30 January 2008 13:00 GMT / By Stephen Patrick
If you use art packages, whether for drawing freehand or simply for editing photographs, using a pen is often a lot easier than a mouse.The Genius G-Pen F610 is a standard entry-level device that has a slim and neat design. It’s comparable to the Bamboo, from market leader, Wacom.
Consisting of a 10 x 6-inch sensitive pad that hooks up to your PC using USB. You use the rather chunky cordless pen, which may be heavy but feels good in the hand.
We found it easy to set up and use. It’s not the most sensitive of pads and takes some time to calibrate correctly. There is a row of programmable keys running along the top that can be set to work with your favourite.
It works with Mac and Windows and can even be used directly with the Tablet features in premium versions of Vista. This means you can add notes to emails, draw in Word documents and generally annotate pages.
If you aren’t running Vista yet, you can still use the pen as there are a whole host of software tools you can install as Genius has bundled Office Ink, Power Presenter RE, Free Notes, Macro Key Manager, Ulead PhotoImpact 12.
Verdict
The Genius G-Pen F610 isn’t something you’d want to use if you were serious about your art, or possibly even a professional. However, if you’re just starting out or want an alternative to a mouse, this is a great entry-level product.
Score
Review Recap
- Made by
- Genius
- Price as reviewed
- £55
- The good
- Small, decent software
- The bad
- Entry-level sensor
- Quick verdict
- While not the most sensitive of sensors, it’s a good entry to pen-base computing
- Score
-
Recommended articles
Hardware, Mice, Genius, Genius G-Pen F610



Is Facebook about to buy Opera to create own Facebook browser? EXCLUSIVE: Pocket-lint source tells us "yes"
Which smartphone is best for the sun? Screens for the Summer
Batman Nokia Lumia 900: Limited edition phone heading to UK Who are you? I'm Batman
Jony Ive: Next Apple product is our most important and best work yet Better than iPod, iPad and iPhone?
Dragon's Dogma Adventure time
Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Future Soldier Roger likes a Tango at 12 o'clock
Canon EOS 5D MK III It's a hat-trick
Porsche 911 Carrera (991) 2012 pictures and hands-on WANT
Robert Moog Google doodle best yet, even better than Les Paul Synthesizer synthesiser
Microsoft Office coming to iPad and Android tablets this November A change of heart?
APP OF THE DAY: Mini Motor review (Android, iPhone and iPad) Top-down. Top app.
Toshiba AT300: The quad-core 10.1-inch ICS Android tablet UPDATE: Pricing unveiled
Sega serves up Virtua Tennis Challenge on the iPad and iPhone Smash-ing
APP OF THE DAY: Wyse PocketCloud Remote (Android) Work on your PC from anywhere in the world
80-inch Windows 8 tablet already exists - in Microsoft CEO's office Could this be the future?
Olympus OM-D E-M5 review
The compact system camera to beat all others?
Nokia Lumia 900 review
Is big beautiful?
HTC One V review
V for victory?
FIFA 12: UEFA Euro 2012 review
Lacks polish, if not the Polish
Huawei Ascend G300 review
Big bang for your hundred quid
Asus Transformer Pad TF300T review
Transforms your money in to a great tablet
Nikon Coolpix P510 review
Does the P510 zoom beyond expectations?
Fujifilm X-Pro1 review
Like a Leica
Volkswagen Beetle Design 1.2TSi DSG review
The bug is back. Again.
BlackBerry Curve 9320 review
A BB for beginners?
Fujifilm FinePix HS30EXR review
Can Fujifilm’s latest put the ‘super’ in superzoom?
HP Envy 14 Spectre review
The Ultrabook that isn't an Ultrabook
The Walking Dead: The Game review
Fleshed out zombie bonanza
Sony Cyber-shot HX200V review
Superzoom master keeps the bar high