Alternative to a Mouse

Just wondering if you guys who know about these things can offer any alternative to using a mouse for editing in Photshop? I can't help thinking there must be better things...are there?

Thanks.

tablet... personally i use a finger pad... but thats just me... I dont like using the tablet.

I've not looked at tablets (had to revert to looking them up on Google!) are they a lot more accurate? how do they work? what's a finger pad?

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Wacom .. Once you try a tablet, you'll never want to use a mouse again for PS work.

Wacom makes very popular tablets.

They take getting used to... I always suggest someone stick with it for several days of regular to heavy usage before deciding whether they like it or not. I've found that if just using for 10 minutes or so, people give up... but after spending time with it more than half the people I know end up liking it... but of course there is no guarantee that it is right for YOU.

finger pad on a laptop... i wouldnt say they are more accurate.. i think they take a lot to get used to and personally i hated using one. you use a pen basicaly to touch to the tablet and that is how it works.. bamboo is one of the more popular ones

Thanks guys - I presume with the tablet you still get a cursor on the screen?

Yes

You also get button on the pen that replicate the buttons on a two-button mouse (but they're programable to be whatever you want) as well as Hot Keys and Slider Pads that can also be customized.

I'll try and see if I can find one to have a try of.

I keep looking at the Intuos4 medium Wacom and know if I could just got try one somewhere, if it's anything like I've imagined, I'd buy it in an instant. My main interest is fine control with burning and dodging with the Lightroom 2.5 brush; such an amazing tool. But I remain undecided, guessing the medium would be the best size by the websites comments and trying to imagine what it would be like to work with it.

FlyingPhotog wrote in post #8773301
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Wacom .. Once you try a tablet, you'll never want to use a mouse again for PS work.

agreed. I was very resistant to a tablet, having used a little 4x6 one and hating it but after I got a large one, it made all the difference in the world. I can't imagine editing without it.

I own the intuos 3 9x12. I bought it on a closeout when they were bringing in the intuos 4. Either the 3 or 4 are very good options imo.

Just make sure you have it set up correctly for your monitor, Mine isn't, and I more or less gave up on it because my mouse is more accurate,

SAB_Click wrote in post #8773212
Just wondering if you guys who know about these things can offer any alternative to using a mouse for editing in Photshop?

I have a mouse AND a trackball (Logitech cordless Trackman) attached. Both can be used (the result is strange if one uses them at the same time, but I did that only to test them).

My mouse is Logitech as well, so the same setup program handles both of them, but their setups are independent. For example the speed can be specified differently. I set the speed of the trackball lower than the mouse; this allows for very fine movements. The trackball is more suitable for functions like drawing, dragging, etc. because the ball can be left alone and clicking on the buttons does not cause any movement (it occurs sometimes with the mouse, that pressing a button move the mouse a bot, and if the pointer speed is high, that small movement is enough to move the pointer).