Wacom Cintiq 22HD

The Cintiq 22HD replaces the now-discontinued Cintiq 21UX as our Editors' Choice for interactive pen displays, thanks in part to the 22HD's improved LED-backlit display and wide-aspect ratio, but mainly because there's still nothing quite like a Wacom Cintiq display.

As before, the included Grip Pen features 2,048 levels of pressure sensitivity on both the tip and the eraser. It also has a latex-free silicone rubber grip.

A new set of three hardware controls sit at the top right corner of the bezel: Info, Settings, and Menu.

The indented button in the middle of each ExpressKey column lets you cycle between four different control schemes for the rear-mounted Touch Strips (pictured): auto scroll/zoom, cycle layers, brush size, and rotation.

With the included metal stand, you can position the Wacom Cintiq 22HD anywhere along a vertically tilting axis, from almost flush with the table, to standing almost straight up like an easel.

If you earn your living as a professional illustrator, the Wacom Cintiq 22HD is a must buy. It's a truly stellar drawing surface, with exactly the kind of accuracy and versatility you'd expect for the price.