Wacom launches Bamboo range

A pen for every PC or Mac

Wacom today announces a new family of consumer pen tablets. No longer an exclusive tool for creative professionals, the Bamboo range of advanced input devices is initially available in two forms in the Asia Pacific region - Bamboo and Bamboo Fun. Combining a tablet with an ergonomically designed, cordless and battery-free digital pen and supporting software, each product provides an enhanced and creative way of using computers at home and at work for a wide range of uses.

Bamboo - make your mark

Launched in May 2007, Bamboo is an award-winning sleek, black input device for consumers in the home office or workplace. Designed for use with office applications and supporting the advanced pen functionality now available in current operating systems including intelligent handwriting recognition, Bamboo can be used to customize emails, letters, spreadsheets, presentations and documents with signatures, notes, doodles and scribbles. The wide-format tablet also has four ExpressKeys for quick navigation and a Touch Ring.

Bamboo comes with JustWrite Office and IMDisguise Pro software.

Bamboo Fun - create your world

With a stylish, white design, Bamboo Fun is a versatile input device ideal for consumers keen to develop their creative skills. Users can easily produce more natural and authentic-looking paintings, sketches and drawings, as well as retouch, improve, manage and share digital photographs. The four programmable ExpressKeys on the tablet itself make it quick and easy to use different shortcuts. Bamboo's Touch Ring is ideal to zoom in and out or scroll through documents.

Bamboo Fun comes in two sizes - small and medium - reflecting the trend towards wide screen display s . As part of the package, Corel Painter Essentials 3 - a simple-to-use and powerful painting application is included in both sizes. Premium photo editing software is also included: Adobe Photoshop Elements 5 for PC (Adobe Photoshop Elements 4 for Mac) with medium-sized Bamboo Fun tablets, and Ulead PhotoImpact 12 SE with small-sized Bamboo Fun tablets. These software bundles p rovid e the ideal combination of digital imaging hardware and software to optimize creativity in a simple, intuitive way.

Each pen tablet in the Bamboo range enables users to unlock powerful pen-based features found in current operating systems, particularly Microsoft Windows Vista and Mac OS. They also include Wacom's patented pressure sensitivity technology, enabling users to intuitively control and draw natural strokes or retouch digital images with pinpoint accuracy.

A recent, independent study recommends that due to the significant reduction in muscle tension when using a pen tablet, mouse users - with or without typical RSI complaints - should switch to using a pen tablet as often as possible. The RSI study is available to download from the ergonomics section on the Wacom website - http://www.wacom-asia.com/technical/ergonomics/ergonomics.html .

Why 'Bamboo'?

Bamboo is a perennial evergreen plant that grows in diverse climates, from cold mountains to hot tropical regions. It is a very versatile resource being used as raw material or transformed into tools, construction materials and many different products for various applications. Our digital pens are as versatile, hence the Bamboo name. In China , the very first pens were made combining bamboo sticks and fur .

Wacom, the leading manufacturer of pen tablets and interactive pen displays, today reinvents the pen for the 21 st century.

More information about Bamboo can be found at www.wacom-asia.com/bamboo .

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About Wacom

Wacom Company Ltd., (Tokyo Stock Exchange 6727), is a global company based in Japan with subsidiaries in the United States (Wacom Technology Corporation), Germany (Wacom Europe GmbH), China (Wacom China Corporation), Korea (Wacom Digital Solutions), Australia (Wacom Australia Pty, Ltd) and Singapore (Wacom Singapore Pte. Ltd.). In addition to these subsidiaries, Wacom has affiliate offices around the world to support marketing and distribution in over 150 countries. Founded in 1983, Wacom's vision to bring people and technology closer together through natural interface technologies has made it the world's leading manufacturer of pen tablets, interactive pen displays, and digital interface solutions. The advanced technology of Wacom's intuitive input devices has been used to create some of the most exciting digital art, films, special effects, fashion and designs around the world and provides business and home users with their leading interface technology to express their personality. Millions of customers are using its cordless, battery-free, pressure-sensitive pen technology.

Wacom's patented digital interface technology, called Penabled®, is also offered as an integrated solution to strategic partners. Most Tablet PC manufacturers count on the advanced features and reliability of Penabled technology to deliver a superior pen experience. Penabled technology is also playing an essential role in the development of leading-edge mobile devices.

For further information please contact appress [at] wacom.co.jp