Wacom drawing tablets???

I am thinking of buying a drawing tablet.

What type should I buy and what criterias should it fill.

Any suggestions are welcome, and please within a not rich mans price frame.

Depends on what you're going to use it for, and with what programs, etc.

I currently have a Wacom Graphire 2, 3x5. It is suffucient for many things. I was worried when I got it that it'd be too small. For editing photos or working on projects that arent intense this is a good and reasonably priced product at around $100.

Personally I'm getting more serious so I've been keeping my eye on the intous2 which is also made by Wacom and is more for professional applications. It gives you more control using Photoshop and has more pressure sensitive tools. These run about $200 up to near $800 depending on size.

If you are hyper serious about the leading edge and your wallet is bottomless, check out Wacoms Cintiq. They start at $1899.

Check out their site. I get no kickbacks. wacom.com

Wacom tablets are wonderful! I highly recommend them. What kind you get depends on personal preference. I have a 12x12. I prefer the big ones because the surface area is about the same size as my 21" monitor, so when I draw my hand motions are in scale to what I'm looking at. It's also big enough that it fits well in my lap. Some people like smaller tablets because it requires less arm motion and they put it next to their keyboard instead of in their lap. Get a USB model, not a serial port model. With USB you can plug it in or unplug it without rebooting and they're a bit more responsive. The Wacom drivers are very good and stable, allowing you to switch back and forth between mouse and tablet at will... just pick up whatever one you want and it works. One of the best features of the Wacom is that the pen has an eraser on the back end, and you can set it to be the eraser tool in photoshop so you can switch between your current brush and the eraser just by flipping the pen over. Very nice. Wacom also sells refurbished tablets. I have the Intuos 12x12.

oh yea and they come with a mouse.. you dont have to use it though. I prefer my trackball. So, they are flexible. You dont have to use their whole setup if it doesnt work for you.

I have a medium sized Wacom (older model though).

Its great, however i kind of liked better my old small one. I dont mind that the movements scale up on the monitor at all, I liked not having to move the pen all that much. Plus, with the large one it takes a little bit too much desk space and stuff tends pile on top of it...

My suggestion is to try and test it somewhere. There ought to be a store with them on display?

Yes I am going to test some tomorrow.....the bad thing is that the only one i can afford is the wacom volito A6 size. Ill hope I like the small one.

Thx everybody for your inputs!! (keep em coming if you like).

I looked at some Trust Tablets....they are much cheaper. I can get a bigger board for less money.

Is there a big difference in quality do you think??

I've never heard of Trust Tablets... which is probably not a good sign.

My friend from england got a trust tablet and threw it out the next day.

But I love Wacom tablets! Not good for Bryce or Poser but a dream come true in Freehand and Fireworks.

I've tried a few brands of tablet in the past, and I'm sure 'Trust' was one of the brands.

The only thing I can say is, buy a WACOM - don't settle for anything less!

I'm now on my fourth Wacom tablet (Digitizer II - A5 size), and I've never bought one brand new. I got two of them from Ebay, so I'd suggest trying that if you can't afford the one you want! (I got the Digitizer II for £20!!! Mind you it's a couple of years old now, but still has all the features I need)

If you do get one second-hand, it may be worth purchasing some new nibs and an overlay... I believe the WACOM website has some links to suppliers in different areas.

Well..I have now ordered a Wacom Graphire2 A6.....Ill hope i like it.

Thanks for your help guys.

Nice one Thor! I'm sure you will be very happy with it!

I'm thinking of upgrading to a newer model myself now...

Late to this party but Wacom is the way to go - enjoy it Thor! My hands/wrists have been much happier since i switched although now i do the un-ergonomic holding of the stylus like a pencil as i type....