Wacom Cintiq 12WX

Pros: Very nice high quality screen
Quality expected of Wacom in almost all aspects
2 year warranty

Cons: Bulky, not easily transportable
A LOT of extra clutter
Unable to adjust position while working (read below)

Summary: I had been using an Intuos 3 for about 5 years and that had been a great tool for learning digital art, However there was one thing I never could quite get entirely used to which was the draw-down-there-but-look-up-there aspect of using a graphics tablet like the Intuos.

Then came the Cintiq 12WX. The LCD allows you to take advantage of a more natural draw and look at the same surface feel. I am highly pleased with the Cintiq and I'd say its increased my productivity by about 30%, but there are a few flaws that prospective buyers should be wary of.

First of all, the thing is big. This means a lot of workable tablet area, but also means it takes up a lot of desk space when setup with the stand. It is both thicker and wider than the intuos 3, but the unit itself can still be slid into a bag designed to carry a large laptop. Not that you'll be wanting to take it anywhere, if you consider the next problem:

Second, this thing is a big pain to setup and therefore a huge pain to try to transport around. The unit itself connects via an integrated cable to an external box, from which a monitor cable, usb cable, and power brick all protrude. That's right, it has its own power supply, adding to the tangle of cords probably already leeching off your power strip. This setup creates a lot of clutter and really is not meant to be taken on the go much at all.

The last big problem is an important one for me. As someone who works with traditional media, I usually shift the paper/canvas I am working on and tilt my head to see around my hand when working on small details etc. but you are unable to do this on the Cintiq. Due to the thickness of the protective glass on the LCD, there is a space between the contact surface and the screen, meaning if you adjust the positon of your head, even a little, the accuracy the pen position correlating to what you see on the screen will be thrown off and you have to recalibrate. Learn to hold very still.

Other than that it's an absolute dream. Overall it's a good buy and I still recommend it for any serious digital artist who needs to do a lot of digital coloring or drawing.

Also, anyone working with this tablet should consider investing in a SmudgeGuard glove from smudgeguard.com, it's a big help.