Question 1

Is this tablet brand new? Or used? Is it the latest tablet? Or outdated? Does this tablet enable people to use all sorts of media (ex: charcoal, graphite pencil, ink, painting, etc.)? If so, can this tablet also work with photography?

Accepted Answer

This particular pen tablet is (somewhat) outdated: the current analogy to this tablet is th Wacom Intuos (not the Pro version) since 'Bamboo' isn't made anymore.
The tablet should be new, unless you specifically ask for a used version (which I don't think can be done for this product).
A pen tablet is used on a computer, i.e. it allows you to draw on photoshop, etc. You cannot draw on this tablet with anything but tablet pens as far as I know, and most definitely not use charcoal or pencil. The way it works is essentially you draw like you would on paper (nothing shows up on the tablet) and the mouse moves around on the computer, with the added bonus of pressure sensitivity (i.e. in many art-softwares, pressing lightly will have you draw a faint line). That being said, the software usually emulates the media you listed above and many others.
In terms of photography, it will allow you to do everything photoshop allows, assuming you have photoshop. In and of itself, the tablet is like a trackpad with a pen shipped with it, making it easier to draw on a computer.

Question 2

My laptop does not have a CD slot. Is there a way to still use the program that comes with this without using the CD download?

Accepted Answer

You would need an external drive to hook up to your computer which could read the CD. However, downloads are usually the latest updated version of the software, that address any issues or bugs that the software may have had, whereas anything that comes with something on a CD can often be dated or even obsolete. It's usually best to install the latest version to avoid issues, unless there is a compatibility which prevents you from doing so.

Brand	Wacom
Model	CTL471

Interface	USB
Tablet Dimensions	10.9" x 6.9" x 0.4"
Active Area	5.8" x 3.6"
Pressure Levels	1024
Resolution	2540 lpi
Accuracy	+/- 0.02 in (+/- 0.5 mm)
System Requirements	Windows 7, Vista SP2, XP SP3, Mac OS X.10.5 or higher, Intel Processor USB port, color display, CD-ROM drive, DVD drive for software installation.
Max. Data Rate	133 pps

Wacom CTL471 5.8" x 3.6" Active Area USB Bamboo Splash Pen and Tablet

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Item#: N82E16823100093