I picked up a Bamboo Fun tablet the other day, under the mistaken belief that I would be able to get it working on Hitagi (my self-built computer, which has the 64-bit version of Ubuntu 9.10). After all, there were a number of walkthroughs online, purporting to detail the process (like the Linux Wacom Project page).

It was not meant to be.

A few frustrating hours later, I decided to give up, and just to make sure that there was nothing wrong with the tablet, I tried plugging it into Natsuki (my store-bought laptop, an HP Pavillion with Windows Vista) just to make sure. And you know what? It. Just. Worked. As much as I am unimpressed with Microsoft's operating systems, I have to admit, the ease of use is quite often rather refreshing. No need to run a series of cryptic text command after cryptic text command; just plug and play.

Well, the statement "It just worked" requires some qualifications. I've had Photoshop 5 since forever, but it won't load at all if the tablet is plugged in. It doesn't matter; I rarely use Photoshop. The GIMP (my preferred image editing software) loads as well as it ever did, which is to say not very well. GIMP has never run smoothly under Vista for me--it bogs down even when dealing with relatively uncomplicated images, whereas even under Ubuntu 8.04 on a eight-year-old clunker of a third-hand desktop, it was able to handle multi-layered images with ease.

But it does work, and even serves to show off some of the Bamboo tablet's functionality, like the ability to set a different tool to each end of the tablet's stylus, like say, a paintbrush tool to the pointy-end of the stylus and the eraser to the rounded-end, enabling me to draw and erase much as if I'm actually holding a pencil. Very nice.

Of course, this would be great if I could actually draw. I mean, I did okay in Art class back in high school, but that was eight years ten years a long time ago. The best I can manage these days is stick figures, and we're not even talking quality stick figures like xkcd or even Shirt Guy Dom. I would post examples of some of my hand-drawn 'art' (using this term very loosely), but it's sad.

Why did I spend $200 on this Bamboo Fun tablet again?

tl;dr I wasted a lot of time and money for no reason, and decided to share the story with everyone as bored as me!