Wacom tablet good with G4 iMac...???

davidslegend · Nov 22nd, 2005, 07:04 PM

Hi,

FS has the Wacom 4 x 6 tablet for 100.xx with rebates...comes w/Photoshop elements 3...etc? Not sure if the Corel stuff included works with Mac?

I read in a PC mag at work that this tablet is redesigned in silver so I guess this one show at Future Shop is an older design...the new one will be 100.xx USA so it's not far off?

Do you ppl think this is worth buying....will the mouse work well as it is wireless..???

Your PRO's & Con's PLEASE!

Thanks!

davidlegend

jlcinc · Nov 22nd, 2005, 07:45 PM

Well my wife loves her older wacom with her imac 400 (she had an even older wacom with her 7100) she uses it with painter and produces amazing paintings and it came with Elements 1, I think Elements 1 is a great program. Elements 3 is worth $100 bucks alone. So sounds like a good deal to me.

John

h0wl3r · Nov 22nd, 2005, 08:02 PM

I recently just purchased the Wacom 4x5 off of apple.ca. I really had no prior experience with tablets, so I was not quite sure what to expect. It was easy to install like most Mac devices. It depends what you are going to use it for. My main use will be for diagrams in class. Also for calculus class where its pretty difficult to draw all the crazy formulas and notes with a mouse.

The Corel program does work with Mac, its a pretty sweet program.

I don't really use the mouse. I can usually just use the pen to do most of my navigation with ease. The mouse is one more thing to clutter up your desk or one more thing to lose.

Pros:
Easy to use
No batteries
Extra buttons are nice

Cons:
I seem to hit the pencil buttons too often by accident, which is right click and double click.

TroutMaskReplica · Nov 22nd, 2005, 11:55 PM

i use wacom tablets most of the time instead of mice. i just use the stylus and throw the free mice that come with them in the garbage. i also have a logitech wireless mouse at the ready. there doesn't seem to be a conflict if i have both input devices running at the same time.

be aware the aspect ratio of the tablet you are considering will not match your 17" LCD. you are better off getting the new wacom pad designed for widescreens.

poke around the wacom site and i'm sure you'll find it. ehmax/carbon john posted he had them in stock at carbon a couple of days ago.

edit: oh, the reason i still keep a mouse handy is that i've got the tablet set up to only work on one monitor - the second screen can only be accessed with the mouse, again because having the tablet span both screens would screw up the aspect ratio of the tablet ie., the cursor would move twice as fast in the horizontal direction as it would in the vertical.

MickMac · Nov 28th, 2005, 11:07 PM

I've been looking at buying a bluetooth mouse, but all this talk of tablets has me reconsidering. The Wacom tablet uses a wireless mouse or pen, so that would free me of wires, but the 4x5" size seems a bit small. Do you find it's enough space to adequately mouse around the screen? I have a 17" iMac, so the aspect ratio is wrong. Does that make for some weird mousing, or is it satisfactory?

I guess what it comes down to is if I buy a small Wacom tablet, will I want a mouse anyway?

ram55 · Nov 29th, 2005, 06:29 AM

"The Wacom tablet uses a wireless mouse or pen, so that would free me of wires"

The tablet still has a wire that has to be plugged in and the wireless mouse has to be moved around on the tablet to work. I've been using a tablet in photoshop for years and as TMR said I just tossed the mouse. Also you'll find after getting used to a tablet you'll want a larger one right away. I use the 6x8 and find it just right but I'm considering the 6x11 soon.

http://www.wacom.com/productinfo/intuos.cfm

Moscool · Nov 29th, 2005, 07:15 AM

The Wacom web site must be one of the least useful I have seen in a long time...

Anybody volunteering specific model recommendations for a non pro doing the odd photoshop job and who would like the children to use it for art too (older children so doesn't need to be built like a tank)? Anyone has views on the value of bluetooth in terms of delays, accuracy, etc.?

TroutMaskReplica · Nov 29th, 2005, 08:52 AM

	Quote:
	Anybody volunteering specific model recommendations for a non pro doing the odd photoshop job and who would like the children to use it for art too (older children so doesn't need to be built like a tank)?

try the 6 x 8 graphire. if you have a wide aspect display then get the one for wide aspect displays or be prepared for some awkwardness.