Recommendations for Graphics Tablet?

[Kaos Kid]

My 12yo girl is an artist-in-the-making. She likes to draw (but using paper medium is sooooo limiting), and I'm thinking that it may be time to find her a nice little graphics tablet so she can create and design using her computer. I don't have any specialized programs as of yet so she will probably be using a simple program like Paint until I see how she takes to graphic design before I invest in any costlier apps. I have been running searches and have seen simple tablets that state they are a decent size but then when I check details I see usable area of only about 4x6 inches. Is that normal for graphics tablets? I would like to stay as cheap as possible but still spend enough to make it worth the investment (I'm afraid if I make an uneducated choice I will buy cheap junk that I will regret later). Does anybody here have firsthand knowledge of a nice little tablet that is affordable and has features that will keep it viable for the next couple of years? She is currently using WinXP and will probably do so until EOL for WinXP.


edited/updated for current needs...I found a Logitech C310 webcam at Bestbuy B&M for $29.99 + tax that looked to be adequate and at the upper end of my price range but still doable. It was getting better reviews than the M$ webcams that were priced similarly and even higher, so I figured I'd give it a shot.

[vbironchef]

http://www.nintendo.com/ds/what-is/ Would this be what you are looking for.

[Kaos Kid]

She has a DS Lite, she plays some Mario games on it but thats about it.

I'm talking about a decent but affordable beginner graphics tablet so she can draw and create using her desktop and save the results to her harddrive rather than just draw on paper using pens, markers, etc. She currently has an Opty755 USFF with a Xeon 2.66Ghz/1066fsb cpu so she should have enough horses to do design and editing. I am hoping the graphics tablet will give her a healthy creative outlet to bring her out of her shell. She is the light of my life, I live for her smile, and I want to give her every opportunity to be happy.

If you have firsthand knowledge (meaning you have either used one or personally know someone who has) then please recommend one. I have been reading reviews on the sites I visit but am still up in the air on which way to proceed.

edited/updated to reflect current needs

[wreakreward]

As far as the webcam goes, I'm probably no help. But I do have information about 2 tablets that would satisfy her needs. Obviously you've probably heard of the blackberry playbook, and though I do have friends who say the software is still a bit buggy, there definitely the best bang for your buck if your looking for something cheap. It's screen is 5.1" by 7.6" which is still small, but its very function-able. It will run you around $199.99 for the 16gb, $249.99 for the 32gb, and $299.99 for the 64gb, which is much cheaper than any of the Mid-high end iPads. Or if your looking for a two in one there's the Asus Eee Pad transformer, I have a buddy with this who loves it. This Tablet is around 6.96" by 10.7", with a High res. 1280x800 screen, 16gb of HDD, equipped with a Tegra 2 Dual core processor, and a gig of RAM, which should be enough for any designing applications. As far as the applications go, I'm not to sure how many are available currently for Androids, but I'm sure you could find one in the Android app. marketplace. It has a 5.0 mp rear camera, and a 1.2 mp front camera which could work as a webcam. But it also doubles as a laptop as you can attach a keyboard docking station, hence the name "transformer." The Asus tab will be around 350-400 for this model depending on where you get it. Hope this helps!

[bubba]

Look at the Wacom Bamboo line. The Bamboo capture is the least money ~70ish. Step up from that is the Bamboo Fun ~120ish. Step up from that, and like what I have is the Wacom Intuos Medium ~350ish.

Win the lotto or come into some serious cash, the Wacom Cintiq ~2kish. <-def not for what your looking for, but figured I would round out the list LOL


Wacom's site has lots of info and images of the tablets http://www.wacom.com/

Take a look at the Capture, it comes with PS Elements 8 and AutoDesk Sketchbook Express handy software for starting out.

[Kaos Kid]

Yes, I have noticed the wacom line, both the "capture" and the "connect" have been what I've been considering early on since they are in a nice price range. my main concern on those is the total size compared to the usable area--will that confuse her, and do you think that the limited 4x6" usable area is enough to be creative on? I would think that that size is OK for doing logos and single items/characters but would be difficult to do a scene or more detailed graphic. Also, I have seen items by "Adesso" that are in my extreme upper price range that have a larger usable area but am unsure whether they will be as high quality as the wacom entry-level tablets. Finally, am I making a mistake by staying in a price range that doesn't include tablets that are compatible with Win7? No one in the family is using it yet (not even me) but I am concerned that once EOL of WinXP comes around it will render this hardware useless unless I keep at least one machine set up with XP expressly to use as her creative outlet (knowing her 10yo brother, he will get jealous and want to use it too so whatever I decide on will probably be shared or at least passed down as she gains proficiency). As always, thanks for the input!

[FZ1]

Look at the Wacom Bamboo line. The Bamboo capture is the least money ~70ish. Step up from that is the Bamboo Fun ~120ish. Step up from that, and like what I have is the Wacom Intuos Medium ~350ish.

Win the lotto or come into some serious cash, the Wacom Cintiq ~2kish. <-def not for what your looking for, but figured I would round out the list LOL


Wacom's site has lots of info and images of the tablets http://www.wacom.com/

Take a look at the Capture, it comes with PS Elements 8 and AutoDesk Sketchbook Express handy software for starting out.

I have the Bamboo fun and I love it. I use it for photo ediing and for that, I'll never use a mouse again. Wacom makes the best tablets IMO. The more expensive ones have a larger surface area (user preference) and some more bells and whistles but the cheaper ones work just as well.

[Kaos Kid]

Cool, looks like the short list is Wacom, now to watch the sales ads. I can probably do the sub $100 items soon. I have that Quad 9450/P35-DS3L/4GB Reaper setup that I have been playing around with but don't really need so looks like that combo will go on CL next and if I can get a decent price for it I can move up into the mid-range tablets. Decisions, decisions.

[bubba]

Actually yes the 4x6 is "enough" in a way. The bigger the space on the tablet, the less zoomed in on what your drawing you have to be.

So with a 4x6 she would rough out the figure then zoom in on a head to detail it, where with a larger one like my 6x11 I could work on the head and body same time.

The trick she will have to over come is looking down to draw. When I started out it was weird as I was looking at the monitor not my hand. That's why the Pro's love the Cintiq it combines the monitor and the tablet making digital paper.

[Kaos Kid]

hmmmmm What do you think about the Fujitsu Stylistic ST5112?

While browsing around on the resale sites, I saw an ad for this full-featured tablet, it is used but appears to be a good deal due to the "digital paper" capabilities you mentioned above that would eliminate a lot of the learning curve that she would have using the lower-end Wacom tablets. It is listed with a 2.2Ghz C2D cpu so I'm thinking it may even completely replace the Opty 755 that I just set up for her and I can sell that to recoup my costs. What do you think is a good price for this item since it is actually an entire computer and not just an accessory (I saw one listed in the mid-$200's), or am I just asking for trouble in getting a used item? Thanks for your patience, I know I ask a lot of questions, lol

PS Do you know of any B&Ms in the St Louis area that would have the Wacoms on display as demos so I could take her there to see if she could easily get the hang of drawing like that before I buy?

[bubba]

Best Buy should have some, now if they are hooked to something to get "touchy feely" with that's another thing.

The learning curve should take but a night or two, maybe quicker because she isn't old

As for a tablet PC vs the graphics tablet, when it comes time to upgrade the PC part itself, the graphics tablet can be migrated over like a keyboard/mouse. Tablet PC route, everything changes.

[Kaos Kid]

OK. I was a bit hesitant to spend that much money on a used item even if it sounded as cool as that tablet was. I did call BestBuy and the guy there said they don't keep those things setup as demos, but they have a 2 week return policy so if I get one for her right before her birthday then she'll have plenty of time to decide whether she likes it, and there would be no restocking fee. It just feels weird not buying my stuff from newegg, thats where I've been going for about everything for the last few years.

[Kaos Kid]

I got her the Bamboo Capture, it was more than the Connect but it allows touch as well as pen. Bubba, you were right, it didn't take her long to get the hang of it, although right now everything is on default. It has programmable keys but we'll just see what she prefers as she gains in proficiency. Before long I'll have to ask her to show me how to use it


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