Longing for a Tablet

[Seratonin]

I've been looking around a little bit at tablets, just the plug and play kind - not the whole laptop deal, and I'd love to hear about all your experiences. I have a really limited budget, I don't think I could spend more than $100 and that is kind of pushing it (oh, by the way my husband doesn't need to know about this post :) ).
First I'd like to know if a tablet is as cool as it seems it would be!? Is it really useful for you? How does it help you? I just imagine it would be great.
I saw the Wacom graphire is about $100 (for the 4X5 size), but I've also found some other brands: Adesso, ACECAD, and Genius from $50-$100. Does anybody know anything about the 'other' brands? Would I be just as happy with one that's $50?
Do you think you would feel traped with a tablet that is 5X3.75 or overwhelmed with one that's 6X8? I would really just be thrilled to learn anything from you talented posters! Oh, if you have an old tablet just laying around you want to get rid of, or if you're a generous and wealthy individual looking for a friend let me know. :)
Thanks so much!
Sarah

[webfrau]

I've had a Wacom graphire 4 6.x8 for just over a year now and I love it. My dh bought it me for xmas, I had not even thought about them. I find it wonderful to use - much better for doing fine things like blending and extractions. If I could actually draw I would imagine it would be great for that but as I can't... :)
It's also good for giving the wrist a rest from the mouse giving me the option of different hand/arm positions.
I like the size of mine but I'm told the 4x5 is good to use too.
So when I got it I thought "what do I do with this" and now I wonder how I'd manage without it, though I'm sure I'm not using it to its full potential.

[carlalee]

I have a Wacom 4x5 and really like it so far (I'm still learning). You don't need to pay $100 though. I got mine in Oct or Nov of last year from BestBuy for $69.99 on sale. If you have a BestBuy, Circuit City or a store like this, just watch the ads and check their websites. When my hubby finally said yes, he thought we'd have to spend $100 and when I found it for $30 less he was a happy man! And with the $30 you save you could take the tablets class coming up in June or July here at DSU. I know I'll be signed up! HTH -c-

[carlalee]

Hi Again!

As a matter of fact Circuit City (http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Wacom-Graphire4-Tablet-with-Pen-and-Mouse-CTE440BCCS/sem/rpsm/oid/134457/catOid/-13017/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do) was them on sale right now for $79.99.

-c-

[IreneA]

You may be laughing at me but I have the cheapest and the simpliest one that you could ever imagine :) It's Genius G-Pen 450 4x5 and it costed me smth around 50$ :) I'm absolutely satisfied with it! And - yes, I design for DSP with this genius :)
As for the size... suppose bigger one works out much more comfotrable, but as soon as you get used to it 4x5 is just the size! Still I presume that a smaller one can turn out to be not so pleasing - at least you might need some space to position your hand :)

[Meryl]

I bought the Wacon Graphire 4 x5 whilst in the US a couple of months back - I am ashamed to say I really can't remember what I paid, you know how foreign money is like spending monopoly money :lol: - so far I have not used much, apart from playing, waiting for the class in June :)

[Samara]

The Graphire also comes with PSE4.0!!!! What a deal, the tablet and a program too!!!

[MommyToMaryGrace]

I just found a Refurbished Gaphire BLUETOOTH 6x8 tablet on Academic Superstore for $115!!!!!!! Here's the link if anyone is interested... http://www.academicsuperstore.com/market/marketdisp.html?PartNo=789577

[ScrapMel]

I love my tablet - I left it laying around for so long, finally one day hooked it up to my laptop and LOVE IT! For scrapping, it is just wonderful - blending, doing paths, 'drawing' - which I can't do either .... but I really don't think the size matters (stop laughing, Samara!) It is proportional to your screen, so I don't think you would ever notice the difference if you bought the smaller one...and the smaller one saves space and money.
Quite frankly, if you have more money to spend, I would go for the wireless one ... though again, not essential but would be very nice to sit back and draw with it on your lap. I use it for everything now (I never really liked the touch pad for my laptop anyway ...) But if you are a serious scrapper, go for it. You definitely won't regret buying it. Though it takes some practice to use it - I always forget that its screen is PROPORTIONAL to the computer screen.

