I thought about a few reasons to purchase a laptop.  The first, being that I'm on the road alot and could use the free time on my digital artwork while away from home.  The other would be to use the laptop as a way of showing my work to clients.  On the other hand, I have a 9x12 wacom intuos at home that I use with my 24inch display, but would rather have a more accurate tablet to finish work faster.  I also would prefer to feel as if I was drawing directly on canvas.  As a digital artist, what would be the better investment for now.  I'm pretty sure I'll be getting one of the two at a later time, but have the money to buy something for now.  The question would now be which one first?

 

Thanks!

 

Let's think about this.

Which would get more use? I'm guessing it would be the Cintiq, yes? and you will begin using it immediately. You can draw on paper while away and there is a good chance that clients can run a DVD of your work on their own system, therefore the laptop is not a necessity.

Laptops can be anything from £300 to £3000 but Cintiqs are practically the same price no matter where you buy. If you can afford a Cintiq, get one. You can save for a cheap laptop later if you feel you still need one (sell your Intuos).

It's a nice dilemma to have. I'm facing a similar one in that I could get a nice new shiny high-spec desktop or a Cintiq.

 

Or the NextGen Wacom

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well if it's any help, i have the smaller version, the cintiq 12wx & i swear by them, it has helped me massively and i upgraded from a Intous 3, which was also lovely, but just the ability to draw on the screen is just amazing. I'd agree with Joe, get the cintiq.

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I'm saving up for a tablet pc myself....prefere the portability of that option to having to be plugged into my desktop to do artwork. I have a standard notebook atm and lugging it and my wacom Intuos 2 tablet around to be able to work in PS is a chore....especially when I am limited in room. I would recommend the tablet pc....not just any laptop.

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Wizard's First Rule

Jon's reminded me to say that you have to bear in mind that a cintiq brings cables & a big power pack with it, i don't know if that would be a problem for you?

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Tell me your address pretty please! <3

Just so there are no misunderstandings: if you hear weird noises at night and on the next morning your tablet will be gone, it SURELY wasn't me!

 

My Intuos 3 is a bit broken and I really want a Cintiq, WX would be absolutely perfect size wise for my needs. I was kinda' thinking to buy the WX or UX one, but are ther any quality differencs between those, other than the size? I think I will start saving up my workshop pays... :))

 

 

Hey Marta I have an idea....you and I could split the cost and share one.....'course....might be a slight problem with that idea....but I'm sure we could work something out....right???

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Wizard's First Rule

Marta you can share my cintiq anytime you want to, many have tried to bribe me with crips & things but you would be welcome to come for a cuppa & play. It is the best thing ever, i'm lucky (spoilt?) in getting one, but my husband works away alot & bought me it so i have something to entertain myself with, but you should so definitely have one!

Where do you paint Marta? i think that influences things, i sit with it on my lap & the 21UX would be way too big to do that, but if you paint at a desk i think you'd it would be fine for you. Lots of people say if you make big sweeping strokes you'd need the larger one, but i don't think you work like that (i'm guessing from watching your videos?) They both have the same specifications its just size thats the difference.

Oh you need to get one, you'll love it!

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bmag29:

On the other hand, I have a 9x12 wacom intuos at home that I use with my 24inch display, but would rather have a more accurate tablet to finish work faster.  I also would prefer to feel as if I was drawing directly on canvas.

I'd rather stick with the 24" screen and the 9"x12" Intuos myself. The Cintiq isn't going to be any more accurate than the tablet you already have and the display is smaller.

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I really want a cintiq as well, however for the meanwhile I have stopped myself from buying it with the excuses that:

a)  Just cos you can draw on screen doesn't mean you'll draw any better. Learn the techniques first (there are some arguements to this statement for those not used to a tablet)

b) my intuos 3 isn't broken, works absolutely fine and I bought it not more than 2 years ago. So do you really need the Cintiq NOW (for me, at the moment, no though I would really really love one)

c) The cables and power pack make it not so portable, so why not just get an axiotron that is? (No I do not work for axiotron, also their apple mac modbook only has 512 levels of sensitivity, not the 1024 of cintiq and intous3)

 All in all, if you have the money and want to splash out or work as an digital artist for a living, go for Cintiq first.

I really should start saving up for the 12wx ... 

 

 

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I am the product of my own imagination

My new website is now up and running! lg.giftcolony.com

Thanks all for the feedback!  Also, sorry to open up a can of worms here.  LOL!  Alright, there were a few good points to purchase a Cintiq over a laptop and vice versa.  I found my heart to be working from home and would rather be home to complete my work.  A few good points that were given here was that I could still be productive with my artwork by being able to sketch out roughs and put out ideas on paper or my IPhone when on the road.  Also, a laptop while on a business trip to Japan wouldn't make any sense cause I'll be missing out on the world if I trap myself in the hotel room.  I was able to check out the Cintiq 21UX at the Academy of Art University computer lab and I fell in love again. 

The laptop on the other hand would be a good way to show and tell, surf and work from in slight circumstances, but prevent me from socializing with the rest of the world.  Also, it was a good point that clients, in most cases, would have a computer or laptop to evaluate my digital files.    

 There it is!  I decided on the Cintiq 21UX and will be enjoying the freedom of Wacom's huge digital paper screen.  

Thanks everyone!    

Haha!  No worries!  I'm sure you wouldn't make it out the door with all that weight the Cintiq holds. 

Other than the size, there is no real difference at all in functionality.  I was able to test both models out at my school lab and found no actual difference in painting and viewing numerous images using Photoshop and Painter.   I've even tested them with Zbrush and they both are similar in every way.  One thing is the scroll buttons are located slightly different on the 21UX and 20WX , but that's just a tiny design element that wouldn't reflect your productivity.  Hope that helps!

By the way, I'm enjoying your sections with in the mags.  I think we should vouch for the IFX team to donate a Cintiq to you considering the amount of sections you cover with the mag. 

-Bmag

I'm joining the topic a bit late but if you are mostly working from home I would completely recommend the cintiq(which by the way sounds to be your choice) so that you are not limited by a laptop's specs. If you ever decide to upgrade your computers components to match demanding programs your cintiq carries over. Not quite the same with a laptop.

 I have had a few tablet laptops and while each is fun and great for portability, nothing matches the cintiq. It's astounding. Yes an intous is great, the new version 4 is astounding by the looks of it, but as you know bmag when you tested it out the cintiq trumps nearly everything. To try it is to love it.

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Stupid stupid thread, it made me decide on getting a Cintiq as well... Now I will just stop eating for a month! :P