Another graphic tablet question

[dtrayers]

I was going to piggyback on MediaMagic's thread but this is a little different question...

There's a Wacom Graphire 4x5 at CompUSA for $99US I've been looking at. I have a question:

Do you use a tablet as a replacement for the mouse or in addition to? At work, I do a lot of report designing using a product called Crystal Reports. A lot of the work involves moving and resizing the report field boxes with a mouse. I was thinking that the tablet may work better for this if it can work in conjunction with mouse clicks (click and drag, click and resize, right click, ctrl+click, etc.)

I suppose I could buy one and return it if I don't like it, but I thought I'd get some opinions first.

Thanks.

[chris.bailey]

I think you would find the tablet awkward for Crystal. I use that same tablet in PS for brush work but use the mouse for pretty much everthing else. The Graphit comes with a mouse as well as the pen but after strangling a mouse for many years I find a tablet hard to get used to

[slejhamer]

I think you would find the tablet awkward for Crystal.

I agree.

The main benefit to the tablet, in my opinion, is the pressure sensitivity when using the pen. This is good for photo retouch and more artistic endeavors, but perhaps wouldn't give much advantage for the type of work you described.

[CyberDyneSystems]

I tried to go "all pen" computing... and failed,. there are time when it has to be a mouse.

I use the Graphire (highly recomended) for photo editing only.

It Can not be beat for edititng,. you will never use a mouse in PS again.

[PacAce]

I was going to piggyback on MediaMagic's thread but this is a little different question...

There's a Wacom Graphire 4x5 at CompUSA for $99US I've been looking at. I have a question:

Do you use a tablet as a replacement for the mouse or in addition to? At work, I do a lot of report designing using a product called Crystal Reports. A lot of the work involves moving and resizing the report field boxes with a mouse. I was thinking that the tablet may work better for this if it can work in conjunction with mouse clicks (click and drag, click and resize, right click, ctrl+click, etc.)

I suppose I could buy one and return it if I don't like it, but I thought I'd get some opinions first.

Thanks.

Dave,

I use the pad all the time as a replacement for the mouse. And for the kind of work you were talking about with the Chrystal Reports, the pen is very handy. The good thing about the Graphire pad is that it also comes with a wireless mouse so you're not going to lose out on a mouse if you do need it.

I use the pen most of the time but when an application requires a lot of clicking, such as when I'm surfing the internet, I switch to the mouse. But for report or screen development where a lot of drag-n-drop and box resizing is required, the pen rules! :)

[iwatkins]

I use the Graphire Studio XL (A5 sized unit) but only in PS CS. But while in there I do use only the tablet.

OK, there is a little learning curve to get you used to making absolute movements (unlike a mouse with its relative movements) but once you get the hang of it there is so much you can do that you simply cannot do with a mouse. Smooth painting and pressure sensitive painting are two that spring to mind.

Cheers

Ian

[BoySpot]

I got a tablet from Wacom called the Volito. I haven't used the Graphire tablets so can't make a comparison but it works great for me in Photoshop. I tend to use the mouse the rest of the time but editing the pictures is a dream with the tablet compared to using a mouse. Also, since this one is so much cheaper, it is possibly a better starting point to find out if it works for you.

[picnic]

I've used a Wacom Intuos tablet for probably 3 years. I also have a Graphire in my laptop case to use on location. I have a regular mouse hooked up and on a pullout where I also have my keyboard. The tablet is above and in a very comfortable position to use just as I normally use a pen and paper. I find that I use the mouse for almost everything. I have my right click set on the top of the pen, just tap for click--or double tap for double click. Very occasionally I use the mouse but this is so much more comfortable for my hand and arm than a mouse. Since I have used it for so long, perhaps it is more second nature to me than those who are newer users. I don't even think about it when I'm using it as mouse. I use a 6 x 8 tablet.

I know the Graphire isn't as sensitive as the Intuos--and haven't really tried it for much except editing on the laptop since that's what I do primarily when I hook up the tablet. Consequently, I don't know if the higher sensitivity of the Intuos makes it so easy to use for a mouse--more than the Graphire.

[kemp]

I've had the Graphire 4x5 for several years and you can't go wrong with it. I do photo editing as well as digital art and I really think it is all anyone needs. The larger more expensive tablets probably are better, but for the money you can't beat the Graphire. It also has replacement acetate tops and pens for a reasonable price. My pen was ruined by the kids and I don't think it would have worn out had it not been for them. I have used it as a mouse as well, but I really think the wheel mouse is a better option there.

[Conk]

I was going to piggyback on MediaMagic's thread but this is a little different question...

There's a Wacom Graphire 4x5 at CompUSA for $99US I've been looking at. I have a question:

Do you use a tablet as a replacement for the mouse or in addition to? At work, I do a lot of report designing using a product called Crystal Reports. A lot of the work involves moving and resizing the report field boxes with a mouse. I was thinking that the tablet may work better for this if it can work in conjunction with mouse clicks (click and drag, click and resize, right click, ctrl+click, etc.)

I suppose I could buy one and return it if I don't like it, but I thought I'd get some opinions first.

Thanks.

You do have a point that if you don't like it you can return it but may I suggest buying it from a place where they have at least a 30 return policy?
The tablet does take some getting use to. By no means did I find it an easy tool to use at first and and still don't.
I try and use it when I can but go back to my mouse when I am in a hurry to finish work.
There are definite advantages with the pressure sensitivity. You could use it in place of a mouse as the Graphire 3 that I use has a button on the pen that is programmable for right clicking or double clicking etc. I didn't find it practical to use in place of the mouse though. It does come with a mouse but still use my cordless optical instead as the range of motion is very much different.
The difficult part for me to get use to was in fact the range of motion and the fact that when using the mouse, I use my fingers to move the mouse while my hand is stationary. When I use the pen I'm not as steady as my hand is not stationary on the tablet and requires more wrist movement.
Also I might add that my cordless optical mouse will not function on the tablet. Maybe because the tablet is black? I'm not sure. I'll try and put an image on the tablet under the plastic holder that is provided and see if that works.

[picnic]

My Graphire (which I use with my laptop) came with a mouse that you use on the tablet--altho' I don't much since I'm so used to using the pen for a mouse (with right and left click programmed on it).

With my Intuos, I have my mouse attached and on a pullout on my desk with the keyboard. However, once you get used to using your pen just like you would normally use a pen/pencil, its so easy to just forget using the mouse--and it also is so much more comfortable for wrists

Thought I might post this link about repetitive stress
http://www.wacom.com/comfort/index.cfm

[dtrayers]

Well, I purchased a Graphire over the weekend and used it for the better part of the day on Sunday and Monday. I'm returning it today.

I found it worked well in Photoshop (naturally), but a lot of the retouching I do may be a little healing brush and cropping. The few times I'm using pen-like tools (like with extract or making detailed masks), the mouse works well enough.

The tablet also worked with Crystal Reports and Visio pretty well, but I didn't really get the productivity gains I was hoping for. Yes, I know it takes a while to get used to working with the pen, but I could tell after a couple of hours that the mouse works juse as well in these applications, and they're the two I use the most.

The biggest reason I'm not going to use one now is that it doesn't play well with my Logitech mouse. If I try to use my Logitech the pen mode changes to relative positioning, not absolute. I have to unplug the tablet and plug it in again to get it to go back to absolute. All is well until I use the Logitech again. I was hoping to use the Logitech instead of the tablet mouse. And yes, I was using the latest driver from Wacom.

Anyway, thanks for your thoughts and I think I'll wait on the tablet for now.