Tablets?

[Tina]

Do I really NEED a tablet?

I'd love to know what you all do with yours, and opinios on the best to buy, price range, etc!

Thanks!

[Dusty]

Tina,
If you like learning how to use new tools and toys then a tablet is great for fine detail and it saves your wrist since you won't need your mouse. Now for the rest of the story as they say..I spend 10+ hours a day on the computer, so much so that I had surgery on my wrist. I also wanted psp 8, I have psp 7... Well I kept bugging hubby untill he bought me the Wacom graphire 4x5 tablet and the psp8 that I had wanted for over a year...Now for the kicker...I found out after he bought them that I'm set in my ways and don't have time to learn new things... :eek: I have only played with them a few times but he doesn't know that...LOL..I am slowly learning to use psp 8 and I know I will love my tablet once I take time to learn it, The only problem is you can find tuts on line for all graphic programs but none for using a tablet. So there is an idea for you guys here..Add some lessons about using a tablet, I think it would make digital scrapbooking a lot easer...

Dusty

[Schmoopy]

I'm itching to get a tablet! I've got PSP 8 and haven't even bothered to look for any tuts, etc. so it's great that you are suggesting this, something I hadn't thought about!

Dh is pricing out tablets, so hoping I can save a bit of extra $$ and pick one up soon!

stace.

[Jill]

I just got my first tablet about 2 weeks...and I force myself to use it a little bit everyday....haven't had much design time lately, but so far I love it and can see where it is going to help in making things so much faster and more precise! I got the wacom 6x8...so far very happy!!!!

[Amanda]

I've had the Wacom 3 4x5 for about 6 months now...and I can't live without it. I even take it to hook up to dh's laptop when we're on the road. I love having such an awesome wireless mouse...and then pen just takes some getting used to. I never did any tutorials...I just used it. It has REALLY helped when working with the fine details. I love it for brush work, extracting, cloning, and using the lasso. I HIGHLY recommend them. We're working on getting some prizes from Wacom too!

[valeri]

I have one in a drawer, lol. It is a small (4x6 I think) wacom graphire w/ a cordless mouse. I kept using the mouse instead of the pen and when I stopped being creative for a while I just disconected it and went back to my mouse completely. Now that I am feeling creative again, I think I will dig it out and try it again.

[Cris]

I am soooo interested in getting a tablet! I priced them a while back and they are a bit expensive for my price range but I reeeeeally want one. Thanks, Dusty, for letting us all know that there is an actually learning curve involved! I had no idea - just thought you plugged it in and had a pen instead of a mouse. And, yes, great idea the DSP should create tuts for it. Maybe we could approach Walcom for some freebies and prize donations! :D

[ksmaggie]

I've had an Aiptek for a year now and love it. The Aiptek price was more compatible to our budget. I got the middle size and have the surface area reduced quite a bit. I probably could have used the smaller tablet just as well. I also had to force myself to "learn" to use the tablet and actually disconnected all computer mouses (mice ???) for a few days so I only had the pen to use. Now I wouldn't give it up for anything. Since this is my first tablet I don't have anything to compare it to, but the Aiptek does everything it is advertised to do and I am very happy with it.

[AmyD]

I have a wacom 4x6 too, JUST HAD TO HAVE IT!!! hubby bought it for me right after christmas..................had it hooked up 2 days and now haven't used it since. I would love to learn how to work it. Just is so darn hard getting used to that pen. I know I would probably love it too but I need to just lock up my dusty trusty scroll mouse!

[Tina]

I've mentioned this to Team Digital, hopefully, we can get a quick class on tablets soon!

[dinotien]

I have a little tablet for two years, and I LOVE it. There is not much learning to do, you have to set it up one time, set the preferences I mean, and then just use it. The more you use it, the faster you will learn how it works. I use both, mouse and pen, but for photoshop, the mouse is like drawing with a brick once you are used to the pen.
It takes about fourteen days to get to really know the pen and how much pressure it needs. The wacom one is pretty straight forward.
It is true that the pen is much better for your wrist. I worked for a newspaper for ten years, and the pen was highly recommended... (for the layouters, not for the journalists)

[Emma]

I have a Wacom, but I keep losing the pen! I foudn the tablet while unpacking, then found the pen a month later, now pen lost again.

