Wacom Cintiq 21UX 2005 (DTZ-2100) notes

Overview

Release date: 2005

NOTE: A second generation 21 UX model (DTK-2100) was released in 2010.

My experience

The DTZ-2100 was my first pen display. I bought it in late 2007 for $2500 USD ($2644 with taxes).

I was super excited to use it. I truly thought it would unlock some creative ability. I had some prior exposure to drawing on a screen with a Toshiba Portege M200 laptop, which featured an EMR pen and a 12" LCD screen. The idea of drawing on a much larger screen was very exciting.

After unboxing and setting it up, the experience was very disappointing.

• Lots of parallax

• Pointer lag — which is normal for pen displays, but this was the first time I had ever seen it, so it was very jarring

• The device was heavy (tablet + stand) and hard to move around on or off the desk

• The large bezel made it feel like it occupied too much space in front of me and prevented normal desk use

• The colors seemed washed out, even compared to LCD monitors of the era

• The ergonomics did not work for me. I had to hunch over to use it, which strained my lower back. I could only work on it for a short time before it became uncomfortable.

After 15 minutes, I stopped. Over the next few years I would occasionally put it back on my desk to try again, but I never got used to it.

In 2011, I gave it to an acquaintance who was studying design and had always wanted a pen display. I didn't regret giving it away at all.