Wacom Tablet Questions/Reviews

[o_vertical]

Ok, who in here has purchased a Wacom (or simular) tablet, and what did you think of them. The one I was looking at getting probably a bit after christmas is the 6x11 Intuos for Win XP for use with Photoshop CS2, and a few other things.

Anyone have any bad experiances, do they work just like you'd think they should, are they hard to deal with, etc. The big reasons (among many others) for me to get one is because I've always like drawing, and I hate paper, and I very much dislike led pencils, so im hoping with this, I could get back into it a bit with Photoshop, also I figured it would make a good way to do some quick illistrations when I'm trying to show someone over the net something (such as a website layout or just anything that could be quickly explained with a picture), I also do my websites, so I would also be using it to create new graphics/interface, etc for my websites and applications alike. Do you all think this tablet that I'm looking at would be suitable for this? I also heard (on thier website) you can edit HTML, and other text with the tablet, is this very easy to do, worth even trying to do?

PS: Since the tablet comes with a mouse, do you HAVE to use thier mouse, or can you still use your own mouse?

[Circuitous]

I've got a Wacom graphire3 4x5. It's great, works really well.

The only problem I've ever had with it, is occasionally it won't recognize pressure or angle as it's supposed to, but they may be an issue with Photoshop, as closing it and reloading it usually solves it.

You don't need to use the included mouse, your standard mouse will work fine.

As for the editing HTML and stuff... I think that depends on the program, and you actually write the letters by hand and it converts them to text. I think. I've never used it, so I can't say for sure, but I recall the packaging mentioning that feature. I don't know how well it would work for making web graphics, either. Depends on how you use it.

[o_dr zauis]

I have a 12x9 tablet that i got for $50, and the thing works great. I bougt it at Aldi. My girl is going to buy me that bitchin Wacom thats like 3000 for my next bday, i cant wait.

[o_vertical]

Damn, I can't imagine that one that costs $3,000 O_O (Cintiq 21UX) apparently alot of people have alot more money than me, and get alot more for thier birthdays lol. I got a DVD for my last birthday, and went to eat at Logans Steakhouse. Anywho, sounds great from what you said Circ. I pretty much figured thats how the HTML editing thing would be, sorta like my palm pocket. (except they call it "Graffiti" on there :P) thats awesome I dont have to use the included mouse because I've gotton attached to my current one to well to let go just yet as for Web graphics and stuff, I'm sure it will do better than I can do with the mouse or at the very least be faster.

Dr. Zauis, that seems like a pretty big tablet for just $50, what is Aldi? An online retailer or local shop?

Hopefully assuming I get it of course, the Intuos3's $369 cost will make it worth the while. I've never used, nor seen close up one of these things and I'd like to give it a whirl ;D and 66 square inches seems like quite enough to please me It should be about as big as my mousepad (X-Ray Pad Thunder 8 ) though I can't find a ruler atm...

[Circuitous]

Aldi's like a discount grocery store, that has monthly deals on other stuff (clothes, electronics, toys, etc.). Mostly groceries though.

Never saw a tablet there, especially not for $50. That's pretty damned awesome, especially for that size.

I *did* get a nice camera there once, great price too.

[Jiggles]

Originally Posted by Vertical

Ok, who in here has purchased a Wacom (or simular) tablet, and what did you think of them. The one I was looking at getting probably a bit after christmas is the 6x11 Intuos for Win XP for use with Photoshop CS2, and a few other things.

I've used one of the more recent (medium sized) Wacom tablets (forgot which model), and I liked it quite a bit. Any tablet is very different from drawing on paper, but you get used to it, and the power of UNDO alone makes it worthwile!

Originally Posted by Vertical

PS: Since the tablet comes with a mouse, do you HAVE to use thier mouse, or can you still use your own mouse?

I haven't had problems using both the tablet mouse and having a usb mouse plugged in at the same time. Does funny things when you move them both at the same time though

[o_mooga]

A friend of mine uses it with his mac.
He actualy uses it instead of a mouse.
It's quite a sit to see him playing WoW with a pen instead of a mouse.

[Decs]

Im using an Intous 3 and i love it. Its just superb, ive tried graphires aswell (had em at school) but i really prefer intous over graphire because of the extra resolution, better for detail work i feel.
Well i would without doubt recomend an intous for you its hot shit!

Or if you're some sort of rich bastard like rebo get the cintiq

[o_vertical]

I am in no way (NO WAY) a rich bastard lol, but I will definatly be looking at getting the Intuos3 6x11 after christmas, all of you have great things to say about the tablets in general, and decs summed it all up So I think I'm going to go for one, and yeah I thought about pluggin both mice in at the same time, but if I can avoid it (which an earlier post stated I should be able to) then i'd rather not.

Anyone who has further reviews, more to say about Wacom (or any other) tablets, or the best places to buy them, let me know. If not, I'll dig this thread back up and let ya know when I get one ;D

[Decs]

One more thing, dont buy a wacom with a seriel connection (or what ever its translated to), ive heard alot of shit about them so firewire or usb is the way to go. I doubt new intous3 have a seriel option, mine is usb but yeah if you decide to buy something used avoid the seriel wacoms!

Oh and as far as the mouse goes there is no problem using a usb mouse at the same time as the wacom mouse only works when you move it on the tablet. It doesnt have a ball or a laser or anything like that... Just dont leave your mouse or your pen on the tablet when you are doing stuff with your normal mouse as that tends to be very annoying hehe.

[Circuitous]

Originally Posted by decs

Just dont leave your mouse or your pen on the tablet when you are doing stuff with your normal mouse as that tends to be very annoying hehe.

I did that once. After I re-installed my mouse drivers and restarted the computer about 17 times, I got up in desperation. I glanced over at my tablet, only to find my pen sitting in its little holder on top of the tablet, roughly where the mouse pointer was stuck.

That was a slap-myself-in-the-face moment.

Also, my tablet mouse is safely tucked away at another desk. I've never used it, never plugged it in. I think it's safe to say you don't need it.

[Decs]

Originally Posted by Circuitous

I did that once. After I re-installed my mouse drivers and restarted the computer about 17 times, I got up in desperation. I glanced over at my tablet, only to find my pen sitting in its little holder on top of the tablet, roughly where the mouse pointer was stuck.

That was a slap-myself-in-the-face moment.

Also, my tablet mouse is safely tucked away at another desk. I've never used it, never plugged it in. I think it's safe to say you don't need it.

Never plugged it in? Are you using some sort of tablet with wired mouse/pen?

[Circuitous]

Oh yeah that mouse doesn't plug in, does it?

Eh, further proof I've never used it.

[o_mooga]

My friend uses the pen INSTEAD of a mouse.
He has it in his desk but uses the pen all the time.

It takes a while to control it though...

[o_dr zauis]

my mouse is wireless, u put some batteries in and its go time. But i hate that shitty 2 button mouse. Yea that was the best deal i have ever found there. Ill take a pic of it next to a ruler to show u, its huge. And it was 49.99, my brother saw the deal on the forums on fatwallet.com

[o_vertical]

Cool, take a pic I'd like to check it out Thanks for all the info you guys posted, I probably won't be able to afford one until Jan, maybe into feb. I just never can tell...