Freedom Reborn Archive

Community Forums => General Discussion => Topic started by: Lunarman on September 19, 2007, 08:28:25 AM

Title: Tablets
Post by: Lunarman on September 19, 2007, 08:28:25 AM
Second topic in a day, whoo!

I'm thinking of buying a Wacom Tablet, it would help with my comic coloring and skinning as well as making notes. What is the general price range? Can you recommend any, and is there anything to watch out for?

Thankyou very much


Lunarman
Title: Re: Tablets
Post by: captainspud on September 19, 2007, 10:18:00 AM
The cheapo ones are are between $80-150 for a 4"x5". As you get up in size (6"x8" or 9"x12") it goes up into the $400-$700 range. The really nice ones get up over $1000.

Nothing you really need to "look out for". Personally, I find the ones that come with a mouse are kinda useless, so if it looks like you're paying more for that, skip it. Otherwise, though, they're all pretty much the same. I've had tablets from three different manufacturers (e3works, Wacom, and some other company I can't remember) and they all performed about the same.
Title: Re: Tablets
Post by: UnfluffyBunny on September 19, 2007, 11:15:35 AM
my advent A4 (9x12) only put me back £70 (just over $140)
came with 3 button pen, wireless mouse, 24 macro spaces, 512 levels of pressure, and 3048 lines per inch.
it's extremely smooth to work with and I highly reccomend it to anyone interested in buying a tablet
Title: Re: Tablets
Post by: Shazam on September 19, 2007, 03:55:48 PM
Young man!
Since you live in England, take yourself to your nearest Argos store or Tescos. There you will find a Trust TB-2100 graphics tablet for 20 some odd quid at tescos, and 30 some odd quid in Argos. I have it myself and it works ok. The wireless mouse that comes with it, is as much use as a chocolate fire guard however.
Title: Re: Tablets
Post by: Lunarman on September 19, 2007, 10:11:50 PM
Well since it is for Christmas I'm probably gonna look at the high end of the market (like £100). What Syn suggested sounds very good, so thankyou for all the info guys.
Title: Re: Tablets
Post by: Renegade on September 19, 2007, 11:28:36 PM
I've used Wacoms for almost 15 years and trust no one else. Their stuff has performed flawlessly and is pretty much the industry standard. I just passed on a ten year old Wacom tablet to my niece and it still works like a charm, even without a usb connection.

Having used everything from a 4x5 tablet to a 21 inch Cintiq I'd advise you not to underestimate the importance of tablet size. Avoid the smallest ones, the "postcard" tablets, if you can. They are not the most comfortable things in the world to work on. The standard 6x8 or, if you can afford it, the 9x12 are much much better choices.

And if a rich uncle dies anytime soon and leaves you a pile of money, drop 2.5k on a Cintiq. Of course, that ain't likely to happen, but you can dream. The Cintiqs are stupidly expensive yes, but by far the best computer art production tool you'll have ever used. Believe me, next to my family, I love my Cintiq more than anything else in the world.


---RENEGADE
Title: Re: Tablets
Post by: Blkcasanova247 on September 20, 2007, 06:57:27 AM
I'm probably gonna get myself one for my birthday in the next couple of week...and all of my buddies and through my own independent research say Wacom is the way to go. I'll get myself the Intuos 9x12 and save up for that Cintiq......it'll just take me two years. :(  :lol:
Title: Re: Tablets
Post by: murs47 on September 20, 2007, 07:11:25 AM
I'm going to go ahead and strongly agree with Renegade. The Wacom tablet has been the best investment of my life.
I'd have to say the tablet is the 3rd greatest invention in the history of man-kind. The 1st and 2nd being the toilet and toilet paper of course :P
Title: Re: Tablets
Post by: Podmark on November 20, 2007, 04:22:24 PM
Do any of you guys have any comments on the Wacom Bamboo line in comparison to the Intuos and comparable tablets?

