[Aaron]

I don't own a wacom, so I don't know what I'm missing. I seriously considered buying one back in the ball/roller mice days when it was damn near impossible to do anything without one. But I've got this here optical mouse, and I'm just not sure that anything more is needed. Drawing lines is as effortless as with a pencil. I've got buttons and gadgets galore for zooming and wazooing. And the lazer beams, it's got lazer beams shooting out of it! How can you beat that?

[glody]

2 words...... Pressure Sensitivity.....thank you have a wonderful day

[eyewoo]

and a few more words... keep an open mind
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[soogarrush]

2 words...wacom...wait thats 1 word...

this made me wonder...do any of you use the wacom mouse? i found that thing is be useless...they probably jacked up the price 50$ for that mouse...

[Aaron]

An open mind is good, 100+ dollars is infinitely better. Pressure sensitivity isn't a must, but eventually I'll break down and buy one. Are there no other mouse users here? I was hoping somebody would jump in to defend me. It's got f***king laser beams!

[balistic]

Keep painting with a mouse and your wrist will suffer. Seriously. I was a proud mouser for a long time, but then realized that I couldn't feel the tips of my fingers anymore.

Get a Wacom.

The tendons in your arm will thank you.
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brian.prince|light.comp.paint

[lalPOOO]

the thing is, if your looking for just somthing to replace the mouse, and not somthing for drawing, look into some other kinds of graphic tablets.

Wacoms sole purpose is art, anyone who buys one for another reason is pretty much wasting their money, due to the fact that there are other companies which have "tablets' which could do just as well as an alternitive to the mouse.
I'm sorry I can't give you links to the other companies, but I'm hoping others will pop up and give links.

[soogarrush]

the mouse is alot more steady and i find that i will use my optical mouse over wacom when touching up details and such. hehe i cant find another reason to use a wacom other then art...i cant stand using it to navigate...only other is i play inklink with it, thats about it..

[Aaron]

Is the Intuos worth the enormous extra cost over the Graphire? Can you really tell the difference between 512 and 1024 degrees of pressure sensitivity? And I'm not sure I want tilt feature. 4X5inches seems kind of small doesn't it?

[Awetopsy]

aaron.. do you have any digital work up? if you are doing webpage design.. stick with a mouse... if you are digitally painting/drawing a tablet isthe way to go.

almost nobody holds a regular pencil straight up and down.. tilt feature = good.

yes 4x5 is kinda small... but osme people do great work with 4x5. I personally prefer the 12x12 at work.

[daeldren]

Well I dont have a wacom tablet yet but Ill tell you this much we have one at our school and I love it, I usually dont use it to paint my pictures but even to just outline them its really wonderfull. It would be a heck of a lot better painting with a wacom tablet than with your mouse I tried that before and gave it up because it was way to annoying.

[Aaron]

Awetopsy, I do have a little up, nothing to brag about (my mom says she likes it) HERE is some art that I'm working on for a game booklet (I haven't updated it in for quite a while), and HERE is some of it fancied up to use on a website for my brothers ebay auction... and... not much else.

Personally, I don't really need tilt, I only use mechanical pencils, and the angle I hold them doesn't make much of a difference. I paint like I pencil, and I don't want the angle I hold a wacom pen to affect my brush shape. Pressure sensitivity isn't 100 percent necessary either, since I can just change the opacity, but it would be nice.

I've never used or even seen a wacom used, so I can't really appreciate them. I'm sure that I'm not convincing anyone (including myself) that a mouse is better. I was just kind of hoping someone would tell me I don't need to spend 100+ dollars. Balistic gave the best argument for a wacom I've heard.

No way I'm paying 500 for 12X12. Does most everyone here have 4X5? I plan to get the Graphire, unless someone tells me the extra degrees of sensitivity make a big difference.

[Rinaldo]

you will never go back. stop talking start saving.

it's that simple.


(yes you can tell the dif between the pressure of intuos at graphire. but graphire is still decent. and if you are low on cash, then it's still way better than a mouse)
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Dailyscribble

[NeoFun]

Get a refurb wacom for $50. I have a 4x6 and it is all I ever wanted. Some draw large, I draw small, so it is PERFECT. Try outpost.com for a refurbo.
ps nice work
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[Aaron]

NeoFun, do you have the Graphire? What does everyone else have? Because I just couldn't stand being the only one with the Graphire.

[B0b]

i've been using a pointing device (i use that word cos its not just a mouse) for 22 years now , and i've never regretted purchasing a wacom tablet

[zaar]

huh? There is no such thing as "optical mouse versus wacom"
There is only wacom.

I hardly ever use my mouse anymore. I surf, paint work with 3d, flash, illustrator and whatnot all with my wacom. I used to have problems with pain from using the mouse, and I never have such problems with my wacom. And even it one doesn't need/use the tilt and pressure sensitivity, you will have more control over you stroke.

The only thing one really needs a mouse for is gaming.

