Will a tablet eventually wear out?

**Number_6** · May 20th, 2007, 11:45 AM

A lot of you are fairly heavy tablet users, so I figured this would be a good place to ask. I'm getting a laptop, and I don't like using the touchpad. Since I already have a tablet (Graphire 4), I figured I could use the mouse instead of buying another one. Since it would be plugged in and in use all the time, is it likely to wear out eventually?

**Blue** · May 20th, 2007, 11:50 AM

I've worn through 3 nibs so far on my Graphire3 8x6. I can't imagine wearing down the plastic sheet on top though, it is fairly thick and hard plastic. I'd imagine by the time you make a good dent in it, you'll already have bought a new one. As for the mouse specifically, i'd imagine it has the same life as a pen - aka a long one.

**SgtDirtbag** · May 20th, 2007, 12:05 PM

My tablet is 12 years old now, looks like it's been run over by a truck.
I'm the second or third owner and I have no idea what the guys before me did to it, but it still works like a charme.

The pad itself is full of scratches, but not as much as I'd expect after 12 years of use.
Normally I just tape a sheet of copy paper over it and it's good to go.

The pen on the other hand wears down more quickly as Blue has stated already, just get some replacement nibs.

All in all I wouldn't worry too much about it, Wacom builds these things as if they were meant to survive a nuclear war.

**Number_6** · May 20th, 2007, 03:44 PM

Originally Posted by Blue

I've worn through 3 nibs so far on my Graphire3 8x6. I can't imagine wearing down the plastic sheet on top though, it is fairly thick and hard plastic. I'd imagine by the time you make a good dent in it, you'll already have bought a new one. As for the mouse specifically, i'd imagine it has the same life as a pen - aka a long one.

Good to know, but what I meant was "Will the tablet's electronics wear out if it's left plugged in all the time?", although from SgtDirtbag's post, it seems unlikely. Thanks.

**Qitsune** · May 20th, 2007, 06:18 PM

I had to change the top plastic sheet for mine, but Wacom sells replacement for a reasonable price. It was so scratched the friction was different in some places.

**skullsquid** · May 20th, 2007, 10:12 PM

Yeah and it will explode too.

**HunterKiller_** · May 21st, 2007, 03:18 AM

Wacom's products are no doubt of quality build. I can't see the electronics of the tablet giving up for a long time as it has no moving parts.
The pen on the other hand... It does have moving parts... and has parts activated by pressure... Not so sure about that one.

**Angroc** · May 21st, 2007, 03:18 AM

Originally Posted by evildisco

Yeah and it will explode too.

!!!

but yeah, they are resilient, little bastard. I've run over my tablet twice with my chair. took it like a man, so to speak.

**central** · May 23rd, 2007, 01:43 AM

had my graphire 4 for over a year now, great buy imo. nib needs a change, otherwise doing great.

**UПiT_22** · May 23rd, 2007, 03:48 AM

So what to do when the nib is 2 mm and I can't get it out ?

**Qitsune** · May 23rd, 2007, 06:37 AM

Use your teeth? Or tweezers... both work for me. Btw, when I said mine was scratched, I bought it used 5 years ago. That might explain it.

**lordofthebling** · May 23rd, 2007, 03:35 PM

Also, make sure your hands are clean when you use it, and wipe off the dust.

**Lohan** · May 23rd, 2007, 09:46 PM

Originally Posted by Qitsune

I had to change the top plastic sheet for mine, but Wacom sells replacement for a reasonable price. It was so scratched the friction was different in some places.

I haven't bought a new sheet yet, but the friction in certain spots on mine is also becoming a problem. This is after about 3 years of pretty consistent use.

**James Kei** · May 23rd, 2007, 09:51 PM

My widescreen tablet just died on me after less than 2 years of use.
I haven't had any problems with my other tablets.

**kool-ka-lang** · May 23rd, 2007, 11:46 PM

Question: how long does it take for a pen nib to wear down? Say, you use it once every two days.

**Qitsune** · May 24th, 2007, 06:28 AM

kool: years

**JL.Alfaro** · May 29th, 2007, 02:54 PM

by replacing the nibs frequently enough, you reduce the wear and tear of the plastic cover dramatically.
I just got my Cintiq and I make it a point to check the nibs daily. Take care of your tools and they will take care of you.

posted by: kool-ka-lang : Question: how long does it take for a pen nib to wear down? Say, you use it once every two days.

looks like you made a bad investment there bud, once every 2 days?? what are you... art fasting?

-JL

**JustinBeckett** · May 29th, 2007, 03:59 PM

Will it run out electronically??

Well if you think about it, do all electronics eventually run out?

Yes.

So yeah, i would think if you had it running all the time it is eventually going to die, but my guess is you would get a good 2 years or more out of it. But if you buy the 4 x 6 tablet its only like 130 bucks, so just go buy a new one, after 2 years, you got your monies worth.

~JB

**Farvus** · May 29th, 2007, 04:19 PM

I recently (after 2 years of using) have some problems with my Wacom Volito tablet that I haven't noticed earlier. Sometimes after drawing a line the tablet still leaves some mark even if I'm not touching the surface with the tip. Pressure is locked on some low level for a while. It's really annoying and at the beginning I thought it's Photoshop problem. However it happened also when using OpenCanvas so it must be something with hardware.

I'll propably buy new pen for this model if it gets terrible.

**Jasmin** · June 1st, 2007, 02:05 AM

in my experience, the tablet-mice are just the same as a good quality wireless mouse, the pens take about a year and a half of heavy use (i use mine instead of a mouse as I get sore hands otherwise) before you need to switch nibs. Usually they come with about 4 nibs, so... well, 6 years would probably be about time to buy a new tablet anyway.

I would strongly suggest steering away from the graphire if you want something that lasts, though... I had one of them, and it screwed up after a year due to some elctrical fault which apparently wasn't covered by the warranty, while my manhatten (which cost 1/5 of the price) not only is more resonsive than the graphire ever was, but hasn't even looked like stuffing up, despite much rougher treatment.

**Flake** · June 1st, 2007, 09:11 AM

Originally Posted by Jasmin

I would strongly suggest steering away from the graphire if you want something that lasts, though... I had one of them, and it screwed up after a year due to some elctrical fault which apparently wasn't covered by the warranty

On the other hand, my Graphire still works perfectly after 3 years and it's had some fairly rough treatment. (beer and coffee spillages, accidental ashtray incidents, bounced off the floor a good few times..)

**jlward** · June 1st, 2007, 01:11 PM

I had an original Intuos for going on nine years. I've dropped it more times than I care to think about-- that thing has really, really been abused. In fact, the casing has started to split open recently. It can open like a book if I wanted to run the risk, but even with all of the many mishaps the thing still works. Only recently has it suffered a slight loss in sensitivity-- not enough to effect it's functionality, but enough that sometimes I have to press a little harder than I used to.

I recently bought a Intuos3 and crap these things have gotten so small. They look delicate now compared to the old tank that I used to have, but it seems to be as resilient as the original. Hope that helps.

John

**Rhynome** · June 1st, 2007, 02:18 PM

The amount of threads to tablets, 'what should I get' 'will it break' 'I set mine on fire, will it be okay?' etc. maybe there should just be the tablet stickey.
It would have prices, designs of tablets, opinions on them and any questions like this answered.

It may get a little unordered (as in which post is being answered to?), but it would all be in one place and maybe good for rainy Saturday reading?

**Cthogua** · June 1st, 2007, 03:01 PM

Originally Posted by Farvus

I recently (after 2 years of using) have some problems with my Wacom Volito tablet that I haven't noticed earlier. Sometimes after drawing a line the tablet still leaves some mark even if I'm not touching the surface with the tip. Pressure is locked on some low level for a while. It's really annoying and at the beginning I thought it's Photoshop problem. However it happened also when using OpenCanvas so it must be something with hardware.

I'll propably buy new pen for this model if it gets terrible.

I had exactly that happen with my tablet here at work. I noticed it in Painter first...thought it was some weird Painter glitch, however when I went into Photoshop the same thing happened. It persisted for a couple of days, then disappeared before I could ever figure out exactly what was happening. Some sort of angry Wacom spirit visitation.

**Donna** · June 2nd, 2007, 11:03 AM

My Graphire3 just died - the nib won't respond, although the eraser and switch buttons work perfectly. I looked up the support forum and it seems I'm not the only one having the exact same problem at the exact same time.

Too bad the tablet is no longer covered by warranty, eh? It's a little over 3 years old.

As for the tip wear down-ness, it should last you a looong, long time