List of Windows devices with pen support expanding

Now that Windows 8.1 is released, the Surface Pro 2 is in the mail and other PC makers are rushing to get new machines out the door in time for the holidays, it's an excellent time to take stock of the options available for Windows artists.

The good news is that the list of tablets, convertibles and devices with active digitizers (pressure sensitive pen support) has grown dramatically since the first Surface Pro was released.

The challenge now is to keep track of all these new options and the huge variety of configurations and potential "gotchas." 

I've been wanting to assemble a list like this as a companion to the "What Runs, What Doesn't" feature, but it is a huge endeavor, especially since many manufacturers don't seem to think pen support is all that important. 

Fortunately for us, a couple of super users at TabletPCReview.com, JoeS and Mesosphere, have been curating just such a list since last summer.  The list, which currently details 37 devices with active digitizers, is now also available as an Excel spreadsheet here.

Because it's so large, the file is awkward to print legibly. I took the liberty of reformatting it slightly and eliminated many columns in the version below. This is a great resource. I encourage you to check out the complete file and also to drop by the TabletPCReview forums and thank Joe and M. for their efforts.  And of course, if you spot any errors or omissions, please let them know.

Updated with fix? Users reporting loss of pen control with Windows 8.1 update

As we wrote in previous articles, updating your Surface Pro to Windows 8.1 will delete the Wacom Feel IT drivers. 

For most users, simply installing the latest set published by Wacom on October 7 will restore pressure sensitivity in Photoshop, etc.  And for applications like Manga Studio or ArtRage 4, the native pen drivers may be all you need.

However, we're starting to hear from several users who say the update has killed pen control altogether. 

The problem appears to be related to having a keyboard cover attached while updating. I use a bluetooth keyboard with my Surface Pro, so I haven't experienced the issue. 

Here is the trouble thread from the Microsoft community http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/surface/forum/surfpro-surfupdate/surface-pro-windows-81-final-update-pen-doesnt/5e0cee89-c243-4afa-bbca-55a3ad471a2c 

If you have experienced this issue or have found a solution, please leave a comment below. 

UPDATE: Before updating to Windows 8.1, it may be beneficial to completely remove the Wacom drivers from your Surface Pro. This link contains useful information for how to thoroughly delete any files from your system: http://forum.wacom.eu/viewtopic.php?t=7926 

UPDATE 2:  Working with Facebook friend Paulo Dekkers this morning, we were able to get Windows 8.1 updated with pen support working.

Paulo made sure to delete the Wacom preferences file and then uninstalled the drivers (as described in step 1, here).  

The remaining steps were performed with the keyboard cover disconnected! 

It's probably not necessary for most users, but Paulo reverted to Windows 8 using his original backup media. He then confirmed that the pen worked correctly with the native drivers. 

Paulo then ran the Windows 8.1 update and the native drivers work fine with both the keyboard cover off or connected. 

I haven't heard whether he intends to reinstall the Wacom drivers, but it shouldn't be a problem. 

This procedure is similar to one performed by Twitter follower @JohnSlaughter, so there definitely seems to be some issue that is a combination of the Wacom drivers not being deleted entirely and the keyboard cover being connected during the Windows update.  

Let us know if this resolves your issue or you spot any other issues with your update.

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Confirmed: Sony VAIO Flip 15A definitely an option for Manga Studio users

Engadget has just published the first review of the new Sony VAIO Flip 15, the Windows 8 convertible laptop that offers the biggest active digitizer short of a dedicated tablet monitor.

This is a gorgeous machine and surprisingly low priced for its specs. The N-Trig equipped 15A is now available for pre-order for $1799.

Just take a look at these specs: 

• 4th gen Intel® Core™ i7-4500U (1.80GHz / 3.00GHz)
• Windows 8 Pro 64-bit
• 15.5" over Full HD IPS touch display (2880 x 1620)
• 16GB RAM, 1TB (5400rpm) + 16GB NAND flash HHD
• NVIDIA® GeForce® GT 735M w/ Optimus™ graphics (2GB)
• Digitizer stylus, HDMI® out, USB 3.0, NFC

I played with two current generation N-Trig equipped systems at the local Sony Store last week and was very disappointed with the accuracy running Fresh Paint, the only program available to test. 

