Bamboo Delivers Personal, Creative Expression to Computing Experience

VANCOUVER, Wash., Sept. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Wacom Technology Corp. introduces Bamboo, an all new family of pen tablets available in the Americas for the first time. This new family of human interface devices includes Bamboo and Bamboo Fun, two distinct pen tablets that provide a natural, personal and creative digital input experience in any home or work environment. See Bamboo and Bamboo highlights at the http://www.wacom.com/wacombamboo microsite.

Just like the first writing instruments in Asia created from bamboo and fur, Wacom's new Bamboo and Bamboo Fun reinvent the pen for the 21st century and offer new inking freedoms for our era.

"Advances in both software applications and computer operating systems make this an ideal time for us to interact with computers in a more expressive and efficient manner," said Dennis Hoff, Wacom's consumer product manager. "Now, you can use a pen to create expressive content, personalize communications and navigate more freely."

Both Bamboo and Bamboo Fun sport elegant designs with increased functionality and ease of use in mind. Four programmable ExpressKeys(TM) are situated on the tablet surface to customize commonly used commands, such as "undo" or "copy." A finger-sensitive Touch Ring has been positioned to allow for quick and easy zooming and scrolling. The textured work surface of the tablet provides an intuitive pen-on-paper feel, while the stylish and ergonomically designed pens allow users to experience seemingly unlimited levels of pressure sensitivity, to create variations of pen strokes, from fine lines to bold brush marks. Additionally, Bamboo and Bamboo Fun work elegantly in both Mac and PC (including Windows 2000, Windows XP and Windows Vista(TM)) environments.

Bamboo Fun: Create your World

Available to consumers immediately in two sleek sizes and four cool colors, Bamboo Fun provides all the tools needed to have fun exploring digital creativity. Ideal for digital photo enthusiasts or those just wanting to satiate their creative hunger, Bamboo Fun makes it easy to enhance photos and create artwork for scrapbooks, craft projects and slide shows.

In addition to Wacom's patented cordless, battery-free pen, the Bamboo Fun mouse, uses the same electro-magnetic resonance technology as the pen, offering quick response times and accuracy. Because the mouse has no ball, wires or batteries, users discover a virtually maintenance free experience. When used alternately with a mouse, the Bamboo pen can effectively reduce repetitive motion and increase comfort and control.

Bamboo Fun is offered in two sizes (small and medium) each in black, silver, white or blue.

Bamboo: Make your Mark!

Getting the most out of business and communications software is now within easy reach with Bamboo, a rugged and elegant pen tablet designed specifically for the mainstream home or office computer user. Building on Wacom's extensive experience developing pen-based input devices, the small pen tablet, in black only, provides the same hardware features as Bamboo Fun, except for the pressure-sensitive pen eraser and mouse.

A recent winner of the coveted red dot award for product design, Bamboo's contemporary design elicits an emotional attachment and pride-of-ownership rarely found in the input device category. With a natural pen-on-paper feel, Bamboo makes it easy for users to personalize their workflow and collaborate with others by providing navigation and communication capabilities not available with alternative input devices.

Mac OS(R) and Microsoft Windows Vista(TM) operating systems introduce significant pen input features to Bamboo users for a faster, easier and more efficient computing experience. For those on a Mac, Inkwell offers a variety of pen input features, allowing one to enter handwritten text anywhere typed text is accepted. Bamboo pen users working on a PC will covet the new Windows Vista-enabled note taking resources, handwriting recognition and time-saving gesture controls. All versions of Windows Vista (except Home Basic) provide complete pen functionality with Bamboo. Select aspects of the Bamboo and Windows Vista pen experience include:

    -- Note Taking -- Microsoft Journal is an application exclusively for the
       benefit of Bamboo or those working with another pen tablet, interactive
       pen display or Tablet PC.  Journal simulates a physical notebook, but
       with all the advantages of a digital medium.  The Bamboo pen can be
       used in Journal to jot notes and capture quick sketches, providing
       valuable collaboration options for use at home, school and work.
       Journal also incorporates a powerful search engine that can even locate
       handwritten content.
    -- Handwriting Recognition -- Windows Vista introduces intelligent
       handwriting recognition as a natural supplement to keyboard input.
       This new recognition technology efficiently and accurately converts a
       wide variety of handwriting styles into typed text.  For example,
       during a brainstorming session, Bamboo users can scribble down ideas
       and sketch concepts for collaboration with colleagues.  The user has
       the option to share the information in handwritten form or convert it
       to typed text.
    -- Gestures -- There are a variety of pen gestures available within
       Windows Vista that enable Bamboo users to navigate faster and enhance
       the overall computing experience.  Flicks offers eight customizable
       gestures with actions determined by the user and Scratch Out allows pen
       users to delete text automatically with a scratching motion of the pen
       over the targeted text.

Bamboo also enables new features in recent releases of the most popular software applications. In Microsoft Office 2007, users can now discover new ways to personalize and simplify their work. When running on Windows Vista, Microsoft's Word(R), Excel(R), Outlook(R), PowerPoint(R) and OneNote(R) all support digital mark-up with a Bamboo pen tablet, allowing easy access to digital inking tools for intuitive collaboration. Users can select a pen or highlighter tool to mark-up documents, spreadsheets, presentation slides and e-mail messages.

Pricing and Availability

Available at retail in mid-September, Bamboo is priced at $79.99 (MSRP). Also available in September, Bamboo Fun, offered in two sizes (small, medium) costs $99.99 and $199.99 (MSRP) respectively.

Wacom Company Ltd., (Tokyo Stock Exchange 6727), is a global company based in Japan with subsidiaries in the United States (Wacom Technology Corporation), Germany (Wacom Europe GmbH), China (Wacom China Corporation), Korea (Wacom Digital Solutions), Australia (Wacom Australia Pty, Ltd) and Singapore (Wacom Singapore Pte.Ltd.). In addition to these subsidiaries, Wacom has affiliate offices around the world to support marketing and distribution in over 150 countries. Founded in 1983, Wacom's vision to bring people and technology closer together through natural interface technologies has made it the world's leading manufacturer of pen tablets, interactive pen displays, and digital interface solutions. The advanced technology of Wacom's intuitive input devices has been used to create some of the most exciting digital art, films, special effects, fashions and designs around the world and provides business and home users with the ability to express themselves in a natural way. Millions of customers are using its cordless, battery-free, pressure-sensitive pen technology. Wacom's patented digital interface technology, called Penabled(R), is also offered as an integrated solution to strategic partners.

Most Tablet PC manufacturers count on the advanced features and reliability of Penabled technology to deliver a superior pen experience. Penabled technology is also playing an essential role in the development of leading-edge mobile devices. The company also offers its products as OEM solutions to leading manufacturers serving multiple markets.

    For more information, please contact:

    Douglas A. Little
    Public Relations Manager
    Wacom Technology Corp.
    360-896-9833 x174
    douglas.little@wacom.com