Wacom Cintiq 13HD DTK-1300 Art Tablet

Graphics tablets are a sort of modern version of pen and paper. The device is most-commonly used by designers for drawing images by hand. If your job involves drawing graphics and animations, you need a device that is fast and reliable. This is where Wacom Cintiq 13HD DTK-1300 steps in to save the day.There have been so many reviews written about this product that you have to ask, what else really needs to be said.. Most of the reviews only have good things to say about this graphics tablet. Read an in-depth review here [link removed-read on below], or take a look at the mini hands on review video below while you read the rest of this feature low-down.

This graphics tablet has everything you will need – it does an extremely fast digitizing job (turning hand-drawn images into digital signals), but it's also lots fun to work with. Because of its 16.7-million-colours LED display, it really is a joy to design with. These are just a few nice things about this product, there are many more good points to cover.

Features of the Wacom Cintiq 13HD DTK-1300

This digitizer seems ideal for professionals who appreciate quality. If you are a graphic designer or your job involves creating 2D video game characters, this tablet might just be your best choice. There are a number of reasons for this claim, starting with the fact that its impressive high-resolution display provides you with a perfect picture at a 178° viewing angle. On top of that, designers will also find its Pro Pen pretty useful. In fact, the pen is what sometimes makes the difference between a good and a bad drawing tablet. Wacom’s Pro Pen definitely belongs to the quality pens category as it covers 2048 levels of pressure.

It also features a tilt recognition technology. On top of everything, the drawing pen is nice to use due to its ergonomic design. Speaking of ergonomic design, the same is the case with the tablet itself. It’s easy to handle and is very compact. With its dimensions being 375 x 248 x 14 millimetres, and weight of 1.2 kilos, you won’t have problems moving this tablet from one place to another. An additional feature that provides comfort is the 3-in-1 cable, which won’t cause cable clutter. Although it can sometimes hinder movement if you are someone who likes to design / draw when sitting at odd angles. When it comes to the cable, it is used to connect the device to a Windows based PC or Apple Mac. Will work just fine with a laptop too.

Wacom Cintiq 13HD Specifications

• Display – What makes this device stand out from the competition is its HD LED display. We’ve already mentioned that it renders 16.7 million colours, but it is important to note that it creates an extremely sharp image because of the high number of pixels. By high, we mean that its resolution is 1,920 x 1,080.

•  Pro Pen – In order to draw good images on the drawing tablet, you need to have a quality stylus. The Pro Pen has 2,048 levels of pressure-sensitivity, same as many other pen-like styluses. However, Pro Pen also features an ergonomic design and tilt recognition tech, which is one of the reasons why Wacom Cintiq 13HD is more expensive than its rivals. 

• 3-in-1 Cable – Connecting this device with PC or Mac is fairly simple. All you have to do is connect the two devices via the 3-in-1 cable and that's it. You're let free to create art work.

• Shortcut Buttons – This device features customizable ExpressKeys, which you can set to perform tasks that you need most often. There’s also the Home button and the Rocker ring.

• Detachable Stand – This review wouldn’t be complete if we didn’t mention that Wacom Cintiq 13HD comes with a detachable stand that offers three working angles to choose from. If you prefer holding the tablet in your hands or on the desk, you can simply detach the stand.

Pros & Cons

The chances are that you’ll love this product if you are a graphic designer who does lots of sketching and drawing, especially because of the following features:

• Excellent HD LED display

• Ergonomic Pro Pen

• Detachable stand

• Compatibility with Mac or Windows

• Compact dimensions and light in weight

• 3-in-1 cable that prevents clutter

When it comes to the bad points about this product, they are not easy to find. Wacom rules the roost at this price point. Still, there are things that could be better, like these two for example:

• Price – Although it isn’t an expensive tablet, there are similar products that cost less than Cintiq 13HD. One of those is Artisul D13. Admittedly, this digitizer is almost just as good as the Cintiq 13 DTK-1300, and it costs less to buy. 

• Drivers – Some people have had a hard time getting the drivers to work with their system. Although, most people who encountered problems did manage to find the solution online and get up and running without too much of an issue. 

Final Verdict

Cintiq 13HD DTK-1300 was developed by Wacom to be used as a tablet for drawing and sketching. It has everything you need to take those two tasks to a whole new level. In fact, it’s almost guaranteed that you will have a great time working on it as its display is a wonder to behold. It also comes with an excellent pen and all the features needed for doing a good design work. The only downside of it seems to be the fact that it’s a tad pricier than the rest, but in the long run, it pays off handsomely with the quality of work you are able to produce. Since this "review" was written, there has been a few newer models released in various screen sizes.

The updated version of the model talked about here, is the Wacom DTH1320AK0 Cintiq Pro 13". Reviews are quite mixed, and make an interesting read. Some good, some bad. A lot of of the bad reviews stem from either the drivers being hard to install, or an overall annoying out-the-box experience coupled with poor build quality. With that said, and with all other things considered, including the price differences, I would go with the older model.

Quad Core Vs Octa Core?

You would think that with double the amount of Cores the Octa would far out perform the Quad Core Processors any day of the week. That seems like a logical assumption. However, it's just not the case. There have been so many tests and comparisons done with both Processor types and the results are mostly always the same.. Worlds apart? Hmm, not quite.

