Graphic Pens and Tablets for On-the-Road Writing

If you are a business traveler who uses a graphic tablet or pen, or have ever considering using one, here are a few things to check out before your next trip.

Wacom Bamboo $79 wacom.com

The first tablet I tried was the Bamboo from Wacom. This 5.8" x 3.7" wired tablet has one great feature -- the feel of the digital pen. It feels very close to what it would be like to be writing with a pen on paper.

I liked the size of this tablet because it doesn't take up a ton of room and could easily be plugged in to complete quick tasks like notes, sketches, signatures. It's also useful if you don't happen to type well writing emails.

Because of the small size, it's also easy to pack, store and pull out for a quick note or two on a plane.

Of note is the scrolling and zooming with the finger-sensitive Touch Ring, and the pen does not require a battery.

This will work on PC with XP or Vista and on a Mac.

Wacom Graphire $250 wacom.com

Also from Wacom, I looked at the Bluetooth Graphire.

This wireless, 6" by 8" is a step up both in price and features.

I liked the pitch on this tablet. It is angled, making it ergonomically easier to work on, especially for long periods of time. There also is a wireless mouse that comes bundled with the tablet.

A setup note: I had a few issues while trying to use the Bluetooth wizard on a PC, but once it was in, all systems were go.

Wireless is the key here, and with the tablet you'll be able to spread out. The manufacturer lists connectivity at 30 feet. We were 10 feet away with no problems.

Another great feature is the removable plastic panel, under which you could place some artwork to trace or a photo or diagram to draw on.

The Graphire mouse is wireless and battery-free, as is the tablet.

The tablet is powered with a rechargeable lithium polymer battery (gives you up to 25 hours between charges) or plug into the universal power adapter to simultaneously charge your tablet and work.

• The Graphire comes with the following software:

• Corel Painter Essentials 2

• Windows Vista, 2000, XP, or Mac OS X 10.2.8+

• Nik Color Efex Pro 2 GE

• Windows Vista, 2000, XP, or Mac OS X 10.2.8+

This isn't for every business traveler. But it could work for those who have issues like carpel tunnel syndrome or just want to have the option of not using a mouse to input data.

G-Pen F610 $79 amazon.com

This ultraslim tablet measures 6" x 10" and is about the thickness of a padded manila envelope.

What's different, right out of the box, are the two hot-key screens on top. One of the layover screens is for Vista and the other for XP. If you are on a Mac you won't need the hot buttons.

After trying this out on a PC with XP (no problem) I removed the two screens in order to work on a MAC. While the screens removed easily, I don't know that they would adhere that well once removed.

A word of advice: If you are using it on a PC keep the hot key screens on and don't remove them.

The key advantages of the device are the super-slim design and the ability to do things like notes, signatures, quick drawings with ease.

Site to See

Best Gas Prices

If you are literally on the road, this new feature on Mapquest could come in handy. Type in a city and a map will come up with the top 10 places in that area to get the best price on gas.

Also, you can check out gas prices across the country if you're going on an extended road trip.