I've always considered tablets as strictly for professionals and people with artistic talent. Since I'm embarrassingly poor and have the artistic ability if a turnip I never thought about getting one. NOW however, so much supports them. Gimp, Xara Extreme, and now I tried Mypaint based on a recommendation here and was awestruck by it's possibilities. I've decided to look into it but the variety is stupefying. After some research I'm thinking about a Wacom Bamboo but I don't want to end up with one that I don't want or can't use so what I'd like to get opinions on are what brand and model and if they come in different sizes what size should I look for. Keep in mind the following:

I'm not a professional and can't justify an expensive one. I need one that I can pay for with one day's begging at Wal Mart or 5 minutes searching on Ebay.

Since I don't big projects I don't THINK I need a big one.

What ever it is it will be shuffled between 3 computers: mine, my wife's and maybe my laptop.

All of those 3 will be XP based.

My Bamboo tablet is the Bamboo Fun one and I paid a lot less for it than they are now. The Bamboo Pen should be plenty enough for you. The size of the tablet I don't think makes a lot of difference. This one looks like it should work for you. http://www.wacom.com/bamboo/bamboo_pen.php, but check out the website.

Molly has hers on Win XP and probably can tell you much more about it from that standpoint because mine is on my Linux-based machine. It works well for me and I'm one who doesn't use it a lot. Mine came with a mouse. The Pen doesn't have a mouse, nor apparently does the Bamboo Fun now. Looks like the mouse was taken over by touch which I think would be nice but it's also much more expensive.

Gms9810,
I have a Wacom Bamboo Fun tablet
The model number is CTE-650. The measurements are 10 3/4 x 9 1/4.

It came with a mouse and a pen. I use the mouse all the time with the tablet but hate to say it but I hardly ever use the pen cuz I am just one of those people that can control the mouse much more easily than the pen.
Other people swear by the pen. I know the pen works very well in My paint cuz of the pressure that you can control how dark or how light you want your paint just by pressure.
Sorry that I can't be more help...
If you shop around you will probably find the one that suits your needs and in your price range.

I checked the link, I can't afford the $199 for the bamboo fun tablet but the $69 bamboo pen I can afford. I can get those on Ebay but they're the same price as Wacom's site so I'll probably do that when I get paid next month. I still have one question that's puzzling me but I haven't figured out how to ask it yet. I'll probably figure it out tonight when I'm trying to sleep. Thanks, both of your recommendations are in line with what I've discovered from other sources.

Good luck Gms9810. I hope you get just what you want. Shopping around is the answer.......

I've been asked this so many times that I made a post about it:

http://www.gimptalk.com/forum/install-g ... 17992.html
.
Griatch

great info! I sort of wish I had a tablet, even though I can't draw worth beans.

Neither can I but the price is right and it might be useful, AND my wife wants one.

Love that last line. glad you added that. lol...

I almost never buy anything for myself and when I do she never gripes. Usually the only time I get anything is when she gets it for me and the only things she gets are the things I get for her. She had two jerk husbands before and I want to make up for them. She's been talking about a tablet for 2 years now.

when you finally get one...you will have to post up one of her pictures. Heck, just have her join us, the more the merrier!

I know I'm turning this into a zombie-thread, but I have a little something to add for anyone who reads this in the future.

Always buy the cheaper entry models first, to test if you like tablets and to train yourself to use them. You can always sell the cheap one and get a pro model later.

Also, bigger=/=better. The size of the tablet you'll want is heavily dependent on your writing/drawing style. Here are some of my suggestions:

If you draw:
-tight, and hold the pen near the tip (like me), then you'll probably want the small model. (I have the smallest model, and yet I didn't feel comfortable using it until I turned my PSP into a second monitor, which forced my tablet to only use the top half. Now it's very comfortable. I use half of the smallest of Wacom's tablets, and don't need anything else.)
-tight, but hold the pen near the middle or eraser, then you'll most likely prefer a medium sized tablet.
-loose, but hold the pen near the tip or middle, you'll likely want a medium too. You might like a large, but a medium's your best bet.
-with large arm movements (regardless of how you hold the pen), then you'll want a large or bigger.
(These are based on Wacom's sizes. Other brands may have wildly different size categories.)

That's just a very simplified outline, but I think it's a decent guide. Remember, you can zoom on the computer, so you do not need the largest tablet, you need one you feel comfortable with.

Another thing to keep in mind is whether you draw from the wrist or from the elbow. If you tend to keep your arm still and use your wrist to move your hand, then you'll want a medium or small. If you hover your arm over the surface and use your elbow to move your hand, think about getting a medium or larger.

But no matter which you do, always take stretch breaks, and never misuse your tablet. You might be annoyed by something, but your should never tap/press down hard with force. That doesn't mean you can't put pressure on the tip, that means no slamming the poor thing against the pad because you can't get a line right. You should also keep your tablet clean. You will be very upset when a small grain of sand gets caught on the tip of your pen and puts a deep scratch in the pad. One last thing, I know lots of people say to put your tablet dead-center of your monitor, but you don't have to. Mine of off to the side where my drawing hand is. Do whatever feels comfortable. You'll never get anywhere is you're constantly struggling with cramps and sore muscles.

Thanks for those tips.They will be very useful to everyone I am sure. =)

I've already bought it months ago and am quite happy with it. I never ever buy cheap entry level anything. I research it then buy the one I think is best for me. This time I almost had my mind made up then when folks here suggested the one I had in mind that settled it. I've been in this field way to long to buy entry level anything.

I have a Bamboo also. I can't remember which mine is, but it works with the pen and with my finger. The model is CTH-460, and I love it. I don't use it all the time, but when I do, it really rocks!

Mine isn't the pen and touch, just pen but I use it almost all the time. once I got it to work with gimp and inkscape it seems to work perfectly with averything.

I deactivate the touch mode most of the time, and just use the pen. On another program called art rage, I like to use my fingers. Sort of finger painting!

It sounds like you guys have one of these:


I just have an older model...


Despite a barely noticeable loss of sensitivity in the mid-low pressure range, my tablet is as good as is was three years ago. Wacom makes some quality products.

Ill be getting mine at the end of the year.I will be going for the pen and touch probably. =)
I can not wait! It is going to be nice to be able to draw like on paper on my computer screen.

Oh the possibilities!

it is INCREDIBLY nice, even for a schmuck like me who has no artistic talent