Best Buy outs Wacom’s secret Bamboo Touch multitouch tablet

Thanks to my local Best Buy, we now know that Wacom has expanded their Bamboo line of tablets to include one that supports multitouch.

Yes, I couldn’t believe my eyes when I was strolling through Best Buy in the photography section and there, next to all of the other tablets, was Wacom’s yet to be announced Bamboo Touch. According to one of the employees with whom I talked, they put them out last night since there was no street date on the product. Chances are that a Best Buy near you has this on its shelves right now, too.

While it may not be the multitouch tablet you’ve been waiting for years to purchase, this device seems the perfect tool for someone who wants the multitouch abilities of the iPhone and latest MacBook Pros, only on a slightly bigger scale. Even MacBook Pro users, who already have multitouch trackpads, might benefit from having a tool like this. Now everyone will be able to flick through pictures, pinch to zoom or any of the other multitouch features we take for granted on the iPhone and MacBook Pro.

Best Buy was selling the tablet at $69.99. I’m anxious to hear from Wacom directly about this tablet, but hey, sometimes it’s fun to stumble upon an awesome product. We’ll keep you posted. I think it’s safe to say that consumers want to interface with their computers via touch, and I’m so ready for more and more apps that take advantage of this technology. So, who’s leaving now to pick one of these up?

In case you couldn’t read the pictures, here’s the text from the back of the box.

Smart
Gain all the benefits of Multi-Touch. Use Bamboo with all standard operating systems and applications. Custimize your Bamboo, too. Flexible and versatile, Bamboo is the smart choice.

Engaging
Engage with your computer in an all-new way from the very first touch. Multi-Touch makes complex commands as easy as a gesture, while Bamboo’s ample tablet space lets you get in touch with your work.

Natural
Make your every gesture count! Scroll, zoom, rotate or flip through photos and documents. Everything at your fingertips.

• Multi-Touch input for intuitive and direct control
• Use a single finger to navigate and multiple fingers for gestures and clicks
• Use finger gestures to scroll, zoom, rotate, go backward or forward
• Spacious touch area for all gestures
• Four user-defined ExpressKeys for shortcuts or clicks
• Easy USB connection
• Interactive tutorial helps you make the most of your Bamboo
• Overall tablet size: 8.2 x 5.4 x 0.3 in (208 x 138 x 7.5 mm)
• Wide-format active area size: 4.9 x 3.4 in (125 x 85 mm)

And here’s what it says on the side

BAMBOO TOUCH
Package contents
Bamboo Touch tablet, Quick Start guid, Installation CD (includes tablet driver, tutorial and online manual)

SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
PC: Windows 7, Vista or XP with Service Pack 2
Macintosh: Mac OS X (10.4.8 or higher), Intel or PowerPC Processor, CD ROM drive for tablet driver installation, USB port, color display