the screen a little on the top, enough to wedge a fingernail in there. Same at the bottom when you press the Start button (which requires about twice as much pressure as I'd want...it's fairly hard to press. The capacitive button on the Surface is a much better solution). The pen clip is a bit finicky to get on (though once on it stays put very well), and it blocks the USB and HDMI ports. The power connector is the worst I've ever seen. It requires a lot of force to shove in, and then once it's in it's very loose in the socket. The variable kickstand is great, just very small. Works fantastic on a desk, not so much in your lap.

Screen: Wonderful. Colors look almost identical to the Surface. It's maybe very slightly less crisp than the Surface, but you don't really see it unless you've got them side by side. The screen is the same resolution, but noticeably bigger than the Surface. The Tap 11 has a 10-1/8" x 5-11/16" (257mm x 144mm) display, while the Surface has a 9-1/4" x 5-1/4" (235mm x 132mm) display. In the desktop mode I use 100% font scaling (instead of the default 150%), and its quite manageable on the Tap 11 but difficult on the Surface, due to the different display size. 

Pen: If you're an artist, you can stop here: get the Surface. In OneNote, I don't notice a difference between the two. However, NTrig uses Microsoft's pen API, whereas Wacom uses both Microsoft's and the WinTAB API. Adobe applications use only the WinTAB API. Meaning, the pen works in Photoshop/Illustrator, but there's no pressure sensitivity. I've tried installing various drivers and whatnot and I can't get it to work. I'm not an artist, so this isn't a limiting factor to me, but it is annoying that Sony went with an NTrig pen instead of a Wacom. The tracking is also far slower on the NTrig, so you still get problems like this: 

Keyboard: The Tap 11's keyboard is great. It feel almost like a normal, though maybe cheap, laptop keyboard. Key spacing is nice, stroke length is decent, and there are few "dead zones" (where you press a key but it doesn't actually register a keypress. I've noticed one area on the Enter key and that's it). Compared to the Surface keyboard, the spacing is much better, and the fact that there are gaps between the keys is so much nicer than the Surface's keyboard which has no gaps. The trackpad is almost unusably bad though. Just use your finger or the pen. The magnetic attachment works well and it keeps the keyboard/cover in place very securely. The keyboard doesn't use bluetooth, but its own radio that can be turned on and off in Windows. I'm not sure how I feel yet about the fact that the keyboard does not hinge off the screen like on the Surface. Also, you can't charge the keyboard without placing it on top of the screen, causing the computer to be unusable as the batteries charge. I imagine this could get annoying. 

Performance and battery life: I don't have any hard numbers, but performance seems to be on par with the Surface. I rarely get any hangups or pauses, even when multitasking between Chrome, Mail, Photoshop, and Reader. You can find battery life tests online, but I'm estimating about 4 hours for the Tap 11 and 6 hours for the Surface. 

Overall: I'm conflicted. The Surface has impeccable build quality, feels very sturdy, and uses a Wacom pen. The Tap 11 is far thinner and lighter and has a significantly bigger screen. But the build quality concerns me...I don't want this to break in 3 months. And for that reason, I think I'm going to be sticking with the Surface...but I'm not really sure. 

Feel free to PM or leave a reply here if you'd like to see any specific tests run. I have about 2 more weeks before I have to make up my mind!

Surface Pro 2: First impressions

 Back in my callow youth, I used to lease all my cars because I loved the thrill of driving a new vehicle every two or three years.

I was on my third or fourth lease when I happened upon a vehicle that I really liked. So when my short term was up, I decided I definitely wanted to drive the same make again.

Unfortunately, since only two years had elapsed, the style hadn’t changed much and I couldn’t afford to step up to a higher-end model. So I settled for the same make and model.

I’m sure that new vehicle had a different paint job, but it was one of the least satisfactory new car experiences I’d ever had. It smelled nice and fresh, but it felt so familiar. And worse, I don’t think anyone I knew ever noticed I was driving a different car.

I’ve had many tech upgrade experiences like that too. It’s almost inevitable when you absolutely have to have the latest and greatest: many under the hood changes that sound so good on paper are barely perceptible in real world use.

