I like retro tech that's still useful, this Motion Computing LE1700 is something I used to make art for a game jam in 2023 (https://bodgins.itch.io/dr-patient-md)
It's a funky Windows XP tablet from the mid 2000s with a stylus, and a pop-up mouse that lives in the PC Card slot.
Short video of the game, in the end I saw the address of the softhouse, and it's 16 miles away from my home, I think I'll call the number and see if someone ...
Amazon Price: $3,063.00 (as of unknown date – Details). Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on the Amazon site at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Motion Computing Lp424442234353 F5te I5 – Std Touch – Scr Not Included
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A Review of Modern Artist Hardware -or- Don’t buy a Wacom Cintiq
Warning: Long Post
Ok, so let me explain first: The art industry/hobby is diverse and no one piece of hardware or software will work for everyone. This is meant for middle market artist who want to level up their digital art experience, or even break into digital art. I want to give my thoughts on a few devices out there, their pros and cons, and why I choose the device I did after a long journey. Plus I don’t see a lot of people talking about the device I use and I think it’s a shame not many people know of this option.
My Personal Choice: Motion Computing Le 1700
You’ve probably never heard of it and here is why: Motion Computing came out with a line of pc tablet computers in the early -mid 2000’s that featured a stylus and pressure sensitivity provided by Wacom drivers. They were marketed mostly to doctors and nurses so they could scurry around the hospital busily writing their notes and pulling up patient records. However, they suffered from a fatal flaw: timing. They did well in the medical market, but before their brand of tablet computers could get a grip with the consumer market the iPad hit the scene and dominated. Tablets were now seen as touch interface and app driven. Motion computing went on behind the scenes making stylus tablet computer but kept specializing them for the medical market. I wasn’t like you could head on down to Best Buy and get one. So for most part the Motion Computing line remained a well kept secret among the artist who were luckily enough to have discovered one.
Now of course many full tablet pc’s capable of running Windows 8 are flooding the market. Many include factory or aftermarket pressure sensitivity and stylus ability. This means of course that price coming down, however they can still be pretty expensive and often not very large. Things will continue to get cheaper and better, but in the mean time I still often recommend a Motion Computing tablet to my artist friends.
Pros: Full tablet computer that can run any program including Photoshop, Autodesk, and Sketchbook. Comes with a Wacom stylus. Runs Wacom drivers for pressure sensitivity . Wifi, monitor input, HDMI out, usb ports, headphone and microphone jacks. Price, I’ve seen them on eBay from $99- $400.
* Pressure Sensitivity in Sai
The pressure sensitive is better than my Wacom Bamboo tablet IMO. I can sketch without having to change my brush size because it’ so sensitive I can make the finest hair line marks to big fat strokes just by minute changes in pressure. I also love the way Sai works with the pressure sensitivity when I’m blending colors on my tablet. I’ve upgraded mine to be as fast as possible (see below) so my lines follow my stylus in real time, I never get a lag or a render time.
* Color blending with in Sai
Cons: You will have to get it from Ebay (if that’s a con for you). You need to install the Wacom tablet pc driver yourself, but it’s super easy and free. Don’t expect a lot of storage space. You won’t be able to carry around every file you own (but this is true for even new tablet computers). I carry around several drawings and paintings and sync my Dropbox to it, but that’s about it. Since you get them from eBay there is no identical model anymore. You may need, however, to do some easy upgrades.
Here is my advice: Your tablet may come with Windows XP. This is because when these were coming out Windows Vista as the OS of the day, however Vista – besides just being a bad OS – took a lot of ram to run so it was not a good choice for the tablet. You may wish to upgrade the OS now that other options are available. When I got mine it had Vista and I DO NOT recommend! I upgraded to Windows 7 which takes much less ram and now my tablet flies. I think if I put windows 8 on it it would be even faster, but I haven’t invested in that yet.
Upgrading an OS is easy as installing any program, so don’t worry. You can get Windows 7 now for $100. And hey if you are only paying on average $300 for the tablet you are ahead of the game.
Upgrade your Ram. These tablets max out at 4GB ram which is plenty to run Photoshop, heck I’ve even done some 3d Photoshop stuff on my tablet. Your tablet may come with the full installable ram, or it may come with 2GB. If you get 2GB I highly recommend you go ahead and upgrade it, it IS worth it. I did mine for $50.
