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Pen Geek : Inkling     9th Jan 2012

August 2011 and we gaze in wonder at a video of Wacom's newest invention:

The Inkling.

Transfixed, we drool over the magic pen which turns inky hand drawings into digital vector files.

Analogue to digital in but the click of a button?

Twitter goes nuts.

 

I'm tempted.

My anti-vector politics waver. 

Could this Wacom really turn me from analogue to digital?

The Dark Side has never seemed so alluring.

 

I give-in to curisoity and order in the pre-release.

Then I wait.

And wait.

And wait.

 

30th September : Finally, the official launch date arrives!

Excitement and anticipation at the possible dawn of my migration from analogue to digital.

No Inkling arrives, so I wait.

And wait.

I check my email hourly for word of its dispatch from Germany.

Nothing.

So I wait some more...

 

An email from Wacom! Hallelujah!

The email reveals that the dispatch of my Inkling...  "has been delayed".

Not the most enlightening of news bulletins.

No word from Wacom when the new dispatch date might be

(or even why the delay in the first place).

I head to Twitter.

"Anyone else waiting for an Inkling?" I tweet.

"Yes!" comes the world's reply.

 

So we wait.

And wait.

And wait...

 

21st October :  a little brown parcel arrives at my door.

What could it be? (All hope of the promised pen had long since evaporated).

To my surprise, nestled in the neatly presented box is my much anticipated Inkling!

Not since the release of Johnny Cupcakes' 2nd batch of Hello Kitty t-shirts have I been so excited!

 

Hello Kitty x Johnny Cupcakes

 

USB connected, software installed and somewhat nasty ballpoint nib inserted.

(Seriously Wacom, I've seen BIC's with nicer nibs!)

It's finally time.

I grab a sheet of paper and begin to draw.

If this were a proper Pen Geek blog I'd tell you more about the actual pen and its handle - but safe to say it's akin to drawing with one of those cheap n nasty biros that the bank -somewhat ironically- have chained to the counters ("Trust us with your money, but we don't trust you with our horrible pen").

Test doodle complete, I tap the magic button and begin the transfer from paper to digital.

Or so I thought.

Parts of the drawing are missing.

Lines and points aren't registering.

Retry.

Re-calibrate.

Re-install.

Repeat.

 

[Scream]

 

Trawl online help, forums and Twitter for possible fix.

Question my ability to work with technology.

Curse myself for not paying more attention in Standard Grade Computing (as obviously this would have helped).

 

Give up.

Ring Wacom UK Customer Service.

Mysteriously, get transferred to Wacom France Customer Service.

Commence tricky Scottish v French / Analogue v Digital customer service call.

Wacom France assures me there's a simple common fault with some of the Inklings, not to worry, send it back and they'll send a replacement within 2 weeks.

Merci et au revoir.

 

9th November: Wacom is collected.

I wait.

Wait a bit more.

I forget.


Christmas!

 

29th December : I suddenly remember my missing wonder pen and email Wacom

"Where's my Inkling?!?" I ask.

"We've sent you a refund" they reply.

 

Huh?

 

"Would you like to re-order?" they ask.

"No thanks" I reply.

 

Lesson learned.

 

 

Posted in - Pen Geek

Comments

  • *sad face*
    I am not an artist, nor am I a designer, I am particular about pens but not as a result of any geekery. Yet I was still ever hopeful about the Inkling, I still use a good old bit of paper to sketch lighting diagrams for photo setups, I storyboard shots in preparation for shoots, and I thought it would be really slick of I could digitise them to send to clients as part of their brief. Looks like it would be better and easier to work with an iPad and a stylus...
    Thanks for being the guinea pig on this one Johanna (possibly more a crash test dummy considering the wreckage of the Wacom reputation left behind!)
    Maybe v2 will be better?
    Andi Ramsay     10th Jan 2012
  • I didnt have the same problem with my inkling and I have been really happy with it albeit I havent used it as much as I would of liked - personally think you should persist with a replacement.

    My only real problem is the lack of portability. I had hoped to be able to just take a pen and a clip (on a notepad say) but the pen is too big and has no lid (the lid is effectively the case you have to carry).
    Simon C Page     10th Jan 2012
  • Simon - In terms of using it as a creative tool for drawing, I simply couldnt draw with that pen - or I could, but the results would be nowhere near the character and quality I can achieve with a fine liner. I was really disappointed in its design (as in the ergonomics of it) and the nib that wacom chose to supply it with. Not to mention the clunky software.

    I think designers wishing to quickly plot points and create vector maps will do great with a fully functioning Inkling - for me though (and I suspect many other illustrators), the device strips away everything thats intrinsic to my work. Its for sketching, not drawing.

    Even without the huge delays and the pretty awful customer service, I think the product itself isnt suited to my style of work and would do nothing to enhance my practise. I wont be re-ordering any time soon.


    Johanna     10th Jan 2012
  • And it looks so promising!

    Goes to how nothing beats the power of the pen… a real pen that is!
    Jake     9th Jan 2012
  • Nice to read your blog
    Reviews     4th Feb 2012
  • What a cool blog!
    Elaine     28th Mar 2012

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