Drawing Tablets - Which is the best and best priced?
Wednesday, November 13, 2002 by Old_Crab | Discussion: WinCustomize Talk
Looking to buy a tablet this Xmas. Who uses them in skinning and who doesn't? I have an old CalComp Tablet that I've never used. However if I'm to plunge into skinning or other digital endeavors I want to use the appropriate tools. Have PaintShopPro 7 and (get this) Ray Dream 4 and Dabbler2. However I really can't draw a straight line with a ruler but...I want to try. 
JamMeister33
Reply #2 Wednesday, November 13, 2002 11:16 AM
Reply #2 Wednesday, November 13, 2002 11:16 AM
I also have a Wacom Intuos GD model with cordless stylus, it wasn't cheap but it's the best! 
Old_Crab
Reply #3 Wednesday, November 13, 2002 3:12 PM
Reply #3 Wednesday, November 13, 2002 3:12 PM
Thank you for your responses JamMeister33 & bakerstreet.
Doreen
Reply #5 Wednesday, November 13, 2002 4:28 PM
Reply #5 Wednesday, November 13, 2002 4:28 PM
http://www.csd.toshiba.com/cgi-bin/tais/pc/pc_TabletPc.jsp?comm=ST
what else could beat a tablet pc? and I'm being sarcastic. hehe
(I got to see one of these recently and writing on this tablet is more fluid than writing on paper! very cool, but very expensive.
listen to Baker & JamMeister
what else could beat a tablet pc? and I'm being sarcastic. hehe
(I got to see one of these recently and writing on this tablet is more fluid than writing on paper! very cool, but very expensive.
listen to Baker & JamMeister
Koasati
Reply #6 Wednesday, November 13, 2002 11:58 PM
Reply #6 Wednesday, November 13, 2002 11:58 PM
I have the Wacom Graphire, no problems with it, but the Intuos is more versatile I think.
brazil
Reply #7 Thursday, November 14, 2002 1:06 AM
Reply #7 Thursday, November 14, 2002 1:06 AM
Old Crab,Sony used to make a Pen Tablet LX-920.It is a very nice machine.It can take 512 ram and is a 1 gig processor.Fairly fast.Wacom is the maker of the screen/tablet,but I'm sure Sony cut many corners Wacom would not.Hence the price.If you can find a recent model that has been taken care of it could be less that a K.Sony very recently discontinued it so it would not suprise me if they had some left new or refurbished.The pen works very well but it can be a bit frustrating to get the screen where you want it.I own two and have had only one problem with one screen,a very small,thin, faint line in the very bottom of the display.They said they would fix it if sent it back but I can't seem to find a good time.The new ones are the bomb though.If price is an issue and you just want to see if it would work for you the Sony Pen Tablet is a great deal.
bakerstreet
Reply #8 Thursday, November 14, 2002 1:44 AM
Reply #8 Thursday, November 14, 2002 1:44 AM
I would *strongly* suggest anyone looking at tablet monitors as a replacement for a regular tablet to think twice. Instead of paying ~300 dollars for a tablet that you can use with any monitor you like, you'll be paying 1500-3500 dollars for a built-in monitor that only does like 1280x1024 at 16 million colors. here's a nice one: ( http://www.wacom.com/lcdtablets/index_18sx.cfm http://www.wacom.com/lcdtablets/specs.cfm ).
I really can't see why anyone would pay 5-10 times more for what amounts to a mediocre monitor. I think Viewsonic makes one too, but I can't get their page to load to find the specs.
As far as Tablet PCs, again, I can't find any specs over 1024x768 and the same 24 bit color. Maybe the developers at SD can eleborate if they have any advance knowledge. I found one that would accept a gig or ram, but most are like 512 or less. I would use one for the same stuff I would use a laptop for, but with any kind of graphics work, it wouldn't be worth paying twice what you would spend building a good machine yourself.
My advice, at least until the technology improves, is to buy a good, conventional tablet.
I really can't see why anyone would pay 5-10 times more for what amounts to a mediocre monitor. I think Viewsonic makes one too, but I can't get their page to load to find the specs.
As far as Tablet PCs, again, I can't find any specs over 1024x768 and the same 24 bit color. Maybe the developers at SD can eleborate if they have any advance knowledge. I found one that would accept a gig or ram, but most are like 512 or less. I would use one for the same stuff I would use a laptop for, but with any kind of graphics work, it wouldn't be worth paying twice what you would spend building a good machine yourself.
My advice, at least until the technology improves, is to buy a good, conventional tablet.
Old_Crab
Reply #9 Thursday, November 14, 2002 2:51 AM
Reply #9 Thursday, November 14, 2002 2:51 AM
Thanks again bakersteet. Requirements are always a concern. And thank you Doreen for the link to Toshiba. Will listen to bakerstreet and Jammeister. Especially for someone like me who at best is a doodler. Thanks goes to both Koasati and brazil too. Going over to Sony now to snoop about. 
craeonics
Reply #10 Thursday, November 14, 2002 3:44 AM
Reply #10 Thursday, November 14, 2002 3:44 AM
Prime difference between a (Wacom) Graphire and a (Wacom) Intuos is that the Graphire is like the starter model. Usable area is A6, 512 levels of pressure sensitivity (ergo plenty), resolution of 100dpi (again, plenty) and has only one type of pen.
The Intuos on the other hand is more for professionals (meaning it's more expensive as well). It comes in sizes from A6 to A3, has 1024 pressure levels, a much higher resolution and titl sensitivity, meaning it can sense the angle at which you hold your pen. There are also different types of pens for it (like an airbrush pen).
Now if that sounds like an advert, I really need to get me an Intuos. Pens are great!
The Intuos on the other hand is more for professionals (meaning it's more expensive as well). It comes in sizes from A6 to A3, has 1024 pressure levels, a much higher resolution and titl sensitivity, meaning it can sense the angle at which you hold your pen. There are also different types of pens for it (like an airbrush pen).
Now if that sounds like an advert, I really need to get me an Intuos. Pens are great!
brazil
Reply #11 Thursday, November 14, 2002 4:03 AM
Reply #11 Thursday, November 14, 2002 4:03 AM
OC,You might not find much online with Sony but I bought my second one with a call to their sales line and from there they patched me thru to a special/clearance line where I bought one new for 1500$.I have seen them elsewhere since for less that a K!!
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Reply #1 Wednesday, November 13, 2002 5:01 AM
Granted, I am biased from two years of Wacom use previous to trying the other, but to me there is no comparison. For my 6 year-old to doodle, the Aiptek is a great value; but to get work done, I would spend the extra for the Wacom.