Which model do you have, what size, cost, and when did you buy it? And what can you vouch for as the best on the market at the moment, (within a reasonable price)? .. I wish gfx tablets became as dirt cheap as scanners have become.
I have an Acecad Flair 5" x 3.75" which cost around the $100 mark from Dick Smith a coupla years ago. I had (still have it, actually) an A3 tablet (forget the brand) which is essentially for CAD stuff (giving a hint at it's age) which I picked up from Harvey Norman for... hmm... under $100 anyway. No pressure sensitivity and a corded pen, but it rocked my world nevertheless. I'd still be using it, but my most recent mobo didn't support it so the Acecad had to be bought.
I didn't know the joy of a Wacom until I hit QANTM, and I plan to upgrade to one after I get my own computer. The Acecad does the job well, and I probably wouldn't switch if I knew better. @:-) In fact, it'll be a fair while down the road until I upgrade...
I doubt tablets will come down in price anytime in the near future, as even though they gain popularity, they won't really become heavy mainstream like scanners. There's no "LETS SCAN PICTURES AND SEND THEM TO EVERYONE LOL!!!!!!" factor with tablets. @;-)
Chris Bowden
http://brain.gamekey.com/
I have the worlds cheapest little thing, the MG Logic e pad, its bad, very bad, but it was all I could afford at the time I think it was around $60 or so for its 15cm by 12cm non glory, but it has served me well, I find I can get by using a combination of it and my mouse. But I would not recommend it to anyone. Someday when I have money a new tablet will be mine, oh yes it will be mine.
Pantmonger
i have a Wacom Graphire 2 which is 5"x4" which was $230 when i got it a year and a half ago
Peter Gillespie
http://www.3dluvr.com/eagor/
I have used a wacom penpal i think, i cant remember the name it was, the size was 4" x 5" and unfortunately i had to give it back to the lender who never useses it anywayz and isnt even plugged into a machine,,,,,sigh...
u can get an intuos2, which is the latest range of wacoms, at the size of 4x5, which is great to use and is about the size of the average mose pad for $440 aud. i would like to get the size above this which is 6" x 8" and is $682 aud and come in two different colours..woohoo. I dont think i wld have enuff desk space for the 6x8 so i will prolly get the 4 x 5.
Here is the link to the only Australian distriutor for the wacoms, which are the best, and my advice to anyone, when buying anything that has a specialist market is to look for a distributor first so that you can get a cheaper price over the retail outlet :)
http://www.videobytes.com.au/products/intuos2.asp
why get an intuos2? and not an older model? well............. i guess check the specs
here is the link for wacom and our area,which is asia/pacific
http://ap.wacom.co.jp/products/products_index.html
oh yeah, the reason that sum tablets are better then others is generally based upon the pen that they come with... WACOMS are the best, there is no argument...but whether one wacom is better then another is going to depend on what sort of pen you want and what the pen can do for you :) hope that helps
and for buying from distributors, you can save yourself hundreds of dollars...an example is that i go thru styli for my installation cartridges for turntables every six -12 months, my catridges i got for 460 from a distributor, from a retailer they are 560 -600 to replace my styli i get 2 for 110 dollars from the distributor from reatail im lookin at 90-100 for 1.
Dont get ripped off, and ask if they have a cash price...that usally knocks a bit off the price as well .. if ppl are selling a specialist product that there is not a huge demand for, then they might knock off 20 - 50 bucks to have the cash in hand and not have to wait for th cheque or cc or whatever [:)]
i was just checkin out the graphire series from wacom WACOM Graphire2 RRP Inc. GST: $182
Actual tablet size 8.2" x 8.4" x 0.4"
(225mm x 210mm x 7.5mm)
(Approximately mouse pad size)
Active working area 4" x 5"
(128mm x 96mm)
Pen accuracy 0.5mm
Pen reading height 5mm
Pressure levels 512
Report Rate 205 pps (Points per second)
Resolution 1,015 LPI (Lines per inch)
Warranty One year
Weight 400 grams
that looks pretty good for the price, i havnt checked the specs tho and compared it to an intuos2
altho if you look at the specs the actual workin size wld be the same as a 4x5 intuos2, but the graphire2 will take up 8inch x 8 inch on yr desk instead of the 4x5 wich has about the same workin area
None? I know when I left there they were pretty tight on their use due to theft of them (and MAX dongles) which is sad.
Something I just remembered though... QANTM were buying Wacoms at one stage, and went around asking if anyone was interested in buying one, as the more you buy the cheaper they are. Any current students might want to ask about this, and any ex students may want to ask as well. The least they can do is get a discount on a tablet for ya.
Chris Bowden
http://brain.gamekey.com/
wow, i was just looking for resellers of wacom products in brisbane and saw the intuos 2 airbrush, How nice wld that Be!! heres the link
http://ap.wacom.co.jp/products/intuos/option/intuos_option1.html
it even comes in different colours
Dont drive out to Story Bridge tho, i did that the sarvo as i couldnt get them on the phone and thinkin they were a retail outlet, but umm know, its a private residence. Doh. guess i will have to wait 4 days to get my nibs. its only 17 dollars for a pack of three, you would think sum1 would have them in stock. Maybe story bridge will call me back and i will be in luck.
When i rang Graphics plus they said to call and get the distributor to ship the nibs and i wld get them cheaper, stuff that tho as they are cheap enuff.
Pantmonger maybe you should just get the distriutor to ship you a tablet.
heres the web address again :)
Ive got a graphics tablet here at work, but for what im doin, its alot faster just to use the mouse.
On the other hand, the good thing about a tablet is that, provided u have 'painter', it can simulate natural medium really well. But i have not used it for the last 2 years.
I think a tablet is only good if u have specific needs, like in the instance of painting on the pc, but other than that, your better off with the good old cheapie mouse.
I've just bought myself a Graphire 2 for $149, and the minute I plugged it in and open up photoshop this morning, I was hooked. Its so much easier than a mouse! Now I'm wishing I had bought one ages ago! (Remembers hours of skinning frustration)
If anyone is interested, http://www.softwareshop.com.au is where I got it from. They are a Canberra based shop but have free shipping Australia wide. Currently their June special is on all Wacoms, so if anyone is looking at getting one, visit their site and check it out, some good prices to be found!
i got my graphire 2 from the software shop, canberra too, but when i got mine it wasin early 2001 @ $230.... bastards !
Peter Gillespie
www.3dluvr.com/eagor
I have a wacom graphire 2, 4 x 6 i think.... anyway it was $182 from graphics plus in brisbane. bargain!!!!!