If we want to unleash our creativity, one of the cheapest options comes from Wacom, with a very cheap tablet that offers a good experience.
Tablets are a must-have for many content creators, from hobbyists to professionals; however, they can also be very expensive. If we look at Wacom’s own catalog, we find models that exceed 3,500 euros.
But that such figures do not make us dizzy; In fact, you can start creating with a much simpler and cheaper tablet, and from there, decide if you want to make the leap to more cutting-edge models.
A tablet for beginners
The One by Wacom is the brand’s model aimed at those who want to explore this experience. It stands out for starting at a price of only 39.91 euros for the smallest model; we have been able to test the medium model, which costs 59.91 euros in exchange for more useful space.
I speak in the plural because, this time, I needed help. Everyone who knows me knows that I am not the most appropriate person for creative work, so I requested the support of my brother, who is more knowledgeable in these matters. The conclusions are very interesting: this is an amazing tablet for the price it has, but it is not without limitations.
We are facing a tablet of a somewhat reduced size, despite being the “medium”; With a width of 277 mm, the first problem you will find if you have always drawn on paper is that it is not the size of a sheet of paper. It is something to get used to, but fortunately it is one of the few aspects that breaks the experience a bit.
And, in other respects, drawing on the One by Wacom is very similar to drawing on paper . The sensation that the pencil offers when passing through the surface is rough, simulating the sensation of the pencil passing through the paper. This has not been implemented just for a matter of taste, but it is functional: this roughness gives greater control over the line, preventing us from braking and having to correct.
The pen included with the tablet also helps, being light but not so light that it looks like we are using a pen. Of course, an important detail that we must take into account is that our stroke is detected even if the tip of the pencil does not rub directly with the surface.
Drawing and writing with the One by Wacom pencil is intuitive , mainly because our gestures are directly translated into the application we are using; it perfectly translates the movements of our hand, and that helps to eliminate barriers. It does not require batteries, and hence the weight has been controlled so much.
Another aspect that the beginner will also have to ‘study’ is the difference in thickness depending on the force we do; In our tests, the difference was correctly detected, resulting in a thicker or finer line. It is one of the main tools that you will have at your hand, in addition to the two buttons included in the pencil itself to start functions of the app that we are using; although one more button at the top is missing.
For students, or teachers
Wacom also highly promotes the educational use of this tablet, both for teachers and students. In a world where online classes are still very important, the possibility of having a virtual whiteboard controllable with the tablet can give more depth to the readings. It can also be used to take notes with pictures, quickly and easily.
The tablet feels stiff and doesn’t look like it’s going to break easily, despite (or perhaps due to) its all-plastic construction. A useful detail is that we can store the pen on the tablet itself, thanks to the loop with the brand’s logo on the right side.
Installation and use of the One by Wacom is very simple . It is connected by USB to our computer, and it is automatically detected both in Windows computers and in Chromebooks; This is one of the great novelties of this model, and that we have been able to test in person with a ChromeOS laptop.
But it is that simplicity that reveals the limitations of this tablet. We have already talked about the size, but it is not the only aspect that you would want to improve on this device. The fact that it does not have a built-in screen means that you have to draw “blindly” , looking at the computer screen instead of what you are doing; many people are able to get used to this, but there are those who are not capable. This device can help you find out.
In fact, I think that’s the main purpose of this device – to learn how to use a tablet . Thanks to its low price, it is a small “whim” that we can give ourselves if we have always wanted to discover how to use a tablet; Maybe it can help us discover that it is the tool that we were missing in our lives. However, if you already have some experience with tablets, this model is too simple and basic to be content.
Interestingly, what I liked least about this tablet is the name, “One by Wacom”. There is already a Wacom One, and it is a tablet with an integrated screen; Let’s say it’s hard to tell one from the other if you give someone their name.
The One by Wacom is available now starting at 39.91 euros for the small version, and for 59.91 euros for the medium version in the Wacom store .
