New here on this forum but I hope someone can help.

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Sloginfizz

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My daughter is into drawing digitally. For the last year she has been using a Amazon Fire HD with adobe sketch book. We send her to Art lessons so she is actually using what we give her.

I am looking to get something that is a step up from the Fire but without breaking the bank. I am looking at Cintiq, MS Surface, Android Galaxy Tab versions. Anyone got other suggestions?
 
Cintiq is.... expensive!

I think the most obvious option would be to buy the new 6th generation iPad , and buy an Apple Pencil. (Only the 6th generation iPad and iPad Pro have Apple Pencil Support, so make sure you don't buy a previous generation accidentally). If you want to invest a lot, for a similar solution, then the iPad Pro obviously fits the bill there (which gives the option for a much larger 10.5" or 12" display).
If she has access to a computer, then I'd recommend buying a Wacom Intuos Pro (much less than an iPad, but requires a computer).

The standalone Cintiq's have problems. The Android only ones basically haven't received an OS update in years, which has lead to a host of problems. The ones that are running Windows 8/10 generally are overpriced for the hardware they have inside.

The Cintiq's that just operate as a display and a pen device are fantastic though. But for most that is out of their price range, unless they're a specialist or this is their work. This is why I recommended the Intuos Pro. You don't "draw on the display", but for an artist it won't take a huge amount of time to detach yourself from what you see versus what your arm is doing. But if you have tons of money to throw at the problem, absolutely, just get a Cintiq (the display type, not the type with a built in computer or with Android).

I haven't used a Surface, but my understanding is they are very solid. I wouldn't recommend getting any Android tablet, because basically all of them have outdated hardware and consequently OS. There hasn't really been a new Android tablet since 2015. EDIT: I guess I was wrong... but it doesn't seem like the best dedicated art device.
 
I think I am looking for more PC based. Other than cost, what are the problems that Cintiqs have? Is the iPad that good that it can compete with a Cintiq? I forgot to mention that my daughter already has the Intuos pad. She likes it (she uses it instead of a mouse).

So if I am going to go standalone (for costs and performance) then iPad or iPad Pro 6th Gen.

Are there any other Cintiq type monitors that are worth it? I read somewhere that Wacom's patent expired and now there are some good copy cats that are cheaper.
 
Sloginfizz said:
I think I am looking for more PC based. Other than cost, what are the problems that Cintiqs have? Is the iPad that good that it can compete with a Cintiq? I forgot to mention that my daughter already has the Intuos pad. She likes it (she uses it instead of a mouse).
Click to expand...

The Cintiq that is plugged into a PC is fantastic. The standalone devices are terrible (the ones that are either an Android based tablet or are essentially Tablet computers with Windows 8/10 installed on them). Sorry if there was lack of clarity.
If she's already using an Intuos, I don't personally see much of a reason to upgrade. In terms of usability, there won't be any form of improvement. The big advantage of using a Cintiq is you get to see what you're drawing on. But, generally that's a really big cost for only a 'minor' improvement.
My other problem with the Cintiq is that Wacom still haven't released a high resolution display. I don't see a point in buying a 27" monitor that isn't 4k (they're all still QHD, and it's expensive for QHD. The smaller ones of course are even lower resolution), especially when considering that the point of this is to do art on. And when you're that close, it's pixel city.
The smaller ones are a series of tradeoffs. If you're using a 13" Cintiq as an example, that isn't all bad in terms of resolution to size, but then you're limited by the size. At 13", you almost might as well buy a mobile only device like a 12" iPad Pro or Surface Pro. Otherwise using a big display and an Intuos Pro seems like a better tradeoff to me. I should note that these are all preferences though, but you can at least see and follow my logic. What your daughter's preference is might be totally different.
But like I said to reiterate: why would you want to work on a 13" display when you can work on a 32" one? Why would you want to work on a 27" QHD monitor when you can work on a 32" 4k one?


Sloginfizz said:
So if I am going to go standalone (for costs and performance) then iPad or iPad Pro 6th Gen.
Click to expand...

To be clear it is: "iPad 6th generation" or any generation of iPad Pro. I would say out of the box, it's probably going to be the best experience. If you can afford a Pro and get access to Pro apps, then there is a really big wealth of creation tools. The iPad Pro is also the fastest tablet by a long shot (on any platform). And if you get the 2nd Generation iPad Pro (which is the latest current version) then there is also the 120hz display (which is very reactive to doing work on). The long and the short, there isn't a competitor that can touch it for this sort of thing (speed, 120hz display, apps, Apple pencil, etc). It just costs $1000 to buy into.

I suggested this route, because I was under the impression that your daughter needed a purely mobile device. But if she's already using a PC and a Wacom then honestly she could stay using that for her entire career (at least as far as we can see into the future for digital art... who knows what will be invented?)

There is also the Surface Pro, as earlier discussed. Which would allow her to have a PC and drawing tool on the go. The limitation there of course is size, but that's true with all of these mobile options.


Sloginfizz said:
Are there any other Cintiq type monitors that are worth it? I read somewhere that Wacom's patent expired and now there are some good copy cats that are cheaper.
Click to expand...

To my knowledge, no. Wacom has had the market corned as long as it has because of making superior product. They're definitely the market leader for a reason.

Literally the only other option that is worth anything is the Surface Studio. But that bad boy starts at $3000. Other than cost, the issue there of course is hardware for money. I'd say it's worth it for full time content creators. But the lack of Thunderbolt annoys me, as well as the fact that it hasn't been updated in 2-3 years (you'll note they're still using 6th Gen Intel processors). So it hasn't received an update in a while and it's not really upgradeable (no hex-core hurts).

When the thing was brand new though it was a serious competitor. If Microsoft would have actually been forward thinking enough to put Thunderbolt in it, they may have even gotten Mac converts.
Honestly, despite the lack of tablet tools, the iMac Pro is overall a better system. Heck, the regular iMac at this point has faster hardware. I'd rather spend the $2k on that and buy an Intuos Pro rather than buying the Surface Studio at this point, but once again, preference.

As it stands, it's hard to recommend it due to the cost and outdated hardware if nothing else.
 
Thank you for all of the advice. I happened to find a BOSTO Kingtee 22" Professional Drawing Tablet 22HDX for $350 on ebay. Apparently, it is on par with a Wacom Cintiq (maybe not quite the quality but value). Mixed reviews to be sure, but generally people seem to be pretty happy with it. I figure worse case, I am throwing $350 in the trash, but I would be doing that with any product I buy her at this point.

Comparatively, this device sells for $899 new while a comparable Cintiq run in the $1600s new and $900 used. I hope I am not wasting my money, but I will give her this and hope she is fine with it.

Thanks for your help. UnknownSouljer.
 
+1 for iPad Pro and Apple pencil I have this setup is pretty close to pan and paper, I think there's an iPad pro in the for sale section pretty reasonably right now
 
MrFuzzy said:
+1 for iPad Pro and Apple pencil I have this setup is pretty close to pan and paper, I think there's an iPad pro in the for sale section pretty reasonably right now
Click to expand...

Thanks, but first, I don't have enough posts to post to that sub and second, $1200 is a little pricey. As I said, I picked up a used Bosto Kingtee 22HDX which I think she will be happy with.
 
Oh didnt notice you post count, either way I'm sure she will like it has to be night and day over the fire setup
 
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