Some may worry about the cost of a wacom. But once you get one you will never regret it.

[Aaron]

Alright Bob and zaar, I believe you. The evidence that a wacom is better is overwhelming... so... what model do you use?

[zaar]

I've got an Intous A5 Graphite USB
Which means it's 1024 levels of pressure sensitivity and tilt sensitivity, a 203 x 162 mm active area and that it's dark blue/grey and runs of the USB cable (no adapters and shit, just plug it in)

I have never tried a graphire or any thing smaller than A5. But people say it's ok to start out with a A6 graphire, and then get a bigger one if you want to get serious. But I didn't want to pay for a small one just to realize that I want a bigger one.

[ken]

yes, buy a wacom, if you're going to be serious about digital painting. i use a graphire, and have no problem with it, mainly because i use very small strokes. some people prefer to make larger, sweeping strokes - but you can get by with a graphire if money is an issue. a tablet will last you aaaages though, so it's very good value for money (compared to say, photoshop or your graphics card which you have to upgrade every 2 years).

-Ken
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http://www.kenart.net

[Storm Crow]

I have both a WACOM 4x5 Graphire 2 tablet and an WACOM Intuos 6x8 tablet.

I started off with a 4x5 Graphire 1 about 3 years ago - it took a little getting used to (maybe a month or so) but I couldn't even consider using a mouse any more for the work I do.

I love the 6x8 Intuos tablet, and I keep the 4x5 as a back-up, or if I'm traveling or whatnot - I bring the 4x5 with me (rather replace that if it gets lost or stolen than the large one).

What I'm saying is, that if you are not sure about a tablet, invest in the Graphire, or purchase a used one - you will always find a use for it (or you can resell it) if you decide to upgrade later to a large tablet.

[the_insider]

6x8 is awesome---i've tried the big big wacoms--umm..12x12 is it? but yea the big ones kinda seem like you have to outstrech your hand miles from one side to the other---but thats just me...hooray for 6x8

ONE THING---only buy if youre actually gonna do some art!! cuz my brother gave me mine since he wasted his money on like 4 wacoms he doesnt even use!!---deriving from your pieces it looks like you're a pretty active artist aaron so nevermind hehheh
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[Holyoak Powerlifter]

I use the intuos 9x12

you just can't understand what these are like. I have NEVER heard anyone say anything bad about the intuos, they are truly phenomenal. First time I used one, I could not BELIEVE they really existed.

I use my wacom for art AND computer use. I surf webpages, use windows, whatever with my stylus. Not all the time, but if I am doing a drawing, my hand never touches the mouse for email, winamp, whatever.

I got mine from ebay for 375. Best thing I ever bought.

[King Lono]

i got my intuos for free!

a friend of mine orderd one from Buy.com and they sent him TWO.. HAH!
he gave me the spare.... GAVE... Hah!

-Lono

[Light]

I recommend wacom too. I have did some fairly decent work with mouse. I've found that small tablets and mice are "okay" for shading but are very sucky at sketching.

The other thing with a mouse is that it is hard to do large works using mouse techniqes, and this really hurts today when people use high resolutions.

I have a 12x12 wacom and it works good although I think now maybe a 9x12 would be just as good. I built a V shaped "sleeve" that has a top on it at an angle that slides onto my desk to hold it. It is basically a slanted mini-table with a notch on the back just for the size of the wacom.

This seems to work good. I'm not sure about leaving the tablet on an incline all the time. Does anyone know if this could hurt it?

I've also found that my hand "catches" on the tablet because I'm too lazy to pick it up. This makes drawing lines more difficult. I am going to be using a trashbag or glove to remedy this soon.

I think another uses a glove here. I suspect it is for the same reason, eyewoo?

Mouse can do good work but for speed, sketching, and professionalism wacom is the only way to go. PS: I'd get one now and save your hand the torture.

[Inspector Lee]

Hey,
Stupid (somewhat related) question: I've only had my intuos for a couple weeks, and I was wondering how the pad detects the pen. There doesn't appear to be anyplace to put batteries in the pen. Does it have a magnet in it? anyone know?
And oh, yeah I'm never going back to painting with a mouse. I love this thing!
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Smokey, this is not 'Nam this is bowling. There are rules.

[ReAktor]

I was working with the Mouse on my Amiga, moved over to the PC and over the years "killed" twelve mice (mostly problems with the cables)...
Three years ago I bought my Wacom Graphire. I instantly fell in love with it. Having worked with the Tablet almost every day since then I can only say one thing:

Take that away from me and you'll die...

After all this time the Wacom is still in very good condition, the pen has its third tip and I have never used the Wacom mouse.

ReAktor
(Who currently saves his money for the A4 oversized Intuos and the Airbrush-pen)
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Free media for open minds ...

[B0b]

[Inspector Lee]

Thx Bob. And sorry for posting an old question-but I'm new here and a search came up empty.
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Smokey, this is not 'Nam this is bowling. There are rules.

[zaar]