Why n-trig over wacom?

**docg** · 03-02-2011, 02:43 PM

Is my perception wrong that most newer tablets are using n-trig? And why n-trig? I'm not a fan of not being able to rest your hand on the screen, and it seems to me that the pen sensors in these newer dual n-trig ones are just not going to make it with me.

What is going on at wacom? Are they just dropping the market and going for the bamboo project?

I don't get it - my favorite is a wacom active digitizer works best for inking. I'd like a button to turn on and off the actual digitizer for using a multitouch layer if needed. Actually, I just rather use the active digitzer with gorilla glass and forget the multitouch.

So help me out again violajack explain to me why n-trig would be the way to go?

Of course this really gets down to again how you use your machine

**Steve S** · 03-02-2011, 07:58 PM

<<...Is my perception wrong that most newer tablets are using n-trig?..>>

...Based on posts from a few sites, it seems that N-trig is selling their digitizer technology on the basis of a lower component cost and (possibly) lower power demands on the tablet system. N-trig is reported to have claimed that their hardware adds $50 to the cost of a tablet and the assumption is that Wacom's hardware is significantly more expensive (although I have seen no authoritative figures; rumor is ~$200). Posts also assert that N-trig's battery-powered Digital Pencil allows the N-trig digitizer to be more energy efficient, thereby contributing to battery operating life. I personally wonder about this, given the low-power fields involved; I think the battery in the Digital Pencil is more of a reliability (i.e. more reliable inking at the edges of the screen) feature than a power-saving feature, but that's just my opinion.

<<...What is going on at wacom?..>>

...Wacom has its own dual-mode technology but for whatever reason, they haven't been able to sell it as widely as N-trig has managed.

<<...I'd like a button to turn on and off the actual digitizer for using a multitouch layer if needed...>>

...And so you can. The N-trig driver window provides a choice of digitizer operating modes, including Pen Only and Touch Only.

It remains to be seen whether N-trig's current market penetration will last... or not.

**Michelle Mastin** · 03-02-2011, 11:36 PM

In addition to the cost and battery life savings that Steve S mentions, I think a lot of it has to do with the size of the panels. As I understand it, Wacom's digitizers are based on a mesh of sensors in a grid under the panel. N-trig's sensors are just along the edges of the panel. That would seem to make N-trig's technology more adaptable to different panel sizes (but also why it is less accurate). Wacom just doesn't make digitizers in the sizes tablet makers want to make now.

I think they're sticking with accuracy and quality over being in every device coming out. Their CES booth was heavily weighted towards the Cintiqs. They had a few tablet PCs floating around, and the Entourage eDGe, but it seemed they were more focused on the big artist friendly digitizers rather than the small notepad replacement tablets.

**Steve S** · 03-03-2011, 08:49 AM

<<...Wacom's digitizers are based on a mesh of sensors in a grid under the panel...>>

...That is more or less correct. The implication of this approach is that the Wacom digitizer has to be able to "see" through the LCD display.

<<...N-trig's sensors are just along the edges of the panel...>>

...That is not correct. The N-trig digitizer consists of a grid of transparent, conductive lines that are deposited on the surface of the LCD display. By doing this, the N-trig approach has far fewer obstacles to sensing. However, the difference in the user experience between Wacom and N-trig suggests that perhaps N-trig cut a few too many corners in their (apparent) pursuit of low cost...

**docg** · 03-03-2011, 10:59 AM

Steve So in the n-trig with the conductive lines there is more of a chance of disturbance of those line from things other than the pen? Then that would cause inadvertent taps or lack of response at times? If I'm understanding the concept correctly- it makes sense.

**Michelle Mastin** · 03-03-2011, 12:11 PM

Thanks for the corrections Steve S. I'm just going off something I read at some forum or other, but I suppose I should look it up for real. I like to know how things work. I wonder then why Wacom doesn't seem willing to create a panel in anything other than the current 12.1" or 13.3" that are out now.

**Steve S** · 03-03-2011, 07:45 PM

Details about the N-trig digitizer:

http://n-trig.com/Data/Uploads/Misc/...%20version.pdf , and...
http://n-trig.com/Data/Uploads/Misc/...0version_1.pdf

Details about the Wacom the older (1) and newer (2, 3) digitizer:

http://www.wacom-components.com/technologies/EMRpen/

http://www.wacom-components.com/down...ulti-Touch.pdf , and...
http://www.wacom-components.com/tech...pacitiveTouch/

<<...So in the n-trig with the conductive lines there is more of a chance of disturbance of those line from things other than the pen?..>>

...Not exactly; the community experience seems to indicate that the N-trig digitizer (and maybe the Wacom capacitive digitizer, too) may be sensitive to local electromagnetic interference (for example, a poorly shielded fluorescent light)... There have been indications that grounding the computer seems to make a difference...