digitec users test the Wacom Folio L

Together with Wacom, we gave away several drawing tablets. We wanted honest feedback from the winners on what the devices can do. Here are the user reviews from Roman and Nando, who each received a Folio L from us.

This is what Roman finds

The Bamboo Folio promises to be a writing pad that digitally captures everything that is written on it. The whole thing can then be downloaded quickly and conveniently via an app, and the writing/drawing can be edited and shared.

As a scientist in adhesives research, I rely on notes in the lab and in meetings. My biggest problem so far has always been filing these notes properly and archiving them digitally. My hope with the Bamboo Folio is to finally bring order to my pile of papers on my desk. So far, however, the hefty price tag and the uncertainty as to whether the Folio can survive the rigours of everyday laboratory life have put me off buying it.

The first impression

The Folio is beautifully finished. The materials feel very high-quality and the decorative seams are also where they should be - even the boss would be jealous. Unfortunately, the high weight is also noticeable. At 1111.8 g, as the precision scales confirm, the Folio does not belong in the lightweight category, but can already play in the ultrabook class. For me, however, this is not so bad, as I don't carry the device around with me all day.

Writing with the Bamboo

Writing with the Bamboo Folio is fun. The pen is comfortable to hold. The only thing you have to get used to compared to a conventional writing pad is that you have to switch on the Folio before writing and confirm that you want to turn the page onto a fresh sheet. But you soon get used to it.

The Bamboo in the lab

The conditions in the glue lab are not the best for electronic devices such as laptops and tablets, as the glue tends to stick to these devices. These devices often cannot be cleaned properly as the solvents that would remove the adhesive also dissolve the entire housing. This is why laptops and tablets are not often found in such laboratories.

To test the Folio's chemical resistance, I wiped the inside and outside as well as the pen completely with acetone, an all-purpose solvent. Fortunately, the high quality of the materials used was confirmed here too, nothing dissolved. So the folio will certainly survive a few years in the chemistry lab and still look presentable enough to take to a customer meeting.

The big but

Hardware-wise, the Bamboo Folio is great and I would highly recommend it to all my colleagues, BUT unfortunately the app is not the yellow of the egg.
It took several attempts before I was able to pair the device for the first time. The transmission is extremely slow, the app requires a GPS connection (for whatever) and not all functions can be used with the offline account. In the end, I'm just as fast and flexible when I scan the pages described with a good scanning app.

Conclusion

The Wacom Bamboo Folio is a very nice device and I will certainly continue to use it as my pile of pages is slowly thinning out. But I'm secretly hoping for a decent software update or the option to use a third-party app. Until then, the price is simply too high for a device that doesn't feel "finished".

What Nando thinks

I was able to test the Folio L for a fortnight in my everyday student life and find the idea sensational - but not quite fully developed. The folder is a pleasant size, is very thin and can be carried in any bag where a laptop would also fit. The accuracy with which the notes are recorded is amazing and works brilliantly. As soon as a page is full, it can be saved at the touch of a button.

The differentiation of various pressure levels offers the user a further creative option, which I found very helpful. In terms of space requirements, the intelligent notepad is ideal for university. It takes up about the same amount of space on the desk as a normal exercise book. In all technical fields of study where formulae are used and calculations have to be solved, the BAMBOO offers significant added value compared to a laptop. Physics and maths problems are much easier and more convenient to solve on paper than on a laptop.

Another plus point is the battery life. In my tests, it easily lasted for a whole week in everyday student life. With the help of the manufacturer's app, the saved notes can also be edited on the smartphone or tablet and can be refined with colours, for example. Unfortunately, it is not possible to use colours on the paper, which I personally find very unfortunate. This means that the notes can only be written in black ink with the Spark Pen. Corrections are also not possible. If you make a mistake, this can no longer be undone.

The saved notes, which are either on the tablet or smartphone, can be used with the laptop via a web app. Unfortunately, a direct connection via Bluetooth between the Bamboo and laptop is not possible. Another inconvenience is that the device switches off after 20 minutes without use. Written notes are saved but cannot be continued; instead, a new document is started. When writing, you also have to make sure that the notepad or the individual pages do not slip on the sensor plate. Otherwise the written pages may overlap, which is definitely no fun.

I also had significant problems with exporting the note files. I was able to create a PDF and save the file as such. Unfortunately, I couldn't open it with any PDF reader. In order to create a usable PDF, I had to open the JPEG file and use Microsoft Print to PDF.

Conclusion

The Wacom Bamboo is a great thing and very suitable for students, especially in technical fields of study. It would be desirable to have several colours for writing, a clearer synchronisation and a possible direct connection to a laptop.

Positive

• Accuracy of the stylus detection
• Writing feel on paper
• Handy size
• Battery life
• Child-friendly operation

Negative

• Use of different colours is not possible
• Synchronisation does not always work equally well
• Direct connection to a laptop is not possible
• PDF converter does not work

Graphics tablets

Wacom Bamboo Folio L

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