So you are considering getting a digital drawing tablet where you can draw on the screen itself. Before you start researching which one to get, you have to decide on one important destinction regarding which route to go.

Tablet PC or Wacom Cintiq.

The Tablet PC Route:
The Tablet PC can be a great tool for drawing. One of the first benefits that comes to mind for tablet PCs is the portability factor. You can basically take it anywhere you want, considering that you have the battery life to keep it powered. If you want to go to the park or to the beach, then just take it along with you and start sketching the ocean views.

However, the only problem is that, as of now, the tablet PC is really lacking when it comes to pressure sensitivity. I have researched them all and the best you can find is somewhere in the ballpark of 256 to 512 levels of pressure sensitivity. If you are an artist like me, this is ok, but it’s not nearly as nice as the pressure sensitivity of the alternative Cintiq.

So let’s look at the Cintiq as an alternative.

The Cintiq Route:
The Cintiq is completely awesome. You will not find another digital drawing tool like this. The interactivity of the pen on the screen is like drawing on paper. The 1024 levels of pressure sensitivity makes it feel like you are sketching with a pencil. If the Cintiq was a Tablet PC, it would completely dominate the Tablet PC market and no competitors would stand a chance.

The problem is that this is not the case. The Wacom Cintiq is actually a monitor, so it plugs into your desktop the same way your regular monitor does. The only difference being that the Cintiq is adjustable and outfitted for you to draw on at varying angles.

The Cintiq also has a power cord, so toss any idea of portability out the window. You are not going to be able to easily set this up with a laptop and take it to the beach. It will be a nightmare of wires and carrying around a generator to power it up. Not worth the effort.

Now keep in mind, I have seen the YouTube video demonstrations of people boasting that there is not much difference between the two. That the 256 to 512 levels of pressure sensitivity of a Tablet PC is not that noticeable compared to the 1024 levels of pressure sensitivity of a Cintiq. I disagree completely. I have tested both out on multiple occasions and if you are a skilled artist, you WILL see the difference.

However, the Tablet PC is a great tool for making quick sketches that you might later transfer to your desktop PC to clean up with a Cintiq (or an Intuos if you are on a tight budget).

As for me, I have a Fujitsu T2020 Tablet PC. It has 520 levels of pressure sensitivity, so the sketching can be somewhat similar to pencil on paper. I like the portability of a Tablet PC, because I can use it to sketch in my car. My method involves sketching in drawings and then if there is what I particularly like and what to clean up, I transfer it to my desktop PC and use a Cintiq to do the finishing touches.

So the bottom line is, what is more important to you. Having a drawing tool that you can go out and make quick sketches?…or having a drawing tool that feels like you are working on paper. It all comes down to if portability is more important to you or pressure sensitivity. Once you make this decision, you can now start researching the tablet option you want. Good luck!