UMax Digitizers

Back in the 1980s, CAD systems were dominated by digitizing tablets. CAD drafters worked with a typical 12"x12" tablet, but sizes could reach E-size, about 4'x3'. The magazine I worked for at the time, CADalyst, was dominated by ads for digitizing tablets as well as the software that would customize them.

Who'd've thought 20 years ago that a relative-motion, three-button rodent would make the absolute-positioning, 16-button puck'n tablet nearly extict? I think it was the ergonomics of the mouse design, plus its need for just a couple square inches of desk space, that made the mouse win.

Nearly all of the big-name brands went out of business: Summagraphics, CalComp, Houston Instrument -- did I miss any? They were bought out by another brand name in the business, GTCO. And you have probably heard of Wacom, because of their sales into the artistic community. Plus a number of smaller manufacturers attempted to recreate the market for digitizers.

Now UMax is trying. mobilemag.com reports that Umax has release a couple of consumer-grade tablets: The ProVista drawing tablets have a (small) size of 8” x 6” (US$100) or 4” x 3.5” (US$40) with wireless pen and 512 pressure levels.

Of course, these are not just two new tablets that will probably fail to have much impact on the market. This is an event! "The new lines and products are designed to enhance the digital lifestyle of UMAX customers in North America, helping them with new creativity, multimedia and data storage solutions", enthuses UMax Technologies marketing director Christabel Chen.

Comments

[Evan Yares]

You missed Kurta. Also Scripto, Hitachi (Tiger) and Numonics (off the top of my head.)