My Surface Pro 2 finally arrived a couple of hours ago and as reviews have been popping up around the web since Sunday, I’ve been sorely tempted to write this post sight unseen. Because I knew exactly what I was going to think about the Surface Pro 2 intellectually and how I was going to react to it emotionally. Because I’ve been here before: it’s the same way I felt the first time I spent God-knows-how-much to upgrade my 68000 Amiga to a 68020 processor. 

“Is that all there is?”

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The Surface Pro 2 resting in its new position in the foreground

The Surface Pro 2 addresses most of the internal issues I’d had with the original: it’s faster, with a more efficient Haswell processor, it has twice as much RAM and twice as much storage space. And it even features the nice touches of a dual position kickstand, a brighter, more accurate display and Dolby audio.

It is a great device that any Windows artist should have in his or her mobile arsenal.

But it looks almost exactly the same as the original and it’s impossible to tell them apart unless you turn them over to inspect the kickstand: Windows logo on the first model, Surface emblazoned proudly on the new one.

That’s it. No racing stripes, no new tail lights.

The Surface Pro screen is still an inch or two smaller than I’d like. The tablet is still a bit thicker and heavier than it ought to be. And its sharp front and rear edges don’t invite caressing like some competitors’ tablets do.

So a certain feeling of letdown is inevitable. For about $400 more than my first tablet cost, just a few skin deep alterations might have helped ease this buyer’s remorse.

The good news is that I'm confident this feeling will pass. Once my docking station arrives, the Surface Pro 2 will be my primary workstation for any project that doesn’t require discrete graphics. That’s a lofty goal that I would never have dreamed of setting for my original.

So in a couple of months’ time, will I regret the upgrade? I don’t think so. And knowing tech cycles, I'll probably be looking forward to the Surface Pro 3.

Do I recommend the Surface Pro 2? Absolutely. For the moment, it is the best and most affordable Windows 8 mobile creative solution available.

Should you upgrade from the Surface Pro? There’s the rub. If you feel at all constrained by the limited RAM or storage, yes. If money’s no object, yes. But if you want better battery life, the $200 power cover may be a wiser use of your money. And if it's only about the allure of the latest and greatest, keep your money in your pocket for a while longer to see what other options appear on the horizon.

Over the next few days, I’ll be running benchmarks and installing all my graphics applications to ensure that they’re still compatible and I’ll publish those findings as soon as possible. In the meantime, if you’ve gotten your Surface Pro 2, I’d appreciate hearing from you and reading your thoughts.

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Our Surface Pro's crowded Start screen (left) vs. the nearly pristine Surface Pro 2's out of the box Start screen. I chose a red background to help tell them apart.

Traditional illustrator gives Surface Pro a thumbs up

If you've been reading this blog long enough, you'll know that I love to post reviews by full-time digital or traditional artists. 

I may think the Surface Pro, another Windows 8 tablet or a specific software tool is great, but I've never had to make a living from my art the way many of these talented individuals do. 

So when I read an opinion from someone who can bring that professional perspective to bear, I sit up and pay attention and hope that you will too.

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Earlier this week, Michelle Kondrich, a Denver-based  freelance illustrator specializing in ink and watercolor paintings, posted a detailed review of her first couple of months with the Surface Pro.

" Overall, the Surface Pro does exactly what I was looking for in a drawing tablet," Kondrich writes. "The verdict is in and I’m very happy with it."

Michelle told me via Twitter (@MissIllustrator) that "Digital painting is still something I'm perfecting." Judging by her first couple of illustrations seen here, she's being falsely modest.

To see more of her traditional work, check out Michelle's portfolio.

Bert Monroy sings the praises of mobile creativity

In case you've ever debated the merits of the tablet form factor for graphics artists, photorealist Bert Monroy sets you straight in this video from Wacom.

In case you've never seen them, check out Monroy's excellent tutorials on Lynda.com. They're a real treat. 

Small annoying things about the Surface Pro that I don't expect will be fixed Monday

Like a lot of you, I'm extremely excited about the forthcoming Surface Pro refresh and new peripherals we expect to be announced Monday. 

