Using a tablet is a matter of practice, as with all tools. The disconnect between where your hands are and where you are looking seems to cause different levels of difficulty for different people. I myself tried it once and never looked back, but I know some need considerably longer time to get used to a tablet - it's a personal thing, also related to your drawing style on paper (if you do large, sweeping motions with your arm with drawing, I picture you'll have a harder time to get used to a smaller tablet than I who mainly use the wrist).
I have done a bunch of tutorials on these things, notably "Setting up GIMP for artistic work" (there is a copy of it here on GimpChat) has sections on settings for a tablet.
@rdgracer71
There
are tablet + screens out there. These are professional tools. You draw directly on the screen, with pressure sensitivity and everything, seeing the result appear directly under the pen tip. The proper ones are the Wacom Cintiq series. If you have $2000 to spare, go for it.
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Griatch
PS: The cheapest Cintiq is the Wacom Cintiq12ws (12 inch widescreen). That one retails around $1000. DS