Tablets - which one to buy?

[Ras]

Hi everyone

 

I´m looking to buy a tablet to use mainly with Photoshop and Illustrator but maybe also for ACad, Max, Sketchup and the likes if you guys can recomend it.

 

What I want to know is the following:

 

Does size matter? (of course not, honey)ie Should the tablet be as big as possible or will that be a problem when navigating the OS.

I´m guessing that big is better when painting but could result in quite extravagant arm movenments for OS navigation?!?

 

Is Wacom the only way to go - I´ve been checking out prices and it seems that I can get a Nisis graphic tablet for about 75$:

 

Technical Specifications:

Active Area: 12" (30.4cm) x 9" (22.8cm)

Physical Size: 15.1" (40.0cm) x 13.6" (35.0cm) x 0.47" (1.2cm)

Power Consumption: 0.35 Watts (70mA)

Weight: 1370gm (with cable)

Resolution maximum: 3048 lpi/120 lpmm

Maximum Pressure levels: 512

Accuracy (overall with pen): 0.42mm

Cable Length: 1.5m

Batteries required in pen & mouse: 1 x AAA each

Pen current consumption: 0.08mA (about 12 months per battery)

Mouse current consumption: 0.08mA (about 12 months per battery)

USB Interface Connector

System Requirements:

IBM compatible PC with 200MHz. processor or faster

Windows 98, 98SE, ME, 2000 or XP operating system

USB port

CD ROM Drive

Colour Monitor

Retail Box Dimensions:

43.6cm x 40.5cm x 4.6cm

 

So... I´m a total tablet novice but it seems like a logical step to take for anyone working seriously with CG. I was thinking this would be a good first tablet - but I dunno - is this too good to be true or whats up?

Tell me why I shouldn´t get it over the Wacom before I fork out the 75$...

 

If wacom is the only way to go then I´m wondering if it should be graphire or intuos and what size (I´m not spending more than 180$)?

[Tonsgaard]

Hej Rasmus, her er Jes fra afd 3 på KA... jaja tænk at man skal mødes her... Jeg tror vist det var dig der gav mig finalrender engang... Nå på engelsk:

 

(it seems like 'ras' and I am studying at the same school in Copenhagen denmark... - It's a small world...)

 

Well, anyway.. I'm using a Wacom graphire 1, It's around 4 years old and still going strong.

 

this is the one:

 

 

I would definately go for a Wacom... as far as i know, the painter progs are often designed for use with wacom which means that you are sure that it's working correct...

In adittion, my choice would be the intous product line because of the support of different pens... Mine doesn't suppert them... :-(

(I would specially like the airbrush pen which have a scroll wheel...)

 

Well, I'll be at the school this afternoon, so if you like, you're welcome to come try mine...

 

Tonsgaard

 

[ January 28, 2004, 02:35 AM: Message edited by: Tonsgaard ]

[Ras]

Hej Jes

 

Hæhæ - skægt.

Jeg kommer forbi i næste uge og prøver...

 

And now for english...

 

How much is it? The other one I was talking about is only 800 kr / 75$ ?

I am looking at an intuos A5 which looks nice - but its almost 3000 kr. / or 250$ at Amazon

 

Thats a big difference for me - I would definately go for wacom if I wasn´t so damn poor - anyone try the Nisis?

 

[ January 28, 2004, 03:01 AM: Message edited by: Ras ]

[Tonsgaard]

well this one is 700dkr which would be around 100$... or at least it was when I bought it... this product line is much cheaper than the intous line...

[Ras]

Alrightythen!

 

Just bought a used Intuos A4 very cheaply of a girl who does hardware testing for a tv-show.

 

Had some trouble with pressure sensitivity in Photoshop but figured it out I think.

 

Are there any good tuts on where and how exactly this thing is going to boost my output?!?

[Tonsgaard]

here's a good tut...:

 

 

Practice...practice and practice...