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Wacom Graphire2
by JJJJ
The not-very-excitingly-titled 'EP-120EST' is the standard stylus pen which arrives with Wacom's Graphire2 tablet. Made from grey plastic, the pen is roughly the length and width of a regular biro (145 x 12.5mm), albeit a little chunkier. The EP-120EST is comfortable to hold, feeling nice and lightweight at only eleven grams. Halfway ... down the pen's shaft is a double blue rocker switch, whilst another button sits at the end where a pencil's eraser would be - more about both of their functions later.
Price & Availability
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Prepare to be shocked... the cost of this plastic, digital writing implement is rather high. Some retailers are currently selling the device for £39, which is a lot when you consider the fact that you're investing in a small amount of plastic. That said, you can get hold of the EP-120EST for a more reasonable sum should you shop around - the lowest price I've seen new is £20, athough eBay prices can be considerably less. My advice would be to not lose the original EP-120EST in the first place, and then you won't need to pay through the nose for this replacement.
Using the Graphire2 Pen
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It should be pointed out that the pen doesn't require a power source to function, as it works in collaboration with the Grahire2 tablet which draws its power from USB. The EP-120EST's plastic nib is nice and strong, and hasn't shown any signs of wear in the six years that I've owned it. The side buttons and 'eraser' that I mentioned in the opening paragraph can be assigned a number of functions relating to the product's operation, depending on your individual preference. When I use Adobe Photoshop, I have the eraser assigned to... well, erase - In other words, I can digitally draw with the nib side of the pen, but when I turn it round and apply pressure to the tablet, Photoshop's eraser function will be automatically selected. All the buttons can be set via the Wacom software which ships when you buy the tablet.
Final Word
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The EP-120EST is a long lasting replacement product which is comfortable to use - not only is it compatible with the Graphire2, but also the majority of Wacom's other tablets. The only downside is the high price, although as previously mentioned, eBay prices are much more reasonable.
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Google Mouse Pad
by danny691
When it comes to mousemats there isn't generally much to get excited about which this Google Mouse Mat proves. I have owned the mouse mat for a number of years and it is of the exact same design as is on the Dooyoo picture for this item. The mat itself has a foam underside to it, which helps with cushioning my wrist when I rest on it, ... and also ensures it doesn't slip around when on a shiny surface. I prefer the rubber undersided mats, though, as they offer even more resistance but seen as I blagged this one from a former employer I won't be too harsh with it. The top surface of the mouse mat is cloth. A lot of mousemats have a plastic coating on the top but unfortunately these don't work as well with optical mice as I have found in the past. The material surfaces must lend itself well to the optical mouse and so this mat is ideal for my use.
One downside to the cloth covering on the mouse mat is that it can become dirty very quickly, especially because it has a white background to it. Another point to note about cloth finished mats is that the top tends to peel off quite easily. After a while of using the mat you may notice the edges to come away and fray, and quite often the corners will roll back on themselves.
This isn't the most hard wearing of mouse mats but as it is a very cheap solution I would say it is worth the while buying one. Google do have their own store (I believe) and perhaps this would be the best place to go for them. Fortunately for me I got it very cheap (free) and so struggle to fault it due to this.
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Wacom Graphire4 Clear Cover A6
by JJJJ
The Graphire4 is an excellent graphics tablet that allows its user to draw freely onto a computer without being hindered by the restraints of a mouse or a trackpad. One of the advantages of this particular tablet is the fact that its transparent cover can be taken off, allowing a sheet of paper with a design on it to be placed underneath ... and subsequently traced over. Unfortunately, the frequent removal and reapplication of said cover means that it can get scratched fairly easily. The solution is to purchase a replacement Wacom Graphire4 A6 Clear Cover, which is simply a fitted sheet of transparent plastic - no, it isn't an especially exciting item, but it's an important one nevertheless.
Price & Fitting
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You can pick up the Graphire4 Clear Cover for around £5 online, or cheaper if you're willing to buy secondhand from eBay - just make sure you get the right size for your Wacom, as the version that I am reviewing today won't fit non-Graphire4 tablets... especially the ones that aren't A6 in size!
Fitting the cover is an incredibly simple process - just line it up with the base of the Graphire4 pad and apply even downward pressure. The resultant click will inform you that the operation has successfully been completed. Once in place, the cover feels nice and secure, and the fabric base of the Wacom wireless mouse glides across it smoothly. Similarly, the Wacom pen works well in collaboration - although a little more friction would perhaps be nice in order to recreate the tactility of paper.
Final Word
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Due to its very nature, A sheet of Wacom-branded fitted plastic isn't the easiest item to review - however, this particular Wacom Graphire4 is an item which is well made and serves its purpose perfectly. If treated with respect - i.e not introducing it to any sharp objects, then the item should have a long lifespan - recommended.
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