Wacom Tablets? or Other?

[Mr Noble]

With my New Years resolution being "to use all my camera equipment to its full potential" I guess I really need a wacom tablet things instead of my cordless mouse that keeps jumping around when connection is lost for a second and who's batteries seem to last for minuutes of use!


Help and advice (with links ) to whats best bought and best avoided.


Thanks Pro team #1


Greg

[ideo]

Only ever used Wacom Tablets so can only comment on them. Currently use an A5 Wacom Intuos 3 which is good. I have used A4 versions in the past but found that I only used the same small area of the tablet, which took up a lot of desk space, so when it was time to change I just went for the A5 version, which seems to be just the right size.

One thing to bear in mind when getting one is to ensure you get one that matches your monitor. Wacom have just brought out a tablet with an input area to match the widescreen screen resolutions that are getting more common now. If you use one of the old 4:3 aspect ratio tablets with a 16:9 screen, when you draw a circle on the tablet, it will come out as an oval on screen!

Also, as a general rule, the more you pay for the tablet, the higher the input resolution (i.e. pressure sensitivity).

Hope this helps!

[wedg1e]

I have Wacom Graphires (probably the cheap end of the market now, but were £80 when new) - a USB one at home and a serial one at work.
Pick one up off Ebay for reasonable money, try it and pass it on if you don't like it!
Some things can only be done properly on a graphics tablet...

[Mr Noble]

A5 Wacom Intuos 3

Think I am going to get one of these. Need a new mouse anyway as the battery powered infrared one I have really is annoying to use.

Can't work out how my wireless mouse has had maybe 20 battery changes over the last year and a half when the wireless keyboard is still on the same set and going strong! Odd. (and I do type a lot)

GN

[roop]

Due to the much smaller amounts of data to send, the time spent transmitting by a keyboard is massively less that that of a mouse. In addition, power consumption of a quiescent keyboard is nil whereas a maouse (specifically an optical mouse) always uses some juice. I have a Logitech super-duper wireless keyboard and laser mouse combo thing that I got with my new DELL 18 months ago or so. The high capacity NiMH batteries in the mouse are recharged fortnightly (it sits on a little charging cradle) whereas the Energizers in the keyboard have never been replaced from new...

Mr Noble said:

Can't work out how my wireless mouse has had maybe 20 battery changes over the last year and a half when the wireless keyboard is still on the same set and going strong! Odd. (and I do type a lot)

[fergusd]

roop said:

Due to the much smaller amounts of data to send, the time spent transmitting by a keyboard is massively less that that of a mouse. In addition, power consumption of a quiescent keyboard is nil whereas a maouse (specifically an optical mouse) always uses some juice. I have a Logitech super-duper wireless keyboard and laser mouse combo thing that I got with my new DELL 18 months ago or so. The high capacity NiMH batteries in the mouse are recharged fortnightly (it sits on a little charging cradle) whereas the Energizers in the keyboard have never been replaced from new...

I use a microsoft bluetooth wireless mouse every day for 4-6 hours, the 2xAA alkaline batteries last about 4 months a set . . .

go figure

Fd

[rameshuk]

**Mice **

The lag can be annoying. The newer laser mice are much better.

Essentially there are two types .

One for gamers - where the resolution can be changed by pushing a button,
in games like quake you might want to look around quickly one minute then line up the cross hairs slowly to blast an enemy from afar.

and one for professionals. This is essentially an input device which has
good tracking ability and virtually no lag.

There are a couple of models which are good for both purposes,
but one of the newer models from Logitech or Microsoft will suit you fine.

This can then be used in conjunction with your new wacom tablet.

[te51cle]

I use an A5 Wacom Intuos 2 and apart from its habit of locking up and needing a power cycle every 5-7 days I find it very good.

[roop]

Is it a LASER or standard optical...? I think it makes quite a bit of difference. I have another Logitech cordless that is just optical (LED based) not LASER and the batteries in that last months too. Having said that it gets used less. I work at my PC with the LASER mouse in excess of 8 hours a day 7 days a week.

fergusd said:

I use a microsoft bluetooth wireless mouse every day for 4-6 hours, the 2xAA alkaline batteries last about 4 months a set.

[fergusd]

Who knows . . . probably an LED with a semiconducor camera calculating the motion . . . anyways, no lag, no innaccuracy, no hassle, minimal battery usage . . .

It pains me beyond comprehension, but it's a good Microsoft product . . . works with my lappy in 'doze and linux, zero hassle . . .

Fd

[LongQ]

I have had a Wacom Volito 2 (about a6 size pad area and a little more than A5 overall size) for the last several months and like it a lot.

It seems to be able to work with whatever screen resolution it is attached to (provided it's properly set up) and does all I want it to do - but I'm no professional artist, just editing a few photos.

Good value at about 40 quid from PCWorld and I notice a few other vendors are listing it as well these days.

[roop]

fergusd said:

Who knows . . . probably an LED with a semiconducor camera calculating the motion . . . anyways, no lag, no innaccuracy, no hassle, minimal battery usage . . . It pains me beyond comprehension, but it's a good Microsoft product . . . works with my lappy in 'doze and linux, zero hassle . . . Fd

Microsoft hardware is often very good. Their keyboard and mice in particular. Not sure who makes them for MS, but they always seem to be good quality at a good price. Having said that, I like MS stuff anyway...

[tr7v8]

Morgan computers keep advertising tablets for not a lot of dosh, might be a good way of
trying one.

Jim

[HankScorpio]

Slightly OT on mice... I've used exclusively MS for maybe 15+ years and have never found a replacement that I've been more comfortable with.

Until today - took delivery of a Razer Diamondback (sourced in the Play sale) and it is brilliant. Smooth, tunable and 7 programable buttons. Scroll wheel is lovely and wide and very quiet.

And the best bit - it comes in TVR-esqe purple/green flip finish

[HankScorpio]

Oh, and also symetrical so no trouble for lefties!

[rude girl]

LongQ said:

I have had a Wacom Volito 2 (about a6 size pad area and a little more than A5 overall size) for the last several months and like it a lot.

I got one for Christmas, and love it already!

[Mr Noble]

Just had a chat with my pro photog mate (www.csurbey.com) who says he has an old wacom A4 pad and mouse I can have since he justy bought a new A3ish one!

Result.

Will get back with test results asap.

Thanks for your help.

Greg