Genius MousePen i608 Graphics Tablet (Silver)

Let me preface this review by saying I am not the primary user for this tablet. I got it as a gift for someone who is just getting into graphic design but already exels with a mouse. I figured, hey, a tablet could work wonders. I will update this review once the intended recipient has given me more feedback on it, but from my own testing I was pretty impressed. I'll highlight my major points:Pros:- Price (can't stress this enough, you get more than what you pay for I am sure of it)- Works on Windows and Mac- Lightweight- Responsive (pen and mouse)- Sleek design (looks pretty)- Lots of features (i.e. hotkey customization which I have yet to try out)- Bundled with trial digital editing software (CS4 and Corel)- If you get the most recent driver, it has a nifty note-taking tool that lets you draw on whatever is on-screen- Very compatible with recent software. I have it functioning on Manga Studio EX4, Photoshop CS5, and Adobe Sketchbook Pro 2011. It works like a charm.Cons:- Holding the pen takes some getting used to without accidentally clicking the buttons- MOST IMPORTANT "CON": Installation of drivers. I must have spent 2 or 3 hours trying to figure out why it wasn't working with the most recent software. I'm relatively tech-savvy so when I saw that the package of the tablet itself was labeled "Please download drivers online before connecting tablet" (or something to that extent), I did just that. The problem is, when you search "Genius i608 drivers", it takes you to an official webpage with *outdated* drivers. I was wondering why I was having problems that (upon research) people were having 2-3 years ago.***This is probably the most crucial thing to take from this review***This tablet works just fine if you get the correct driver. To do this navigate to the official site yourself (geniusnet.com), go to Products > Graphics Tablet > MousePen i608x. Then on the left column, click Download, go to the Driver tab, and there should be just one official up-to-date driver there (well, two, one for Mac, one for Windows). Download and install that driver and you should be all set for your modern digital editing compatibility needs.I only wish I could have saved myself a few hours of searching and troubleshooting if the site was organized a little better (or if they labeled old drivers with more details or else archived them entirely). That was my only problem with this device. Otherwise, it works great and I highly recommend it.

I'm a total newbie to pen and tablet products, so I did a LOT of research to see what was out there, and I wanted something under $100 since it was my first purchase. After reading all the reviews on Amazon and also on Cnet, I chose this one, and I'm very happy with my choice. Like everyone else has mentioned, the batteries arrive DOA for some reason, so I had to put in fresh batteries before the pen or mouse would work, but that's my only complaint. The installation was super easy, and I was up and running in minutes after the install. The mouse has a nice weighted feel, and the middle button/wheel is better than on any other mouse I've ever used--it really glides. Once I got used to the feel of the pen, it became second nature to use, and I've been very happy with the results when using it with Photoshop. The third-party software that comes with it is "demo" only--- very limited demos that require you to purchase the upgrade to get the full use from, so don't buy this tablet for the software add-ons. If you already have Photoshop, or some other drawing program, you're good to go.I'm not sure what more the other pads could offer for more money, other than a larger tablet. This tablet, while about the size of a school binder, is a little big, I've manage to fit it nicely next to my keyboard, and using the mouse has been as easy as before with just my old mouse. The tablet is nice and thin, and has a sleek feel. The "work space" of the tablet is surrounded by programmable keys which, I must confess, I've not worked with yet, however the demonstration I've seen of the table on Cnet shows that these keys are easy to use, and can be programmed with functions from the programs you use most often.I would recommend this tablet to anyone who is looking for their first tablet, the price is great, and I think it's a great value for the price.

This unit is horrible and it failed on me after light and minor use. First the pen stopped working and fell apart then the mouse stopped worked and then I had to throw it away and buy a new mouse because I could not afford to buy another tablet after you guys sent me such a poor product, I was broke. I feel really bad that I wasted my money on this unit and it didn't even last me. Not HAPPY AT ALL