I'll definitely go back once the Flip 15A is released to give it a thorough test. 

So what do you think? Do the 256 levels of pressure sensitivity render this laptop useless for artists or does the large screen size make up for it? 

UPDATE October 16 Sony offers a 1920 x 1080 version of the Flip 15A that retails for $1290 after inclusion of the optional Active Pen. 

I had a chance to go back to the Sony Store yesterday and installed the Clip Studio Paint 1.2.7 English language demo on a Sony VAIO Duo 13 and it ran flawlessly. I'll admit I may not be the best judge but pressure sensitivity felt about the same to me on the N-Trig than it does on my Surface Pro.

The Sony Duo is bundled with ArtRage Studio 3.5 and its palm rejection is horrible. According to this thread on the ArtRage community site, the company has recently issued a free update the older software which may correct the problems I saw.  The paid upgrade to the current version may also address the issue.

Other users have complained about N-Trig compatibility with Photoshop, although Wintab drivers are reportedly available at N-Trig.com. (I couldn't find Sony-specific drivers there).

Digitizer preference aside, the Flip 15A or any of its Haswell brethren clearly outdistance the Surface Pro 2 spec-wise. 

So bottom line, if you're only interested in working with Manga Studio or Clip Studio Paint, the Sony VAIO Flip 15A is a real option. If you need compatibility with other graphics applications, the situation is much murkier.

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Sony VAIO Duo 13 running Clip Studio Paint 1.2.7. Wacom digitizer isn't missed at all. 

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.

Logitech's Ultrathin Touch Mouse is a great traveling companion

When I evaluate whether a particular program runs or not on the Surface Pro, I test the ease and reliability of either pen or touch navigation. 

As I've often complained here, Adobe Photoshop definitely runs on the Surface Pro, but I can't recommend it because of its tiny touch targets that are even difficult to hit with a stylus. And I've been corresponding with the developers of the Unity game engine for months regarding the unreliability of pen input on that otherwise excellent program. 

With the imminent release of the Surface Pro 2 next week, our favorite tablet is now powerful enough to consider as a desktop or laptop replacement, but that also means it's time to occasionally put down the pen and pick up a mouse.

Microsoft has announced the Arc Touch Mouse Surface Edition for $70, but it's not yet available.  I'm also not convinced by that device's shape, which seems like it would be awkward to throw into a briefcase for travel.

This week, Logitech sent us a review copy of its Ultrathin Touch Mouse T630. Also, retailing for $70, this sleek little puck makes a perfect desktop or traveling companion for the Surface Pro. Not only can you throw it into a briefcase, you can actually slide it into your rear pants pocket.

At just over 3 inches long and 2 inches wide , the T630 has a full touch surface that registers nine different touch gestures.The Bluetooth mouse can be paired with two separate devices and comes with a USB charging cable. It will operate up to 10 days on a full charge and one minute of charging will yield an hour of additional use time. 

I'll continue to rate programs as "working or not" if they can't accurately register pen input, but having an Ultrathin Touch Mouse T630 at its side definitely broadens the appeal and practicality of the Surface Pro. 

 Ultrathin Mouse is  super-thin and feather-light with a design that slips nearly invisibly into a computer sleeve or even the pocket of your skinniest jeans.

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So Windows 8.1 is officially available...

...But you're a tech enthusiast and already knew that, right? 

I'm keeping a low profile today waiting for the dust to settle. And if you're on a deadline, it's probably a good idea to wait for the furor to die down before attempting to update your production machines. 

I've updated four systems so far: my Surface Pro (from Windows 8.1 RTM), my Surface RT (from 8.1 Preview), a Dell desktop (from Windows 8.1 RTM) and a custom-built desktop (from Windows 8). No problems whatsoever to report, except that the latter system required almost two hours to update. 

If you're moving from Windows 8 to 8.1, remember that the installation will remove your Wacom Feel IT drivers, so you will need to reinstall those. 

Intel has yet to update its HD Graphics 4000 driver to Windows 8.1, so we can assume that what installs with the OS is the latest and greatest. Programs like Mischief 1.08 which previously required a separate graphics driver update run fine under Windows 8.1.

