Pen Tablets

[Coyote]

I have a Wacom Intuos 3 It isn't that big but it makes a dramatic difference. It is well worth the money.

[-MAYH3M-]

I'm not big on my knowledge for prices and brands, but from what I've done in my free time on a tablet at a friends house or anywhere i could get my hands on them, they are well worth the money you spend on them (unless you go for a complete crap brand, everyone else seems to agree wacom is the best bang for your buck) But you can create some very nice and amazing effects with a tablet. The abilities and possibilities for creating your own brush strokes, adding small details, and giving it a personal flare with the option of using your own hands rather than a mouse or a pre-made / downloaded brush make things a lot more interesting.

[rhstanley3]

I currently have an intuos3 pen tablet, and it's a medium. Choosing a tablet can be kind of difficult, i guess, looking at the tablets. it kind of depends on what you want the tablet for... their newer bamboo-line has built-in touch-pad technology, and is much cheaper than the intuos line, but the intuos is much more professional and has the shortcut keys. as for sensitivity, the pad can be extremely sensitive, or it can be barely sensitive at all, as the tablet's driver software allows pressure-sensitivity adjustments to better suit your style of using the pad. you can also rotate the way the pad is used, specifically which sides of the pad is up, down, left, right, etc. also, the pen and mouse don't use batteries, which is a major plus in my opinion. personally, i like the intuos3 over the intuos4, as i have both, but mainly because i'm lazy and don't like to charge things, as the intuos4 is wireless . performance-wise, however, the intuos4 will be better, since it has newer technology. it all depends on your preference, in the end...

[TerryC]

FYI, I have a Wacom Tablet, purchased it about a month ago, and yes it woks fine as a mouse, however, I don't feel it will ever actually replace the mouse. The mouse technology these days out perform the tablet any day. I have both the mouse and the tablet hooked up and I fined myself using the mouse more often. Probably because it more familiar in my hand. I wouldn't trade my tablet though, works supurb in photoshop.

[sweasel]

I have a Wacom Graphire and an Intuous 3. Graphire was their cheap range before the Bamboo, and I must say I prefer it in some ways. The Intuous has more sensitivity and a rubberized coating...but that coating is wearing away on the surface where I scribble most.

SOME kind of tablet is absolutely essential. I've used one for so long, I use it instead of a mouse for everything but first-person shooter games (which freak out and make you spin around like a top if you try to use a tablet).