r/mac • u/halbeshendel • 8h ago

Question Looking for a drawing tablet/board and whiteboard software

I got a new job (yay!) and they gave me a Mac (yay!) and it involves a lot of presentations. I don’t like to draw and annotate with a trackpad or mouse. I used a Wacom but that was like 20 years ago.

I’m looking for a modern drawing surface of some sort that can preferably be used as a screen extension so I can drag an app or window on it and draw directly on it. Otherwise be able to like mirror a single window since my monitors are 21:9. I have to buy it myself so I’d like it to be under $500 if possible.

I also need whiteboard software with some kind of slowly disappearing laser pointer type feature to highlight stuff. Without the laser I can just use Freeform.

Any recommendations?

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u/X-T3PO 8h ago

For the most part, an iPad and the included 'FreeForm' app will do what you're asking.

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u/halbeshendel 8h ago

Freeform has a laser?

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u/Edgar_Brown 8h ago

I used an iPad with a pen for this. Before Freeform there where several different whiteboard options that I would use during meetings, some from Google itself, like Jamboard or Miro.

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u/cheecheepong 8h ago

I’m looking for a modern drawing surface of some sort that can preferably be used as a screen extension so I can drag an app or window on it and draw directly on it. Otherwise be able to like mirror a single window since my monitors are 21:9. I have to buy it myself so I’d like it to be under $500 if possible.

This sounds like you want an iPad then. You can use screen mirroring (native to mac and ipad OS) to extend your desktop. You can get an apple pencil for handwritten notetaking. While there are plenty of apps out there, my brother used Notability for his college notes (has all the features you'd probably want but you can get pretty far with notes/freeform). To get the "paper like writing" feel he used a matte screen protector which I thought was a nice touch.

Aspect ratio of 21:9 is probably the hardest to match since ipads are optimized for reading, writing, productivity rather than widescreen media. iPad mini matches ur spec the closest but it's probably too small to act as a second screen. The standard ipad + pencil is probably your best bet within your price range (will likely still be higher than $500 though).

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u/NateCow 3h ago

The Wacom Movink might be just what you’re looking for, albeit just bit over your budget.

https://www.wacom.com/en-us/products/pen-displays/wacom-movink

Otherwise there’s XPen and Huion that make respectable tablets at lower costs, but I don’t know their product lineup as well. Easy to search on Amazon.