The Haswell processor should significantly boost the Surface Pro's battery life while reducing its heat output, overcoming the current hardware's two biggest limitations. 

Improved graphics and additional RAM will be mere icing on the cake. 

However, if Paul Thurrott is right and the Surface Pro 2's case is exactly the same, I'll still feel a twinge of disappointment for the missed opportunity to correct some other glaring design flaws.  

Here are the top things I would change: 

The power connector 

I hate the damn thing! Because the Surface Pro's sides are beveled, it's next to impossible to plug the power adapter in without stopping to make sure it is correctly aligned. And even if it is, you will still have to mess with the shallow magnetic connector until it snaps into place.

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Image from Microsoft. How many other devices do you know need instructions on how to properly attach a power cord?

The mini display port connector 

Not a fault of the connector per se, but another consequence of the beveled edges: a standard mini display port adapter won't fit snugly, requiring Microsoft's adapter which retails for $40.  

Of course you can probably whittle down the plastic of a generic plug to make it work, but who has time for that?

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Generic minidisplay adapters won't do because the connector on the left is angled 45 degrees.

The sharp screen edge 

Once again, due to those pesky beveled sides, the Surface Pro screen's edges are unusually sharp and can really cut into your wrists if you cradle it for a long time while drawing. 

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Image from Mashable. That sharp screen edge will threaten to cut you to the quick.

Those pesky beveled edges 

The root of all the above mentioned flaws. No other tablet on the market is as angular as the Surface Pro. Now we know why. 

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Image from Gizmodo. Beveled edges the root of all Surface Pro's design flaws?

I would love to see a Windows 8 tablet fashioned along the lines of the original Nexus 7. Its textured back is so comfortable in the hand. Many critics are deriding the stitched leather backs of the new Samsung Notes, but I'm certain those will be more comfortable to hold for long periods of time than the Surface Pro. 

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Image from HardwareHeaven.com. Love those pinholes on the back of the first generation Nexus 7.

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Samsung Note 10.1 2014 Edition. Say what you will, about Android art apps, but at least this will be comfortable to cradle.

The type and touch covers 

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What's to like? They barely work as covers, they don't work on your lap and they get in the way while drawing.

As covers, they pretty much suck. A clam shell edge would make them infinitely more useful. 

They need to be connected to work. Jonathan Case has illustrated an ingenious approach for keeping a connected keyboard out of the way while drawing. I just carry a bluetooth keyboard around and hope that my screen isn't scratched in transit. 

The type and touch covers should feature bluetooth capability so you can continue typing even if they're detached. No excuses. 

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Logitech's Ultrathin Keyboard Cover for iPad actually envelopes and protects the tablet and connects via bluetooth.

  The screen dimensions

Widescreen 16:9 sounds fantastic if you're marketing a movie consumption device. But in practice, the aspect ratio is very awkward for most uses. 

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Reducing the size of that screen bezel would yield a much nicer screen size.

Microsoft could increase the screen size an inch or so merely by reducing the bezel size (although you'd also have to move the Windows/home button).

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Ok, so none of this is going to be corrected Monday, but solving these annoyances soon will be critical if Microsoft is going to compete effectively in the tablet space.  I know I'll jump to the first Windows 8 device that combines the rumored power of the Surface Pro 2 with a design aesthetic closer to Apple's.

UPDATE:  Facebook friend David Botos reminded me that I neglected one glaring item in my list of Surface Pro flaws: the lack of a silo for the stylus.

The current choice of sharing the power connector with the pen holder is woefully inadequate. I no longer use the Surface Pro pen on a regular basis, but I hate having to pack (and risk losing) my Wacom feel stylus on day trips. If the standard pen was tucked safely away, I wouldn't hesitate to use it for the occasional scribble. 

Wacom Cintiq Companion Hybrid side by side comparison

YouTube producer and artist Shogmaster has published a great video comparing the new Wacom Cintiq Companion Hybrid mobile tablet (Android 4.2.1) with Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 (Android 4.1), and the Fujitsu T902 (Windows 8 Pro). 