Celsys today released a Windows 8.1 patch for Clip Studio Paint, Clip Studio Action and Clip Studio Coordinate. This is for the Japanese versions only. The English language site does not mention version 1.2.8, but I'll report back as soon as it becomes available. We can only assume that Manga Studio will be updated shortly thereafter. 

If you absolutely must have the latest, greatest version now, a fan-made English translation of CSP 1.2.8 is already available here. 

If you spot any issues after you update your Surface Pro or other Windows 8 system, please report it in the comments section below and we'll do our best to verify and find a fix. 

Happy updating! 

UPDATE: Fix for Wacom Feel IT driver Surface Pro jitters?

UPDATE October 16:  The problems with latest set of Wacom Feel IT drivers for the Surface Pro and other penabled tablet pcs are apparently caused by issues with upgrade installations.

I was contacted yesterday by Wacom representative Mike Bagdanoff.  After asking a series of diagnostic questions, he concluded "You have found an interesting upgrade issue."

Bagdanoff detailed the following two fixes: 

1) in the Programs & Features control panel, find the ISD Tablet entry and select it, choose "Change" at the top of the window and in the "Tablet Preference File Utility" that pops up, select "Remove" in either the "My Preferences" or "All User Preferences" sections. Wait for the window to close on its own and then you are golden.

or 

2) uninstall the Wacom driver completely through the Programs & Features control panel. Then reinstall the 7.1.2-9 driver and you are good to go

I followed the first set of steps last night and as of this morning, the pen jitters have not returned.

 

The only issue I have with the current drivers is perhaps due to their greater calibration accuracy. 

 

I like to use autohide on my desktop taskbar. In prior driver releases, hovering the pen at the bottom of the screen activates and unhides the taskbar. After running the calibration tool, it is impossible to dip the cursor below the screen, thereby making it impossible to unhide the taskbar. 

 

A simple workaround is to use a finger tip, But Bagdanoff suggested I tap just above the two bottom targets in the calibration tool. That worked but it also introduces a shift between the pen tip and cursor that increases as you work towards the bottom of the screen. 

Please let me know right away if you spot any other issues with the 7.1.2-9 pen drivers. It's encouraging to know that Wacom are working to keep the Surface Pro and penabled tablet community happy.

UPDATE October 13: Several other readers and Twitter followers have reported similar problems with these pen drivers.

Thanks to Sam Caraballo for providing the official US link to Wacom's legacy drivers here. Under the Tablet Model pulldown menu, select Tablet PC.

I've rolled my Surface Pro back to version 7.1.1-16, released in July and erratic pen behavior has not resurfaced.

Interestingly, after uninstalling the current set of drivers, I decided to test the default Windows 8.1 settings and found that Manga Studio works perfectly without the Wacom download. Unity 4.3b5, which has always had issues with recognizing the pen's input, worked better but not perfectly. Adobe Photoshop CC did not recognize pen pressure with the default drivers.

UPDATE October 12: Since installing these drivers on my Surface Pro (running Windows 8.1 RTM) I've been experiencing periodic issues. After an hour or so of inactivity, the cursor becomes jittery and erratic. Selecting a menu item becomes an adventure and some clicks are registered multiple times. Rebooting the Surface Pro corrects the problem.

One Twitter follower has confirmed the problem. Anyone else seeing this behavior? I've reached out to Wacom, but haven't gotten any response. 

My advice is to ignore this update until the issue is resolved or to at least make sure to have a backup of the older driver installers, as I can't seem to find them anywhere online. 

If you know where I can download the previous version, please put the link in the comments section below. 

* * * 

ORIGINAL POST October 7

In anticipation of Windows 8.1, Wacom has updated its enhanced tablet drivers for the Surface Pro and other penabled devices. The new driver release is version 7.1.2-9, dated October 7. 

Marketed as Wacom Feel IT technology, these drivers enable pressure sensitivity in Adobe Photoshop, Corel Painter and other graphics applications. 

According to the driver documentation, these items were fixed in 7.1.2-9 release: 

1. Improved calibration in some OEM tablets.

2. Memory leak with some tablets using pen.

3. Improved sleep and resume performance in some OEM tablets.

Wacom cautions that some OEMs are "releasing new tablet hardware that has not been tested with this driver." We certainly hope they're not referring to Microsoft and the new Surface Pro 2 due out later this month.

