Intuos2 Goes Platinum

The shiny new Platinum version of Wacom's Intuos2 graphics tablet is designed to look right at home in a digital artist's workspace. But don't let its pretty face fool you: This is one serious input device.

I tested a $370 shipping example of the 6-by-8-inch version of the Intuos2 Platinum Edition, which provides an aesthetic overhaul of the existing Intuos2 line. The 9-by-12-inch Platinum Edition is priced at $490; smaller, non-Platinum units start at $200.

Though primarily the province of designers, graphics tablets such as the Intuos2 are an excellent alternative to the ubiquitous mouse for computer users looking for more-precise cursor control, or battling repetitive stress injuries. Except for the scroll wheel, the Intuos2 pen duplicates every mouse function, and offers pressure sensitivity as well.

If you still need a mouse, the Intuos2 doubles your input pleasure by including Wacom's cordless, three-button 2D Mouse, which retails for $50 when sold separately (the 9-by-12-inch Intuos2 comes with the five-button 4D Mouse, which is normally $70).

Wacom improved the Intuos2's looks with the Platinum Edition, but the software bundle remains the same. It features Adobe Photoshop Elements 2, Corel Painter Classic, and Wacom's own brush presets for Photoshop. Intuos2 users also qualify for discounts on design software; for example, you can buy Corel Painter 8 for the upgrade price of $149 (versus the full version at $299).

If your work doesn't require a graphics tablet, justifying the Intuos2's cost can be difficult. But if price isn't an obstacle, you'll be hard-pressed to find a graphics tablet that does the job better.