His conclusions are pretty much in line with most of our readers': it's all about the apps and the Hybrid's price and form factor just don't make sense.

Clip Studio Paint points the way to the ideal Surface Pro UI

UPDATE: I've received confirmation from Smith Micro that these UI changes will be part of the Manga Studio 5 updates scheduled to be released this fall. 

The Clip Studio Paint 1.2.7 video we posted earlier this week does a fair job of demonstrating the design changes that vastly improve its suitability for the Surface Pro and other small screen Windows tablets. 

Although we already have Manga Studio 5 EX in house, we just had to acquire the Japanese version in order to take a closer look at its strengths and weaknesses. 

Clearly the developers at Celsys understand their clientele and they are rushing headlong to provide the best Windows 8 drawing and painting experience bar none.  And they are achieving this by doing what few developers (including Microsoft) have attempted: cleverly blending the best design paradigms of desktop and Metro style interfaces.

I still haven't risked installing the Windows 8.1 preview build on the Surface Pro, but one of its enhancements is supposed to be better desktop scaling capability. By default in Windows 8, magnification is set to 150% but this only affects font size of desktop applications.  As I've often complained about software like Photoshop CC, icons remain pitifully microscopic.

The improvements to CSP 1.2.7 vs. Manga Studio 5 EX are evident the moment the software is loaded on the Surface Pro. Not only is text magnified, but icons are also significantly larger.

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The new airy default layout of Clip Studio Paint 1.2.7, hopefully coming soon to Manga Studio.

All icons in the toolbar and along the command bar are doubled in size and very easy to target with either the stylus or fingertip. Brush settings and color palette are organized into a sub-menu next to the toolbar. Layer settings, scene information, actions and the materials pallet are all stacked neatly along the far right of the screen.

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The new menu bar toggle button hides the title bar with the first tap. 

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A second tap hides the menu bar. 

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Tapping the new application menu button with the stylus reveals a menu dropdown that is much easier to navigate and tap with the pen. 

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In one of the cleverest innovations, Clip Studio Paint 1.2.7 is able to differentiate between a pen and finger touch. Tapping the same menu icon with the fingertip reveals an icon-based touch friendly menu screen. 

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Tapping the file menu reveals further menus that comply with Windows 8's Metro design standards.

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The toggle pen & touch button determines how the software reacts to the multiple inputs. Although Manga Studio 5 has excellent palm rejection, it is still possible to make stray marks on the canvas. With CSP 1.2.7, I could not get the software to draw with my fingers no matter how I tried. Clearly this is possible, as seen in the video, but it must require a key combination or other modifier which I wasn't able to decipher. 

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The flyouts adjacent to numeric settings now result in a large touchpad for easy input: one less reason to reach for the bluetooth keyboard. 

These are but a few of the UI improvements that I've been able to detect after a couple of hours playing with the software. Of course, it's not 100% perfect and a few rough spots could use ironing out. 

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The sub-tool flyouts (A) are still a bit too narrow. The scroll bars (B) are also too narrow to target reliably, even with the stylus. The information at the bottom of the screen (C), which I admit I don't understand, needs to be taller and should toggle on and off. One of the few innovations I'm not thrilled about are the anti-aliasing and stabilization settings (D) which are now represented as icons. Stabilization values can be set numerically, but it requires an additional tap to reveal a slider and numeric touchpad.  

The last but certainly not least improvement in this new version is the ability to pan, zoom and rotate the canvas with your fingertips as you draw. It works so fluidly, you'll almost be convinced you're working with paper. 

Without sacrificing one iota of the power and flexibility of its previous desktop versions, Celsys has managed to layer on tablet-centric design influences that set Clip Studio Paint well above its competition. We can only hope other developers follow suit quickly. 

As I wrote Monday, "This release is the first product that I've experienced that fully harnesses the potential of full Windows compatibility with a touch-friendly interface." I believe this is the design paradigm that will not only give Windows 8 tablet computing the toehold it needs, but it may finally compel power users to forego Apple and iOS.