Installation on the Surface Pro running Windows 8.1 RTM went smoothly. After running the new calibration tool, I did encounter an issue with Sketchbook Pro 6.2. When I first ran the program, pen strokes were offset by at least an inch from the cursor. Fortunately, downloading and installing Sketchbook Pro 6.2.3 corrected the issue.

Download the Wacom Feel IT drivers here. 

I'll update this post if I encounter any other problems, but please let us know in the comments section below if you run into any trouble. 

Thanks to Twitter follower Joshua Drummond (@cakeburger) for the news tip! 

Surface Pro 1: What Runs and What Doesn't

NOTE: I stopped updating this post in October, 2013. However, much of what runs on the Surface Pro 2 should also work with the original Surface Pro. Applications that have had compatibility issues with display drivers such as Autodesk Mudbox will likely break if you attempt to update the SP1.

One of the principal objectives of this blog is to help take the guesswork out of making your purchasing decision. I'm taking the time to install and determine whether these creative applications run so you won't have to. 

Here's what I've installed and tested so far: 

Adobe

• Photoshop CC, CS6 - runs, pressure sensitivity corrected with Wacom Feel driver update. 
• Illustrator CC, CS6  - runs. 
• Flash Professional CC - runs. 

ArtRage 4 - runs, recommended

Autodesk 

•  3DS Max 2014, 2013 - runs
• Maya 2014, 2013  - runs
• Maya LT 2014 - runs
• Mudbox 2014, 2013  - incompatible, requires discrete graphics
• Mudbox 2010 x64 - runs
• Sketchbook Designer 2014, 2103  - runs, pressure sensitivity corrected with Wacom Feel driver update
• Sketchbook Pro 6.2.3  - runs, recommended
• Softimage 2014, 2013  - runs

Blender  2.68 - runs, not recommended: interface tool small, not scaleable, scaling reacts to pen movement

Celsys

• Clip Studio Paint 1.2.7 - runs, recommended (Japanese language)
• Clip Studio Modeler Beta 0.9.0 - runs (Japanese language)

Corel

• Corel Draw x6 - runs
• Corel Painter x3 -runs

Gimp 2.8.6 - runs 

Lumion Keyshot 4.1.35 - runs

Luxology/Foundry Modo 701, 601 SP5 - runs, set input device to tablet 

Maxon Cinema 4D Studio R14 - TBD

Newtek Lightwave 11.5 - runs, with pen control issues

Pilgway 3D-Coat 4.0.03 - runs  

Pixologic

• Sculptris Alpha 6 - Intel HD4000 driver required
• ZBrush 4R5, 4R6 - runs

61 Solutions Mischief 1.08 - runs

Smith Micro

• Anime Studio Pro 9.5 - runs
• Manga Studio 5, 5 EX - runs, recommended (update to 5.0.3)
• Motion Artist 1.1 - runs
• Poser Pro 2010 - runs

Speedy Painter 3.0.7 - runs

TeamUP (Lagoa) MultiOptics - runs, Chrome only

Toonboom Animate Pro 3 - runs

Trimble Sketchup 2013 - runs 

Triple Squid Software Design Moments of Inspiration 2.0 (Moi3D) - runs  

Unity Pro 4.3.0b5 - runs, touch response unreliable. Works with mouse, capacitive stylus.

Would you like me to test any other programs? Please leave a comment below.

Surface Pro and Wacom Cintiq Companion go toe to toe

Ever since the Wacom Cintiq Companion was announced, readers have been asking for a side by side comparison with our beloved Surface Pro. 

I can't afford a Companion and a Surface Pro 2, so I've been waiting for someone to post a comparison.  

Finally artist Noah Bradley has provided the first side by side review video. Hopefully a lot more will follow.

Enjoy! 

A quick video review of Wacom's Cintiq Companion and Microsoft's Surface Pro. Both of these machines are great--I really don't have much to complain about. I've had a joy working on both of them and highly recommend them for any artist who wants a bit of mobility with their digital painting setup.