Or what about the Genius tablets? Or any other models.
Title: Re: Tablets
Post by: Epimethee on November 20, 2007, 04:32:30 PM
Tablet affinity seems often quite different from one person to another; if at all possble, try a couple for yourself. Personally, I've got the most basic Wacom and don't really like it; OK for coloring, not large, ergonomic, sensitive nor well-textured enough for real drawing. But a good friend loves the same exact model, which he prefers to larger ones.
Title: Re: Tablets
Post by: Podmark on November 20, 2007, 04:35:05 PM
I'm trying to find something affordable, preferably around $100 Canadian, but I don't know enough about them to know what you lose with the cheaper models.
Title: Re: Tablets
Post by: Valandar on November 20, 2007, 07:03:44 PM
My Adesso 8x6 cost me about $100 and has lasted two years so far. Only 512 levels of sensitivity, but that's good enough for most uses.
Title: Re: Tablets
Post by: Lunarman on November 20, 2007, 10:06:44 PM
I'm going to get an Wacom Bamboo Fun, which although it sounds low quality apparently isn't, and got tons of 5 star reviews on amazon.
Title: Re: Tablets
Post by: Figure Fan on November 20, 2007, 10:31:07 PM
My gosh, I have a Wacom Tablet and I never use it..

:(
Title: Re: Tablets
Post by: Cardmaster on November 21, 2007, 12:02:29 AM
I saved up and bought my 6x11 Intuos and I use it on a daily basis.

Second to my computer it's the best technology investment I've ever made.  :wub:

-CM
Title: Re: Tablets
Post by: Midnight on November 21, 2007, 07:48:03 AM
I hit the low end of the market (a $120 Graphire4 A6) about two years ago. Having a tablet is nice, but I wish I had spent $80 more and gotten something bigger than 5" x 3.7".

The Bamboo seems to be the successor to the Graphire and is fairly decent. The lowest end Bamboo has more features than the one I bought two years ago and has a larger active area. Now, if this were me, I'd get something like this (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823100047).
Title: Re: Tablets
Post by: captainspud on November 21, 2007, 08:18:24 AM
*sigh* (http://www.wacom.com/cintiq/index.cfm)

...


*paws at the screen*
Title: Re: Tablets
Post by: Podmark on November 21, 2007, 10:13:20 AM
Quote from: captainspud on November 21, 2007, 08:18:24 AM
*sigh* (http://www.wacom.com/cintiq/index.cfm)

...


*paws at the screen*

I think that one is a little out of the price range I mentioned Spud.
Title: Re: Tablets
Post by: Cardmaster on November 21, 2007, 11:08:24 PM
Quote from: captainspud on November 21, 2007, 08:18:24 AM
*sigh* (http://www.wacom.com/cintiq/index.cfm)

...


*paws at the screen*

You and me both, man... one of my neighbors in my dorm has one and I just go and stare at it sometimes... I think he thinks I've got a problem..

*wipes drool*
Title: Re: Tablets
Post by: Glitch Girl on November 24, 2007, 08:15:27 PM
Quote from: captainspud on November 21, 2007, 08:18:24 AM
*sigh* (http://www.wacom.com/cintiq/index.cfm)

...


*paws at the screen*

[looks at link]

(double sigh)
Title: Re: Tablets
Post by: Valandar on November 25, 2007, 12:42:13 AM
WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!

I WANT!
Title: Re: Tablets
Post by: Lunarman on December 13, 2007, 07:26:52 AM
I had a go on a Wacom today, it was pretty nice. It wasn't set up properly though, I just plugged and played it at school. I'm going for a smaller one (A5) but I think A4 is over the top anyway.

I'm getting my Wacom Bamboo for Christmas
Title: Re: Tablets
Post by: Cardmaster on December 13, 2007, 09:12:58 AM
Quote from: Lunarman on December 13, 2007, 07:26:52 AM
I had a go on a Wacom today, it was pretty nice. It wasn't set up properly though, I just plugged and played it at school. I'm going for a smaller one (A5) but I think A4 is over the top anyway.

I'm getting my Wacom Bamboo for Christmas

Ooh, nice. I've heard pretty good things about the Bamboo. Especially the fact that it has buttons, which is something Graphire lacks. Heh.

