Wacom, purveyor of insanely accurate smart pens, has just taken the wraps off of a new Windows tablet at CES 2015 today. Called the Cintiq Companion 2, this 13-inch tablet is focused on delivering the "best pen-on-screen experience" with creative software.
From Wacom:
Enjoy total creative freedom and a superior, natural pen-on-screen drawing experience with a Cintiq Companion 2nd generation. Engineered to run your professional creative software, the Cintiq Companion 2 is ready to inspire the most demanding artists and designers. Create under open skies or plug into your Mac or PC to bring each remarkable detail of your expression to life with exquisite accuracy
The tablet will be available in 5 models, features of which include a 13-inch 2560 x 1440 WQHD display, 4-16GB of RAM (depending on model), and 64-512GB Solid State storage (depending on model). Additionally, the tablet runs Windows 8.1 on Intel chips, and incorporates a specially finished, super-sensitive screen meant to replicate a "natural pen-on-paper feel."
As far as pricing and availability are concerned, you can look forward to the tablet going on sale in February from $1,300-$2,500 depending on which model you choose.
Sources: Wacom (1), (2)
Press Release:
TOKYO and VANCOUVER, Jan. 6, 2015 /PRNewswire/
Today at CES, Wacom introduces the Cintiq Companion 2, a powerful touchscreen tablet for professional creators of digital content who demand the very best pen-on-screen experience. It offers unparalleled freedom and flexibility, allowing users to explore and make their creative mark anywhere. The new mobile solution from Wacom works either as a fully fledged Windows® 8 tablet with all the creative input capabilities of a Cintiq or, when the need arises, will connect, via Cintiq Connect™, to the home or office Mac or PC and function as a primary or secondary Cintiq display with the renowned pen performance creative pros have depended on for years.
With 2048 levels of pressure sensitivity and tilt recognition, the Cintiq Companion 2's Pro Pen performs like a traditional brush, pen or marker when used in combination with creative software applications from such companies as Adobe®, Autodesk®, Corel®, Smith Micro®, Pixologic® and many more. The pen and high-resolution screen (2560 x 1440) interact to provide a realistic pen-on-paper feel with limited glare that allows artists and designers to quickly produce detailed and accurate material without ever having to worry about art supplies.
Comfort and efficiency are important elements for any creative professional and the Cintiq Companion 2 is specifically designed to let users work faster and in a more relaxed and natural manner. The footprint, adjustable stand and sleek design allow users to work comfortably in a variety of environments including studios, client sites, planes, trains and wherever else creativity has a home. By incorporating the Pro Pen, multi-touch, 6 ExpressKeys™, Rocker Ring, Radial Menu and Cloud Services all onto the Companion 2, professionals are given a way to work that has virtually no limits. It's the choices to be able to set an ExpressKey to a particular shortcut or use multi-touch to manipulate an image that define the creative tablet's efficiency, intuitiveness and flexibility. Additionally, a digital workflow allows for immediate feedback from colleagues or clients and this type of collaboration can improve production significantly.
Pricing and Availability
The Cintiq Companion 2 supports creativity by offering everything necessary for productive art and design work whether in the studio or on the go. The Cintiq Companion 2 will be available at the Wacom eStore in several configurations this February – Value (64GB SSD, $1299.99 USD), Standard (128GB SSD, $1599.99 USD) and Premium (256GB SSD, $1999.99 USD). The Enhanced (512GB SSD, $2499.99 USD) and Enterprise (customizable, $2699.99 USD) versions are expected to begin shipping this coming spring.
Attendees of the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), January 6 – 9 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, are encouraged to come by the Wacom booth (#31642, South Hall) to try the new Cintiq Companion 2.
About Wacom
Wacom's vision to bring people and technology closer together through natural interface technologies has made it the world's leading manufacturer of pen tablets, interactive pen displays and other digital interface solutions. The advanced technology of Wacom's intuitive input devices has been used to create some of the most exciting digital art, films, special effects, fashions and designs around the world. Wacom devices provide business and home users with the ability to explore digital content in a comfortable and natural way.
The company also offers its products as OEM solutions to leading manufacturers serving incremental markets. Wacom's interface technology, called Wacom Feel IT Technologies, is also offered as an integrated solution to strategic partners. Most Tablet PC manufacturers count on the advanced features and reliability of the brand to deliver a superior user interface experience.