[GranFran]

I just found this thread and tablets are new to me, but sound wonderful. I have a laptop, too, and only use the touchpad, so I am challenged when trying to draw a line around anything or do anything more detailed. I Googled touchpads and found this website. The prices look really good, but I don't know if the manufacturers are. I'll watch for comments in case anyone uses the link to check it out.
http://www.babykgb.com/products/162/2/7

[prodigal1978]

I want one too, but I'm thinking it will do me no good since I can't even draw a straight line. LOL

[GranFran]

Produgal1978 - You're over 2,000 posts! You can get a new blinkie! Congrats!!

I can't either, but "they say" it's easier to trace around things because you have more control using a pen than a mouse or touchpad. Comments from anyone?

[GranFran]

Oops! Prodigal--I misspelled. Sorry.

[IreneA]

You know when one draws complex stuff - like 3d objects etc. - sure it's not a big difference between a tablet and a mouse. What I'm trying to say is - if you CAN draw you can do it with a mouse too! A tablet just makes it easier and more comfortable.
But concerning things like drawing a straight line - you know, maybe funny, but I rarely succeed doing this with a mouse LOL :) A tablet is an ultimate helper this way. Imagine you're holding a pen - much more what you got used too - so maybe at first your line might not be too straight - still much more straight than that drawn with a mouse :)
A tablet pays a lot of attention to detail - that's probably the major advantage.

[prodigal1978]

My husband is the artist in this house. He can draw the most detailed things....usually weird looking cartoons, guess that's a guy thing, but if I ever got a tablet I'd tape him to it and put him to work for me! Haahaaaa Draw those doodles hubby, hurry up! Heeheee


Hey thanks granfran, I didn't even notice! :)

[Samara]

I love my tablet - I left it laying around for so long, finally one day hooked it up to my laptop and LOVE IT! For scrapping, it is just wonderful - blending, doing paths, 'drawing' - which I can't do either .... but I really don't think the size matters (stop laughing, Samara!) It is proportional to your screen, so I don't think you would ever notice the difference if you bought the smaller one...and the smaller one saves space and money.
Quite frankly, if you have more money to spend, I would go for the wireless one ... though again, not essential but would be very nice to sit back and draw with it on your lap. I use it for everything now (I never really liked the touch pad for my laptop anyway ...) But if you are a serious scrapper, go for it. You definitely won't regret buying it. Though it takes some practice to use it - I always forget that its screen is PROPORTIONAL to the computer screen.

LOL Mel!!! I agree with you to some point. I have used the smaller size (4x5) for nearly 3 years. I have LOVED it too! I recently upgraded to the Intuos 6x8 and WOW! The control that I have is AWESOME!! I can't imagine paying the hefty price for the Intuos if I wasn't designing. I think the Graphire 4x5 is an awesome choice for the digital scrapper.

[ScrapMel]

True, the Intuos does have more pressure points - so I could see a designer going that route. Of course, if you are a serious graphic artist and designer - go for the big Daddy - what is the name of it? It is 12 x 12 and it is the touch screen, so you are drawing on the screen? I saw Bert M with one (I think that is who I was watching) ... can you imagine??? I did drool over it for a while then looked at the price ... not for me, I am afraid! LOL!

[Meryl]

For what it is worth, I see Wacom have launched a WacomVolito2, (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Wacom-Volito-Tablet-Windows-only/dp/B0009H7XAY) but only seems to be available in Europe, howevber with Amazon would that make a difference to those in the uS? Seems to have very favourable reviews ande cheaper - my quick conversion comes to under $50.

[ScrapMel]

OOOHHH, Meryl, thanks for sharing that! I already have one, BUT this one features a friction coating and I have to say, that would be nice, VERY nice! One thing to get used to is the slickness of the pad itself.

One question, has anyone figured out how to WRITE with it? My handwriting is HUGE and I can't seem to proportion it correctly - not that it looks great or anything ... I guess the class will go into that.

[debbers]

Mel:

Proportion is why I simply love the Intuos 6 x 8 - handwriting took very little time to adjust.

So ... when all else fails, write it well, and reduce it. Having it appear too large is not anywhere near as big a problem as having it be too small. We're Digital Scrappers, we can resize anything we want!

deb

[ScrapMel]

Hey, Deb! Yeah, I just can't get it to look right - but I also don't actually handwrite very often ... maybe I just have really bad handwriting! (Well, I do ...) Also, when I write with the tablet I mean it is HUGE. HUGE. I can see one word on the screen! I just haven't played around with it enough to work out the kinks! I am taking Lisa's Path's class and I can tell you that and a tablet is a dream come true when it comes to drawing and thing like that!