Wacom Tablet Question
- Thread starter Contance
- Start date
ditzyscrap
New member
Do I have one - yes, I've had mine for about 2.5 years.
Do I love it - YES...couldn't live without the thing
What can you do with it - it's basically a mouse, but in a pen form. So, you do everything you can do with a mouse, except you've got more control, making things like doodling etc a little bit easier. It still takes lots of practice for things like handwriting and doodling, etc.
Are they worth it - to me it was...I bought it because I didn't like using a mouse (I find them REALLY hard to control since it bumps around the screen - but the tablet, each point on the tablet matches up with a point on your screen, so you KNOW where your pointer will be). It also helps/prevents carpal tunnel in your wrist. Mine was flaring up before I got my tablet and I haven't had a problem since.
Where is the best place to get one - you can get them anywhere. I got mine on eBay, but don't really recommend doing that if you can buy them within your country and don't have to order into your country (ie I'm in Canada, and had to order from the US - I had to pay extra in duty, etc - BUT, when I bought mine they weren't really available locally very much).
So overall - yep, get one. It'll take some getting used to, but once you do, you'll probably never go back - I know I haven't!
Do I love it - YES...couldn't live without the thing
What can you do with it - it's basically a mouse, but in a pen form. So, you do everything you can do with a mouse, except you've got more control, making things like doodling etc a little bit easier. It still takes lots of practice for things like handwriting and doodling, etc.
Are they worth it - to me it was...I bought it because I didn't like using a mouse (I find them REALLY hard to control since it bumps around the screen - but the tablet, each point on the tablet matches up with a point on your screen, so you KNOW where your pointer will be). It also helps/prevents carpal tunnel in your wrist. Mine was flaring up before I got my tablet and I haven't had a problem since.
Where is the best place to get one - you can get them anywhere. I got mine on eBay, but don't really recommend doing that if you can buy them within your country and don't have to order into your country (ie I'm in Canada, and had to order from the US - I had to pay extra in duty, etc - BUT, when I bought mine they weren't really available locally very much).
So overall - yep, get one. It'll take some getting used to, but once you do, you'll probably never go back - I know I haven't!
Julie Billingsley
The Ghost of Awesome Past
I'm on my second one, and yes I love it! I got the Wacom graphire 4x5" and really loved it, but I was hard on my pen and it got cracked. Since the Bamboo is the new version, I decided to splurge and get the Wacom Bamboo instead of just getting a replacement pen. I like the Bamboo just a smidge better than the Graphire and the Bamboo is less slick and that is pretty nice. I use it instead of a mouse, but a mouse does come with most Wacoms. I never use the mouse anymore and only use the pen. It doesn't have much help to me regarding my carpal tunnel, but it isn't worse than the mouse either. (I've had surgery once on my hand and actually need it re-done. ) Anyway, I love the Wacoms and don't see myself going back to a mouse ever.
Well I'll be the odd one out because I have one and I never use it. I'm on a laptop and until recently didn't have a desk so I just found it way too much to try and balance the tablet and the laptop all on my lap. For me it's much easier to just use the trackpad and the shortcut keys. I do see the advantage of it over a mouse and I think it's probably most useful if you're doing any kind of real fine photo editing, extractions, etc.
But I do finally have a desk now though so maybe I'll give it another try. Just one question though, for those of you that have one, how do you deal with the shortcut keys? Like ctrl, shift, do you program those into the pen? I'm addicted to using shortcuts so I'm not sure I'd like something that makes it more difficult to use them.
But I do finally have a desk now though so maybe I'll give it another try. Just one question though, for those of you that have one, how do you deal with the shortcut keys? Like ctrl, shift, do you program those into the pen? I'm addicted to using shortcuts so I'm not sure I'd like something that makes it more difficult to use them.
ditzyscrap
New member
Lynnette - since I don't use a laptop (yet) I'm not sure what you mean by shortcut keys? Like on the keyboard? If that's what you mean, I still use shortcuts, but use the pen like a regular mouse (if people saw me, they'd laugh...I've got my left hand on my keyboard which is pushed in under my computer and my right hand with my pen in it, hovering over the tablet). If something is Ctrl+click, I hit Ctrl on my keyboard, and click with my pen.
Personally I find trackpads unbearable to use, lol...I can't seem to get the hang of them (when I have used them). I know using a tablet would be more difficult with a laptop, but since I can't use a trackpad at all (seriously, I'm clumsy with them), I'll have to make it work when I get a laptop, lol.
Personally I find trackpads unbearable to use, lol...I can't seem to get the hang of them (when I have used them). I know using a tablet would be more difficult with a laptop, but since I can't use a trackpad at all (seriously, I'm clumsy with them), I'll have to make it work when I get a laptop, lol.
lauren grier
you're like stars
I have a tablet... I'm one of the people who can't STAND to use the pen for anything but designing 
It makes me kinda nutty.. So I just use the mouse that came with it on the tablet. Shawna has a lappy.. and uses one of those pillow table things (ok I can't think of the name LOL I use to use one as a kid to do my homework..) throws the lappy and the tablet on there.
It makes me kinda nutty.. So I just use the mouse that came with it on the tablet. Shawna has a lappy.. and uses one of those pillow table things (ok I can't think of the name LOL I use to use one as a kid to do my homework..) throws the lappy and the tablet on there.Sorry for the hijack! LOL But yeah, I mean the keyboard shortcuts. Moving from the trackpad to the keyboard is really easy since it's all only a few inches away. I guess it just seems like a pain to have to set the pen down all the time just to use the keyboard shortcuts. But maybe I'm just missing something? LOL Or maybe since I'm lefthanded it makes it weird? I guess I'll just have to mess around with it some more and see.
To the original poster: I don't want to deter you from wanting to buy one. Lots of people seem to love them. This has just been my experience and since I only ever see people rave about them I wanted to give another opinion.
Julie Billingsley
The Ghost of Awesome Past
For the shortcuts, I still have to use the keyboard keys. My pen has a toggle button and I have both set to be "right click" although I could program it for something else but this is what I like. the tablet itself has 4 programable buttons and right now mine are set as the arrow keys because I use those a lot and that way I don't have to move to the keyboard. As for shortcuts, I find the pen easier than a mouse because I don't put down my pen... I just hold it while I'm pressing for shortcuts. I only set my pen down for typing.
ditzyscrap
New member
Oh, yeah...I getcha Lynnette, lol! Yeah, I never put the pen down at all, either...but I'm right handed. It might be a bit more difficult for a left handed person. Dunno.
I never programmed any of the extra keys at all - I use only the one button for right clicking and that's it. Also, I found the scroll wheel on my tablet (Graphire4) doesn't work very well, so I never use it - I find it easier to just drag my pen along the edge to scroll.
I never programmed any of the extra keys at all - I use only the one button for right clicking and that's it. Also, I found the scroll wheel on my tablet (Graphire4) doesn't work very well, so I never use it - I find it easier to just drag my pen along the edge to scroll.
Darcy Baldwin
Just a Scrapper
I have one and I love it. I don't use a mouse any longer, which drives DH nuts if he needs to use my PM for any reason. He has to go and get a mouse and hook it up because he can't get used to the pen.
There is a day or two time of getting used to using it, but I dislike having to go back to using a mouse. The pen just gives you so much more control, and is more natural to me.
I got mine from academic superstore.com as a refurbished model that didn't look like it had ever been removed from the box. It was about half the price as I was finding it listed at any website or store. I have the 4x5 graphier and love it.
A friend gave me a hint - I cut a piece of transparency and fit it over the face of my tablet and just taped down the corners. Now, the face can't get scratched, and I can change out the cover often if need be. The scratching can cause your pen to skip- so this gives me a smooth but not slick surface, and protects my tablet from dust and junk that always accumulates on my desk.
There is a day or two time of getting used to using it, but I dislike having to go back to using a mouse. The pen just gives you so much more control, and is more natural to me.
I got mine from academic superstore.com as a refurbished model that didn't look like it had ever been removed from the box. It was about half the price as I was finding it listed at any website or store. I have the 4x5 graphier and love it.
A friend gave me a hint - I cut a piece of transparency and fit it over the face of my tablet and just taped down the corners. Now, the face can't get scratched, and I can change out the cover often if need be. The scratching can cause your pen to skip- so this gives me a smooth but not slick surface, and protects my tablet from dust and junk that always accumulates on my desk.
EveRecinella
New member
I have one and I LOVE it, only thing for some reason DH bought me the big one and I find it a bit to big. I may buy a bamboo fun to replace my mouse!