Accessories: one add-on I’d recommend is the extended battery. It’s just a flat board that snaps to the back of the tablet, but it adds about 3 hours of battery life. You can also find pleather cases specially made for this tablet. While I recommend finding some cover or protector for it, I don’t recommend the one I have here. It’s very bulky, adds a lot of weight, and the kickstand does not work well. There is also an available dock but I’m not quite sure why. The dock does not have a keyboard or mouse, though you can attach those though the dock. But you could just add a usb keyboard or mouse right to the tablet sooooo…. I think the docks purpose is to hold the tablet up like a desktop screen and it also charges the unit, but to do those two tasks the dock is HEAVY, huge, and cumbersome. I keep it on my desk and use it sometimes, but not much. I couldn’t even be bothered to get it out for photos.
* Extra battery pack optional
* This is the case that came with mine. I don't like the fact that it's heavy and uncomfortable to hold, but i do like that it keeps it nice and safe since I have a habit of breaking my screens.
Final thought: If you are not ready to get sink a lot of money into a new tablet pc the Motion Computing Le1700 (or LE1600) is a GREAT little tablet pc to sketch at home and on the go.
___
Other Options
Wacom Bamboo/Intuos (or any pen tablet)
Pros: Nothing beats Wacom when it comes to pressure sensitivity, and IMHO pressure sensitivity is the most important function when it comes to digital drawing devices. Other functions are nice but if it doesn’t have pressure sensitivity I can’t even START to draw on it. The price point is nice and a lot of sizes are available, $75 -$800, something for everyone.
Cons: Personally I can’t stand the disconnect of moving my hand on the tablet but looking up on the screen to see what I’m doing. You have no intuitive reference of “if I put my pen here it corresponds to this specific point on screen.” Until you get used to it you are guessing a lot of the time. I used to call it “drawing in the Aether.” Some people don’t mind, I’ve watched other artists dance their hand over the tablet and produce perfectly proportioned drawings. You also need to have a companion computer to plug the tablet into. Your workspace must have the room to setup a laptop and a tablet, no sketching on a park bench.
Wacom Cintiq
Pros: The pressure sensitive surface is a screen, plug it into your laptop and your computer screen is transferred onto the Cintiq screen. No more drawing in the Aether!
Cons: The cost! Starting at $1,000 it’s not cheap. Many versions actual screen size is rather small; much of the tablet is taken up with external buttons. The screen on the $1,000 version is unacceptably small at the price IMO. You still need a computer to plug into.
Wacom Cintiq Companion Hybrid
Pros: Acts like the Cintiq when attached to a computer (shared screen) but when detached becomes an android tablet so it will operate to a limited capacity without a companion laptop. Will run basic sketch apps.
Cons: Degraded capability when not plugged into a computer. Can’t use Photoshop, Sai, Autodesk, Sketchbook. The price starts at $1,500
Wacom Cintiq Companion
Pros: Acts like the Cintiq when attached to a computer (shared screen) and becomes a full Windows 8 tablet computer when detached. Now we are getting somewhere! Run Photoshop, Autodesk, Sketchbook or any program that would run on a Windows 8 computer.
Cons: Cost again, $2,300 is a bit much to swallow. Sure is preeeety tho.
Hybrid Laptops
Pros: There are a lot of other hybrid laptops on the market that are full Windows 8 machines that become Android tablets when the screen is removed from the dock. You do not need a full companion laptop to run full programs. You only need to attach the screen to the keyboard dock. Without the Wacom brand name the price point goes down dramatically. Asus has one for only $350.
Cons: Once again unless you are attached to your dock you cannot run full programs like Photoshop. Read the specs carefully to make sure the screen has pressure sensitivity. You may also wish to check out the manufacture of the pressure sensitivity drivers. Wacom has their tech in a lot of other company’s tablets and they are generally the most accurate and sensitive.
Tablet Computers
Pros: There are lots of full Window 8 tablet computers out there with a price point for everyone. Get full programs anywhere right on screen.
Cons: Once again make sure you get a tablet with pressure sensitivity, and if possible Wacom drivers. It’s important of course that the tablet comes with a stylus or will work with an aftermarket stylus. It can be difficult to know if the tablet you are getting will fits your needs without some research. The Microsoft Surface Pro ($450) will run Wacom drivers and has pretty impressive pressure sensitivity though it’s a BIT small.