There really isn't much difference either way. Some tasks were slightly more efficient with the four and some were a tad better with the eight core set. Heck, some of Apple's Dual (2) Processors are superb, but most people turn their nose up at the very sound of anything "Dual" these days.

The Trade Off

8 Cores use up more power than four. With that in mind, and with so many guys and girls wanting a long battery life, it's not really worth the extra money to buy something with Octa technology. The differences in performance are too minuscule. But saying that, the differences in power consumption between the two aren't all that far apart either. People are always running on low percentage battery in Tablets and Smartphones, so I suppose that extra bit of energy juice is quite important.

The structure of both chips is very different, and the Quad uses its resources more effectively. The Octa is just two sets of four Cores squashed onto the one Processor. So what it does is use one set of 4 Cores to run lower energy tasks, and then calls upon the other 4 if things get heavy. For instance, you start playing resource hungry games, open a thousand browser windows or launch complex Apps. As of today, a lot of applications don't actually take full advantage of the eight cores (Octa Core) anyway.

Best choice? That all depends on what you do with your device. Some love to have the latest new thing, and that's great, but its not really needed here. For most of us, doing all the normal things on our device like gaming, youtube, browsing the Internet etc, the Quad is generally the best option. Its more than capable.

How To Replace Linx 7 8 Tablet Battery

I like the Linx Tablets. They are quite cheap to buy and perform most tasks rather well. One thing that people seem to not like about some of the Linx models however is the battery life. It is pretty poor. This is a common annoyance for the 7 Inch, 8 Inch and 10 Inch models. So how do you replace the battery on these devices? Well first remember that once you open up your Tablet the warranty is most probably going to be void. These "Cheap" models are basically considered as disposable devices, the batteries are not meant to be replaced, so trying to swap the battery for a more powerful one is done at your own risk.

Of course, you will need some experience of fixing electrical items. If you're knowledgeable in that area you should be able to complete the mission with no problems. Is it worth all the bother? You're meant to just buy a new one! Well, to some people no it probably isn't worth it. But for others who like a little challenge and love fixing things, I suppose it is.

See below for battery information

Now bear in mind that this fix or tips to help you replace the battery are not specifically aimed at the Linx models. They are geared toward cheap Chinese tablets that most probably have even worse battery's fitted in them than the Linx'. However, due to the super long lasting ability's of the Linx battery (yeah right) I think the video above does apply to the Linx range.

With the Linx models, you most probably need to buy a 3.7V universal replacement battery that's capable of fitting and working in most of the cheaper tablets. For that, take a look at the battery above, this will be what you need to purchase. This model has good reviews. It's Quite cheap to buy on Amazon UK. and fairly easy to fit once the tablet has been opened. Looking for the same battery but located in the USA? You can find it here.

You can bet your bottom dollar Linx aren't using the best batteries in their devices anyway, as duration times have proven, but most probably just cheap ones from China themselves. Bottom line, you have to open the thing up and change the battery. That means a little bit of work for you, and also buying the replacement battery.

The video above will give you some tips on what to look out for (certain numbers, voltage, mAh etc) and what to be aware of. Soldering will be required. Hope this quick guide helps you out. Can't seem to complete the operation? Buy a new one! A cheap Fusion5 or Neocore (UK) job done. Good luck!

Cheap But Functional PC Tablets

Tablet PC's are very functional. These days they are used by everyone who is looking for a high level of usability in a practical, stylish design. They are small, fashionable and can be snapped up for a cheap price, so they are always a good option when you are looking for a smart device that you can use each time you need it, no matter where you are. There are numerous advantages that you are going to have with the use of a tablet, but the most obvious one is that such items are very easy to carry and so you can take it with you on the move, no matter where it is you need to travel to.

Android devices are now used by a large number of people. They are really easy to purchase and you can simply find them at some very affordable prices. As low as £40. With the better models you will find that the advantages when compared to the cheaper models are like night and day. On a convenience level they are great when you need to be kept informed about different events, whether that be work related or otherwise .

However, these days Smartphones are widely used for this purpose. Unless you are in a job that requires actual work to be done on the move that requires a bigger screen and more resources than a Phone can provide. For students, carrying a tablet in a back pack and using it to take notes at lectures, work in the libary etc is going to be much more convenient.

This way the students isn't hindered by the smallish screen that a phone has and can have easily access the information they need. They can easily make notes, and of course, these little electrical companions can also be used for other activities like gaming, youtube etc. They are great devices for most purposes. Buy an external keyboard with its own little case and you have a full package for little money.

So how do you find a cheap but functional one?

Can a good tablet be snapped up for a cheap price? Yes absolutely! Take a look on websites like Amazon and you will quickly see that for £50 and under you can find a model that is both functional and reliable.

Search for the term "Best Cheap Tablets To Buy For Under £50" on Google if you want the leg work done for you. The Amazon Fire Seven Inch with an IPS screen is a good example of great value for money. Others include the Fusion5 range (best choice), the NeoCore tablets (The neoCore N1 is a great budget tablet), and also iRULU eXpro (very cheap). Many to choose from, and all these days are Quad Core, have scratch resistant screens and come with a decent amount of RAM etc.

It's quite easy to find a good one for a cheap price. Just read through the customer reviews and you will easily be able to separate the good capable ones from the not so good ones. The few mentioned here are proven performers and do have excellent feedback. Some of them (Fusion5's and neoCores) even come with a 1 - 2 year warranty. That's a great deal for the money. You really can't go far wrong.