Core77

Wacom Goes Bigger, Better and High-Def with the Cintiq 24HD

By Rain Noe - September 13, 2011

in Object Culture

This morning Wacom announced their new Cintiq 24HD, their largest combination monitor/tablet yet. As the name implies, it boasts a 24-inch screen with HD definition, providing a killer 1920x1200 display. And the screen's wide bezel provides a good resting place for your non-drawing hand, keeping it within easy reach of the customizable ExpressKeys and Touch Rings that veteran Cintiq users will recognize.

The part of the 24HD we're most excited about is a new physical design feature which incorporates solid industrial design thinking to solve an ergonomic issue: How can we get this massive tablet into multiple working positions that we favor? The answer comes in the form of a well-thought-out base and adjustable supporting arms that move and lock the tablet into a variety of positions. Designers, architects and animators will love the drafting-table position enabled by the base, independent of your plain ol' flat desk.

Don Varga, Wacom's Director of Professional Products, swung by Core77's office to give us a demo. (After the demo we've spliced in the 24HD's promo video, and frequent Core77 readers may note something of interest there.)

Pretty cool, no? And what you can't see in the video is the solid, weighty feel the base has to it, which means once you set it up, it remains solidly in place, independent of whatever pressure you exert upon the tablet. Whatever ID team worked on the base took their time to really think it out. Alas, Wacom policy prevents them from mentioning the firm by name, but if the anonymous designers are reading this, job well done!

(Speaking of designers, did you recognize those renderings in the demo?)

The Cintiq 24HD is expected to begin shipping next month and will retail for $2,499.

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Rob

13 years ago

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Dave, I completely disagree with you. The rotating in PS is sketchy at best, and requires a keystroke. In Sketchbook Pro, it can result in strange things like guide lines being offset from where you are drawing. Rotating the monitor back and forth physically uses no software, everything stays just as accurate, and you can get the line you need, then level it back. It is intuitive and easy to use, and does not require learning a new keystroke or holding something down etc. You are wrong.
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David

13 years ago

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Photoshop has a canvas that rotates. There is no need to physically rotate the device if your software can do the same thing. Rotating the whole device messes with the pen/cursor offset. It makes UIs awkward.
I like that the 24HD can extend below the edge of the desk. The 21UX sits to high.
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Rob

13 years ago

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I'll spend the $2500 when it rotates.
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km

13 years ago

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Kudos to Ziba Design for another great design for Wacom.
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Anthon

13 years ago

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This is one bad machine and I must have it...
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sam

13 years ago

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Does it still rotate? It doesn't look like it on the video...I like to rotate the tablet while I'm sketching.
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Rob

13 years ago

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No rotating screen = fail. Do not want. Will keep the 21.
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