Why let Microsoft or Samsung dictate the creative Windows tablet space when the wunderkinds at Wacom can ‘re-invent’ the stylus experience and create their own top-tier tablet?
Promising the ‘freedom to create anywhere.’ Wacom has thrown down the gauntlet to all other tablet makers - even Apple - with its own Wacom MobileStudio Pro tablets.
Wacom’s MobileStudio Pro is billed as a ‘new line of lightweight, powerful mobile computers with Wacom’s new pen technology for busy, on-the-go professional creators of digital content seeking the freedom to take their studio with them, wherever and whenever they go,’ and promising ‘unparalleled feel and accuracy to any creative session and users will delight in the results they achieve.’
A key feature is the ‘newly-designed Wacom Pro Pen 2, with 4x higher pen accuracy and pressure sensitivity than the company’s previous professional pen, enhanced resolution, leading-edge graphics, excellent colour performance, 3-D camera and other innovations, Wacom MobileStudio Pro is the ultimate creative tool for today’s serious 2-D, 3-D and CAD artists and designers.’
{loadposition alex08}
Wacom proudly boasts that its ‘family of 13.3" and 15.6" MobileStudio Pro computers [can] fit virtually every professional’s creative computer and budgetary needs (starting at $2,649 AUD).’
We’re told there are five configurations to choose from.
These are three 13.3" models which ‘combine maximum mobility with high performance and colour accuracy’ and two 15.6" models which ‘deliver a larger work area, 4K resolution, high colour performance as well as superior NVIDIA Quadro graphics.’
Bundled with Windows 10, Wacom says ‘MobileStudio Pro has the power professional creatives need to run industry-standard applications such as Photoshop and Illustrator as well as demanding 3-D creative software applications.’
Ed Neumann, Senior Vice President of Wacom’s Creative Branded Business said: “Unlike most general-purpose mobile tablets created for the mass market, Wacom’s MobileStudio Pro was designed specifically for the needs of the creative professional and how they work.
"Our long-standing relationship with the professional creative community enabled us to develop a game-changing solution for the creative market that exceeds customer expectations and provides the best, most natural and precise creative experience imaginable."
Here’s Wacom’s promotional video - plenty more afterwards including extra detail on the new pen/stylus technology - please read on.
New Pen Technology
Wacom says its MobileStudio Pro is the first product to offer the company’s latest pen technology, the Pro Pen 2.
Billed as ‘delivering 4x greater accuracy and pressure sensitivity than the previous Pro Pen,’ Wacom says it ‘continues to focus on pen performance and creating an intuitive experience that is free-flowing and transcends the digital divide.’
We’re told that ‘users will also discover virtually lag-free tracking which helps one find that creative groove faster and maintain focus for longer periods of time.’
Neumann said: ”Wacom revolutionised pen input over 30 years ago when it introduced the first pressure-sensitive pen and we continue to provide the ultimate design and creative experience for our customers.
"Whether doing straight 2D illustration or sculpting a 3D model, we are confident that MobileStudio Pro users will find the new digital pen to feel closer to traditional media as ever before."
3-D Ready
Then there’s the 3D Ready feature. Aimed at ‘industrial designers, engineers and 3-D modellers,’ Wacom says they will ‘find a host of features in the MobileStudio Pro that will make their workflow more efficient and their productivity higher.’
While individual models of MobileStudio Pro vary, Wacom says ‘all come with powerful Intel processors and memory and storage configurations, ranging from 128GB up to 512GB.’
NVIDIA Quadro graphics on the 15.6” model of MobileStudio Pro help speed computer-generated imagery and digital content creation and bring it to life.
"The NVIDIA Quadro M1000M platform delivers great performance to tablets,” says Serge Palaric, Senior Director of Embedded & OEMs for the Europe, Middle East and Africa region at NVIDIA.
“Paired with the Wacom Pro Pen 2, the Wacom Mobile Studio Pro is the ideal platform for designers, engineers, artists and creatives who need desktop-level performance on the go,” added Neumann.
Additionally, for users wanting to capture 3-D scans as a start to their development process, ‘select models of MobileStudio Pro include the Intel 3-D RealSense camera. You can bring your scan into a software application like ZBrush or Fusion 360 and build a 3-D model from there.’
Enhanced Workflow
Wacom says that ‘a number of time-saving productivity features were added to accelerate the creative workflow, including: ExpressKeys, Touch Ring and convenient buttons on the pen which allow users to quickly and easily set-up one touch short cuts.’
Also, the optional Wacom Link technology ‘enables users to attach MobileStudio Pro to any Mac or PC and use it as a standard Cintiq display – a great feature for Mac owners who prefer to work on the Mac OS® in their studios.’
Glen Southern of SouthernGFX in London, United Kingdom said: ”The MobileStudio Pro is amazing and a huge leap forward from the first Cintiq Companion I have.
"Cinema 4D, Maya and ZBrush all feel fantastic on Wacom’s latest mobile device and the pen experience, screen, speed and design are just great."
Configurations, Pricing and Availability
- MobileStudio Pro 13: three models come with an IPS high-brightness panel, 2.5K (WQHD) resolution and 96% Adobe RGB.
Customer options are defined by Solid State Drive (SSD) size – 128GB ($2,649 AUD), 256GB ($2,999 AUD) and 512GB ($3,499 AUD). - MobileStudio Pro 16: two models are fit with an IPS high-brightness panel, 4K (UHD) resolution and 94% Adobe RGB.
There’s a 256GB ($3,499 AUD) with NVIDIA Quadro M600M with 2GB VRAM and 512GB ($4,399 AUD) with NVIDIA Quadro M1000M with 4GB VRAM. - The 3-D camera is available on both models of the MobileStudio Pro 16 and on the 13 model’s 512GB version.
MobileStudio Pro will be available from select resellers and the Wacom eStore, and will be available to purchase mid-November 2016.
