Just got myself a Wacom Bamboo tablet - only 67 quid off amazon. It's fab ! Hopefully it'll ease my hand and wrist pain as compared to using a mouse all day

Anyone else out there using a tablet ?

I've not, but if you still feel so happy with it after a few weeks I might think about it!

I've toyed with the idea for a while, but the ones I've seen have been a bit pricey for decent size.

(wonder how well they'd work in RTS games!!)

I've used a Wacom Graphire tablet, never really got on with it, nothing wrong with the equipment just didn't work for me.

I use a wacom tablet too, and it's fantastic! I love them and always use it when playing with photos.

It's also a must if you're into using Illustrator, makes it so much easier to use! :)

I have been having problems with my tablet though because it came out before Vista, I've had to install updated drivers a few times, but I've recently completely wiped it off the system and re-installed and all is fine now *crosses fingers* so those with Vista, may have some problems, shouldn't happen on newer models though :)

Ive got an old style A6 Wacom tablet, had it for quite a while. I used to use it for painting and drawing in Photoshop and Painter but sadly it doesnt get used very much these days. £67 sounds like a bargain though Grissom, what size is it?

Its probably A6 ? Active tablet size is 147.6 x 92.3 mm according to the Bamboo site (http://www.wacom-europe.com/bamboo/showbamboo.asp) :)

I use a wacom tablet too, and it's fantastic! I love them and always use it when playing with photos.

It's also a must if you're into using Illustrator, makes it so much easier to use! :)

I have been having problems with my tablet though because it came out before Vista, I've had to install updated drivers a few times, but I've recently completely wiped it off the system and re-installed and all is fine now *crosses fingers* so those with Vista, may have some problems, shouldn't happen on newer models though :)

I would agree that a tablet would be a must for an Illustrator, and even for someone who does serious photo manipulation. I tend not to do too much post processing on my images so I find a mouse suits me and my work flow.

I currently have a small [A6] Wacom Graphire that I use [righthanded] instead of a mouse for general computer usauge as well as Photoshop. Mouses are usually ergonomically pathetic, so having an alternative really helps prevent RSI. I also have a mouse for use with my left hand which also helps spread the load, though buying a half decent lefthanded mouse is next to impossible. The Graphire is nowhere near as nice [feelwise] as my A4 Intuos, but it takes up too much desk space and as I map pen down to less than the size of an A6 Tablet it's a waste of space. You only need to use the full tablet area for doing drawing work - for other computer usuage, it simply makes the pen too slow and cumbersome.

Grinderbloke - you may find a tablet much better if it's set up differently. The default settings are awful, just like laptop trackpads, you have to tweak them to make them usable. A mouse is very clunky in comparison with a correctly set up pen/tablet. Even on the A6 Tablet I only use 2/3rds the area, so I can cover both screens with just hand movement.
You don't need to do 'serious' photomanipulation to appreciate a pen/tablet, just using a computer is qualification enough. I'm using a pen and not my mouse for browsing SF for example.

I don't like my graphics tablet I got for work. At least, not for general computer use.

But when I'm cutting out photos or otherwise working in photoshop, I am forcing myself to use it since I have had RSI-type twinges (my hand was on a mouse 8 hours solid every day) and for those tasks I am slowly getting used to it and finding it quite accurate.

Mice are designed to induce RSI. They vary between awful and terrible. The the prize for the worst ever mouse has to go to Apple for the cretinous puck mouse that came with the original iMac. I know Apple are partonising to customers but why assume they are all children. Even the latest Apple keybarad/mouse seem to be aimed at children rather than adults, sizewise.

Well I'm still loving my tablet, using it instead of the mouse which is now put in drawer !

Hand problems are less now, but there is one problem. When typing, I tend to hold the pen in between my lips. When I pull the pen from my gob, I keep using the thing upside down and now happens as I'm using the eraser end of the thing. I think this is more user error than design error though :P

Grissom's post reminds me of when I lost my pen the other day. After a little bit of hunting I found it.
In my mouth. Duh!:loopy:
Though I type with the pen in my fingers no problem. Well no more problem than usual, that is.

I bought a pen partner (A6 tablet) wayyy back and am still using today. When photochopping I'll mainly use it if I need to draw freehand, or use pressure sensitive brushstrokes, but for general purpose image work I tend to stick to the keyboard and mouse with scroll wheel as it's a fair bit faster.

It's seeing a lot more use now I bought a copy of ArtRage2 and I'm thinking of new Wacom tablet as the PenPartner only has 256 levels of pressure sensitivity, whereas more modern versions have 1024, not to mention soft tipped styli and other varieties like pucks and airbrushes.

I'm definately warming to my new Wacom.

Still using it with mouse and keyboard but as I see it, moving between different things is a good thing

I recently picked up a cheapie tablet from Maplins in town - I think it was £30 for an A6 tablet. I don't get the full power of it as I'm using it on a Mac and the gesture recognition software is windows specific but it makes cleaning up photo's so much easier! This picture (http://evildrneil.deviantart.com/art/Burlesque-Belle-93503300) was all cleaned up with a graphics tablet which would have been hell to do with a mouse - or even worse trackpad!

30 squid isnt bad :)

Not sure what your photo is that you wanted to share with us but the DeviantArt site says the following :

"You must be a registered member to view mature content"

Ooo-er :P

30 squid isnt bad :)

Not sure what your photo is that you wanted to share with us but the DeviantArt site says the following :

"You must be a registered member to view mature content"

Ooo-er :P

It's a burlesque dancer - not that risque really but DA can get a bit whingy!

You can always post images directly in the forum. Though only here in the photography section.

I have the same Wacom tablet as you Grissom and it's great. It makes photo editing in Photoshop a breeze. So much easier than a mouse.

Used a Wacom Intuos tablet for sometime and although I was unsure if I would get on with it I now can't magine picture editing without one :thumbsup: