The cheaper ones seem to have fewer pen dynamics built in, so there is no tilt sensitivity on the Graphire for example. However I have still found it to be more than worth the £80 it cost.
The cheaper ones seem to have fewer pen dynamics built in, so there is no tilt sensitivity on the Graphire for example. However I have still found it to be more than worth the £80 it cost.
Another proud owner of a Wacom here, Graphire 3, A6 sized, in my case. Totally worth the €100 I paid for it a couple of years ago.
(I don't use it that much anymore, I have no patience for digital art.. :/ )
A6 is large enough for most users, though if I'm going to buy a new one (some day...) I will buy an A5 to have a little bit more space. But if you're just starting out, a simple tablet, either A6 or A5 will be perfect for your purposes.
I have a Wacom Cintiq 20WSX and its the greatest thing EVAR!
Its also 1900+ dollars.
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Yay, more like rubbing it in actually!
Regarding the question, I refer you to this thread:
http://www.cartographersguild.com/showthread.php?t=552
There are a couple pages worth of discussion about it and things to consider. Perhaps I should make it a sticky?
I bought a Wacom Graphire 4 off of ebay earlier this summer, and it is a dream! I can do things so much quicker and more accurately than with a mouse alone! I bought th 8"x6" model, and I probably could have done with a smaller one, but I like the size I bought. The 8"x6" is the size of the working area. The actual tablet is bigger. It is about 11"x11", but still fits nicely into my laptop bag.
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I have the WACOM Bamboo MTE450 6" x 4". Before I bought it I thought bigger the better, good thing i could only afford this one. The smaller size means I don't have to move my arm so much when using it. I'm used to the MS Trackball That I only have to move my thumb a small amount to get across the screen. You can get the model I got for $70us on Newegg right now.
BTW I had the foresight to buy 4 of the MS Trackballs when they were discontinued so I should have one for a while...
John