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Revility · Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2002 7:38 pm

Which type of pen tablet is better, a serial port or a usb. What are positive and negative sides of each. If any body out there knows, let me know!
Thanks,
REvility

Ben Barker · Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2002 11:10 pm

I have a serial tablet. But I got it when USB tablets didn't exist yet. Everyone at school had a USB tablet.
The biggest pro of serial tablets is the price. Wacom was having a ridiculous sale on the serial tablets. I don't know if it's still going on, but probably since I imagine they are trying to get rid of them.

The downsides of serial are two fold. One, if you use a mac, or even a newer PC, you are SOL. They have no serial ports. On the flip side, a lot of people with older computers have no USB ports, so the choice is already made.
Two, the serial tablets require an adapter to be plugged into a power outlet. Just one more cord you don't need.

Having used both, I've noticed no difference in the sensitivity. But if I bought one today it would be USB all the way. DAMN my serial tablet! DAMN YOU!!

mucha · Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2002 12:26 am

I have a serial too... it suks cause i wont work on xp and 2k or mac... i dont care about the mac part... but nor working on xp suks.

Pat · Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2002 1:13 am

Old Mac Wacom tablets use an ADB (Apple Desktop Bus) connector, which was dropped in favor of USB after the G4's were introduced.

ADB and serial Wacom tablets work fine, but the level of data transfered from the tablet to the computer exceeds the rate of the connection. In order to make these connectors work, the Wacom drivers compress the data. USB Wacom's don't have this issue, as their bandwidth is sufficient to support the amount of data. I think it goes without saying that a USB tablet is going to offer better performance.

-Pat

Novacaptain · Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2002 4:04 pm

USB tablets can be plugged in without the need to reboot windows to detect it.

Imperitus · Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2002 11:13 pm

I have an old SD series wacom serial tablet and it world on XP just fine. ( using 2k drivers I beleive ) but it's been discontinued for years I think.

Revility · Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2002 12:48 am

Thanks for the info! I'm just getting sick and tired of trying to draw with a mouse. I find it soo diffclut when it comes doing hair with the mouse since I've been drawing with pens, and pencils for years. Ty for the info once again!

[wakestarr] · Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2002 6:26 am

mucha: it has do be something in your set up. i run a serial wacom intuos 6x8 in xp. ran it under w2k also without any problems.