Ooooh, and on the topic of Cintiqs again, any of you Cintiq wanters see the new 12" model!? It's "only" a thousand bucks! I mean, it's still expensive, but that's something I could maybe actually save some money for and buy! Glee!
Title: Re: Tablets
Post by: captainspud on December 13, 2007, 09:45:23 AM
OH.

MY.

EFFING.

GAWD. (http://global.wacom.com/cintiq/12WX.cfm)

:blink:

I can afford this.
Title: Re: Tablets
Post by: BlueBard on December 13, 2007, 09:59:21 AM
I wish I could afford a tablet... but for me it would be more for putzing and less for anything truly useful.

{looooonnnngggg sigh}
Title: Re: Tablets
Post by: thalaw2 on December 13, 2007, 06:50:57 PM
I agree BB...they should come up with something for writers....it could add in some sentences when you get writers block or something like that.

I want to get a tablet that lets me draw characters from other languages and then translates them into English...those are cool!
Title: Re: Tablets
Post by: Mr. Hamrick on December 13, 2007, 07:29:20 PM
Quote from: thalaw2 on December 13, 2007, 06:50:57 PM
I agree BB...they should come up with something for writers....it could add in some sentences when you get writers block or something like that.

I want to get a tablet that lets me draw characters from other languages and then translates them into English...those are cool!

I think they are getting closer to that:   click here (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FI73MA/ref=amb_link_6050242_1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=right-plog-0&pf_rd_r=1KXD0C5BHCYPN2V76PQ9&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=340733801&pf_rd_i=507846)
Title: Re: Tablets
Post by: Figure Fan on December 13, 2007, 09:00:43 PM
Quote from: captainspud on December 13, 2007, 09:45:23 AM
OH.

MY.

EFFING.

GAWD. (http://global.wacom.com/cintiq/12WX.cfm)

:blink:

I can afford this.

Thats what I need! Its hard for me to use a regular tablet  :(
Title: Re: Tablets
Post by: stumpy on December 13, 2007, 09:32:03 PM
Quote from: captainspud on December 13, 2007, 09:45:23 AMOH.

MY.

EFFING.

GAWD. (http://global.wacom.com/cintiq/12WX.cfm)

:blink:

Baby got backlit LCD drawing tablets. Sir Mix-A-Lot could hardly have said it any better. (http://home.graffiti.net/stumpyanker:graffiti.net/emoticons/laughing.gif)
Title: Re: Tablets
Post by: MJB on December 14, 2007, 12:50:13 AM
Quote from: captainspud on December 13, 2007, 09:45:23 AMI can afford this.

You can?! Bull!!

/me is jealous

-MJB
Title: Re: Tablets
Post by: thalaw2 on December 14, 2007, 01:17:35 AM
I've seen some here that let you scribble Chinese characters then it gives you the English translation....I want to get one that does that for a few languages...I'm sure it's just software add-ons once I find the right tablet.
Title: Re: Tablets
Post by: Lunarman on December 27, 2007, 01:42:03 PM
Well you'll never guess what that fictitious fatty dumped in my stocking :D

Title: Re: Tablets
Post by: Midnight on December 27, 2007, 10:58:34 PM
Quote from: Lunarman on December 27, 2007, 01:42:03 PM
Well you'll never guess what that fictitious fatty dumped in my stocking :D



A monster truck!?
Title: Re: Tablets
Post by: captainspud on December 27, 2007, 11:31:52 PM
No no, it's a zebra!
Title: Re: Tablets
Post by: Lunarman on December 28, 2007, 01:56:31 AM
well it looks a bit like this:

(http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a176/lunarman/sketches/Wacom.gif)
Title: Re: Tablets
Post by: captainspud on December 28, 2007, 06:28:07 AM
They got you a digital scale? Are they trying to tell you to lose weight..?
Title: Re: Tablets
Post by: Blkcasanova247 on December 28, 2007, 06:38:00 AM
 :lol: