Drawing tablets

[iLikePie]

hi all,

I'm thinking about getting a graphics tablet, and after looking on eBay's Australian site, i've only been able to find 2 wacom tablets. However, there are quite a few other ones from different brands, so i was just wondering if anyone has any experience with other brands, or knows whether or not they are ok.... i know that Wacom is the main brand, but as far as i know the others could be good too, or maybe even better

EDIT: I've seen the Wacom ArtPad II for sale... but i can't find it on the wacom site, so i'm assuming it's an older model - anyone got info about this?

Also, apart from size (althought this doesn't sound like a huge issue from reading previous posts) and sensitivity, are there any main features to look for in a tablet?

thanks a lot
Stuart

[mdipi]

hmm yeah i havent heard of the ArtPad II before. and as far as other brands from what i have heard Wacom is the top notch, nothing really does it better, but at the same time i could be wrong, thtas what i have heard though.

[Coolidge]

I every now and then bust out with the wacom for the 'airbrush' in Photoshop and I have to say the only thing I wish I took into consideration when looking back was the overall size of the pad.

Pressure sensitivity is awesome in Photoshop so look for one that has 1000+ pressure levels.

Hope that helps.

[bleutuna]

ArtPadII is old. You do not want it.

I have a Wacom that I bought from ebay - that's really your best way to get one for a cheaper price. Peruse the "Buy it Now" ads, and grab one.

I'd suggest getting a small one, for cheap, and if you like it, eventually upgrading. I've had two now, a huge 12x12 and now a small one, and I don't like them at all. People I know, who have tried them, don't like them. Some do, many don't. They don't feel like pencil and paper, no matter how much you may want them to.

Don't blow your money on a $500 pad before you try it.

AipTeks are supposedly good, if you want a different brand. Watch out for the cheap ones at BestBuy, because they have the pen attached and don't work very well.

:pope:

[iLikePie]

hmm.... the thing is that i can't really buy one from the american eBay because the shipping would be so expensive, so my choices are really limited...

I'm only planning on buying a small one anyway, but thanks for that advice on the ArtPad II :P

Actually, i've just seen a Graphire ONE pad for quite cheap (aus $65) - do you think that would be too old?

Thanks
Stuart

[.soulty]

Graphire 1 or graphire 2 are great, i'm using graphire 2 at the moment, the more expensive ones are for the advanced user, such things as you can set what tilt angle you like to work with, other macro features on the board itself , and above all the size of the board. For a nice cheap alternative get the Graphire. does the job for the average joe and above.

:)