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Issue link: https://digital.macdirectory.com/i/1234839
matte surface that feels like something you would actually draw on, one thing the iPad Pros can't quite replicate. On the top of the tablet, two strong legs fold out to serve as an angled desk stand. Tucked in the body of the tablet under the left leg is a magazine of three spare pen nibs. (The drawing surface is known for its durability, so the nibs are subject to a bit of punishment.) The Wacom One includes a pen designed for the One, and rather than a stand, there's a fabric loop on top of the tablet to hold it. Like all Wacom pens, it is battery-free, thanks to its exclusive electromagnetic resonance technology that powers the pen through the tablet. Several other pens are available from some well- known sources and even more are in the pipeline. As part of our test-drive, we were able to try out one by Staedtler, only distinguishable from their famous graphite-based Noris line by its nib, rather than lead at the tip. (If you have kids, either hide the pen or your pencil sharpener.) For those most comfortable drawing on paper with a standard pencil, you'll feel right at home. Getting Connected A thick-ish cable that Wacom calls its X-Shape Cable, with a right-angle USB-C connector attaches to the tablet and this splits off into three others, including an HDMI to carry the video, a USB-A to carry data from the computer, and another USB-A that plugs into the included AC adapter to carry the 10W of power it needs from a wall outlet. This is a fine setup for a desktop, but on the road with a MacBook, it may feel a bit tangled at times. We also discovered, quite by accident, that with the HDMI cable disconnected, the Wacom One functions much like their Intuos line with the pen and tablet controlling your computer screen. This will be very handy for those times when you want to use the tablet interface, but depend on a carefully calibrated monitor for critical color work. The Wacom One's included utility, the Wacom Desktop Center, does offer basic calibration settings as well as a host of other options, including the ability to back up your collections of settings to your desktop or Wacom's cloud service. The tablet will also work with an Android device, though due to Apple's developer restrictions, an iPhone or iPad option isn't in the cards. Drawing on Your Screen The overall feel and responsiveness when drawing is excellent. It's 2,048 levels of pressure sensitivity matches some of Wacom's best. The tablet responds to pen angle as well as pressure. Functioning as a second Mac display, there's no issue when it comes to software compatibility. We tested it out with both Adobe Creative Cloud applications and the extended trial of the versatile Clip Studio Paint EX that's included. Autodesk's SketchBook is the ideal option for folks who just want to draw. And, it's now free. The tablet works best as an extension to your Mac's display, keeping both at their native resolutions. For critical color work, you may want to move to display mirroring, even if it does involve changing your Mac