Never really used it, but I'd love to! Got it before I really started CG scrap and, did I mention? keep losing the pen!

I'm doing all my layouts with a TRACKING BALL! Did you hear that? Now BOW to me, I use a TRACKING BALL! With a horrible refresh rate, and it dies on me a lot...

Did I mention I am not pleased with my current set up?
But would LOVE to see a QClass or Chat about tablets, good idea! I'll even search for my pen so I can attend!

[dgermain]

I couldn't live without my Wacom 9x12" tablet....

[Jenna]

I really thought I'd use mine all the time and I don't. It's great for creating elements, little fine details and such. The only program I use it in really, consistantly, is Painter. But even that I only open once a week or so.

The tablet is GREAT and it's a luxery when I need it but I could have lived without and saved the $200... toward my Digital Rebel!

[Emma]

Okay, maybe this is a weird problem, but I'm right handed and mouse right-handed
BUT I write and draw left-handed!

So getting used to the pen when I was using it was really weird. I'd have one hand near the mouse and the other near the pen, and was constantly reaching with the wrong hand. I usually use my left hand for keyboard shortcuts and mouse with my right
but with the pen I have no hand for the keyboard. I have to completely relearn the keyboard shortcuts with my right hand.
SO, while I still want to find my pen, I'm not too excited about the big learning curve my hands have to go through to use it.

So for anyone complaining they're not used to it, just remember my problem and stop whining! :D :rolleyes:

[elizabethlmccoy]

Wow...I wish my problem was having a tablet stuck in a drawer...hehe :) But my problem is the $...but I'm saving and I think I've seen some others talking about Ebay...maybe I can get enought junk...er treasures....to sell and get some moolah.

[Dusty]

Looking forward to seeing some lessons on using the tablet..I need to learn fast before hubby finds out I'm not using it..As I read through all the post here it seems most have the same problems I do...We just don't know how or where to even start with it.

Dusty

[Emma]

I know HOW, dusty, it's the WHERE to start that's getting me! :D Now, where is that pen???!!!:confused:

As for the HOW, could someone convince my right hand it can draw with the tablet as well as it can mouse?

[Dusty]

LOL@Emma...Ok you may use my pen if and only if you tell me "HOW" ... :D

[AmyD]

ok ok after lerking around this board I am going to hook my tablet up again right after I get back from taking the kids to the dentist! So check back often all you tablet users!!! I am sure to have a ton of questions..................like................... ....

#1. What is the single most valuable thing you use yours for?????



AmyD

[elizabethlmccoy]

I really really want a tablet...but I want to get one that will grow with me. Does anyone have a suggestion on which one I should get? Any input would be great! Thanks :)

[u.k. lady]

I have a tablet and I love it.Mine is a size A4 made by some obscure company but I love to use it all the time.

[canay]

I'm not familiar with tablets. So, I have a question...When I am trying to outline something with my mouse it will suddenly just jerk and my nice smooth line looks like a lightning bolt. Will the tablet fix this annoying problem?

[Amanda]

Absolutely! You have much more control with a pen!

[Emma]

Yay! :D I'm having some trouble customizing it, I started a thread here:
http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/forum/showthread.php?t=441

It's taking longer to get used to than I thought it would! My whole desktop flow is messed up!

Thanks for any help!

[MystyB]

[QUOTE=Tina]Do I really NEED a tablet?

I've had my Wacom 4x5 tablet for a couple of months now and I love it. It cost $100 and came with Adobe Elements 2. It is so much easier to use than a mouse especially for photo editing and selecting and can be used in all kinds of photo software. I didn't think I wanted to learn something else either but it does not take long if you just use it and it is totally worth it. It appears to be hard because we are so used to the mouse but it is really just as easy to learn (like when we first learned to use the mouse).

[BettyE]

I have the 4x5 Wacom and I have both my regular mouse and wacom attached to my computer. I only use it for photo editing and for signing documents.

[Emma]

I got a new computer, so now I have enough ports to plug in all my peripherals at once, sheesh!

So now my tablet is hooked up again, AND my printer, AND two monitors (yay!) and still enough leftover for my microphone (double yay!)

So I'm not doing well getting used to my tablet. Hopefully now I'll be able to use it more.