POSRUS NibSaver Surface Cover for Wacom Intuos 4 Medium PTK-640 Pen Tablet

Search around the internet for "Intuos4" and you may come across a disturbing bit of information: these tablets chew through pen nibs. Wacom claims that the Intuos4 has a paper-like surface, and they're right, to a degree. The surface is more grippy than on earlier tablet models. It is not, however, soft like paper. What we're left with is a hard, rough surface for the plastic nibs to rub against. You might guess as to how pen nibs react to these circumstances -- they don't stand a chance. Within the first day of ownership I was already seeing wear and tear.After some research, I came across a few ways to deal with the wear issue:1) Purchase additional nibs from Wacom2) Make your own nibs from trimmer string (0.065 inches or thereabout)3) Get a surface coverAs I didn't want to reward Wacom for a design fault, I opted for the surface cover. You can either make your own cover (a simple piece of paper and some tape will work) or buy one. Wanting something that looked more refined, I paid $10 for the product you see here.After about two months of use, here are my thoughts:-Installation was easy enough. The product comes with a yellow piece of paper detailing how to install the cover-The packaging is very basic. In fact, it's so basic and the product so niche, I wonder how long these covers will be produced. The company that makes these can't be that large, and we all know how long small companies typically last. Should I have ordered more...?-Both the cover itself and the pen nib are in great shape. As soon as I installed the surface cover, all nib wear seemed to stop. Sure, the paper-like surface is gone, but the tablet is still pleasant to draw on. The slight give is nice.If you're like me and can't quite stomach the idea of paying $10 (!) for a pack of nibs, consider putting that money towards a surface cover. Wacom doesn't seem keen on fixing the problem, so take things into your own hands.Update:After nearly two years, I've replaced the cover. Daily use has caused oft used areas to develop scratches. The scratches aren't deep, but they do affect how the pen slides across the surface. As for the nibs, I'm still using the one that came with the pen. Take that, Wacom!

PROS- It defintely reduces the nib wear, this is because there is barely any friction when writing (the feel will not take too much time to get comfortable with)- Pressure sensitivy stays the same- Cutout measurement is almost exact for the Intous4 Medium writing area (length from top to bottom is slightly longer, but not noticeable when properly placed)- Installation was fairly easy, took about 5 minutes to get everything adjusted properly- Surface is durable (does not leave dents or impressions when pressure is applied, stays smooth after use)CONS- Price is a lot for a single screen protector, it cost me almost double the original price after taxes and shipping to Canada- Adhesive on the edges does not look professional, compared to the overall look of the tablet (would have been better if it were a static adhesion like some cell phone protectors)- The feel of the surface is very smooth and may not be desirable for some people- Minor issue... when repeatedly removing the protector when adjusting during the application, adhesive gets weak, particularly the cornersOverall, this product does what it says, which is protecting the tablet writing surface while reducing nib wear. The downside is that the adhesive on the edges does not compliment the professional look of the tablet and the pricing for this protector seem slightly expensive for what you get. Definitely, a good option for those who don't want to spend money on a new set of nibs.

The price isnt so bad compared to buying an entirely new cover sheet. If you were like me, and was suckered in to buying wacom's crappy intuos 4 model (pre or post model update) then I'd definitely recommend this. I've never liked the grainy paper texture of the surface, and I've worked with older models of the tablet for years, so using this feels much better. The cover sheet also feels pretty sturdy, so it can really take a lot of tablet pressure abuse and hold up just fine. It may not look very "professional", but it's a cover sheet to allow such a flawed model last longer, so what do you expect?The only other thing I'd say is to be cautious putting it on. Try to put it on under as much light as possible so you can clean both your tablet AND the cover from specs, as even the tiniest crumb or microscopic piece of shredded paper can get really annoying if caught between the surfaces. The adhesives are really, REALLY strong, so trying not to lift it back up to readjust it/clean the surfaces is strongly advised. Also! The cover may say medium, but it was slightly larger than the actual drawing surface of the tablet, so trying to properly center it can be a real hassle, but if that doesnt bother you, then I'd say this is definitely worth getting.

I recently purchased myself a Wacom Intuos4 Medium tablet as a Christmas gift to myself, and within two days of ownership I did indeed notice that the pen nibs were wearing down quickly; as many sources state online.I felt the price for this protector was a bit steep (considering it is just a piece of adhesive plastic) but figured it would be a good investment to save me money in the long run buying pen nibs every month.Since applying it the surface is a lot more smooth to draw on and plastic feeling (as expected), which might bother some people, but it only took me a couple hours to get used to it.The tablet is still rather pleasant to draw on, and I haven't noticed any wear on my pen nibs since installing it. I would highly recommend this to anyone who doesn't want to pay Wacom for additional nibs every month, or maybe sooner if you draw six hours every day or so like I do.