Hi everyone

I know it's an "off topic" theme but I thought I might get more advice here?

I'm looking at tablets right now, and I don't know what to choose.

I'm using a Mac, Photoshop and Inkscape mostly. (lines are hand drawn, then traced in inkscape then colored in PS) Getting a tablet would probably make me remove the inkscape part as I'd add my original as a layer on PS and go from there.

Wacom seems like the brand to go, most people advise me to get one but which one?

I don't like the feeling of drawing on a stamp so I'll avoid the smaller ones.

I narrowed it to 2:
Wacom Bamboo CTH-670
Wacom PTK-640

Anyone using these? Or another one that they love and could tell me more about?

Thanks

i have a wacom bamboo and i'm very happy with it. ^^ even the smaller one works amazing, though i used to prefer the larger ones! it actually makes no big difference once you got used to it.

I, too, have a wacom bamboo fun&touch or pen&touch or something. I couldn't live without it!
Wacom just introduced apps for the bamboo (free!), which I find both fun and very helpful. I'd go with a bamboo

Bamboo is my baby; They're really easy to use! ^^

I have a wacom bamboo and I love it <3 Mine is 3 years old right now and it still works perfectly.

I'm gonna give another vote for the Bamboo~! Them things are durable! I've dropped mine, poured water on it, had my mom's dachshund chew through the cord, dropped things on it, and it still works~! XD

I've got the Bamboo as well

I have a Wacom too but mine's a Graphire 4 it runs rather smooth nothing too fancy or anything but it works lol

I've been doing digital art for more than 8 years. I started with Wacom Graphire (which they no longer make) and then had one of the first Bamboo tablets before they started getting all fancy. I've used an Intuos before, but not for extended periods of time. Currently I'm using a VisTablet Muse. I've used Photoshop CS2 for most of the time, but also CS5, as well as paintshop pro 9 (old school, yo.) I've never used Inkscape.

I'll agree with the statement that Wacom is the way to go 9 times out of 10. I've always been very happy with my products from them, have only had issues a few times with software and drivers, and really the only downside is the cost; they are one of the more expensive brands available, though well worth it.

I had issues a few times with my bamboo randomly not responding to the eraser on the end of the stylus, resulting in my having to install / uninstall drivers until it just took again. The downside to the Bamboo is that it's aimed at begining graphics design and every day consumer use. While the nibs seem to last longer before needing to be replaced than some others, the pen doesn't have as much sensitivity as others. There's also fewer buttons that you can set macros for so you'll have to remember the hotkeys or go to the toolbar more frequently to change things.

The Intuos is more for graphic design, and it shines over the bamboo for specialty use. They pen has more pressure sensitivity, there are more customizable buttons on the tablet itself so you can use the non-drawing hand to switch between tools and functions easier, even mid-stroke. Intuos, however, are notorious for burning through nibs. They'll come with two or three (I think) replacements, so you'll want to keep track of where those end up, and also check in to ease of getting more nibs. (Wacom sells them on their site, and no one around in my area carries them in store, so I had to wait for them to get here.)

I'll actually go out on a ledge and suggest the VisTablet Muse as another alternative if cost is a concern. I have the largest drawing area possible and spent around $200 before discounts and tax. (Yay for sales!) The support form VisTablet is almost non-existant (they're not as polished as Wacom is, nor as friendly) so you'd need to do a lot of the troubleshooting on your own.

If price is no concern, and you're serious about graphic design, go for the Intuos. It's more expensive, but it pays off over all. (It'll also spoil you, so you'll never be able to go back to another tablet without saying "But my last tablet did everything and was so awesome, why can't this one do it too?") If you'd like to have as much drawing real estate as possible without it costing an arm and a leg and a firstborn, consider the VisTablet. I worry less about this one being at my pony work area and possibly getting paint on or something, because it wasn't super expensive. If you're not wanting to shell out lots, and you're really wanting to stick with a more begining tablet, the Bamboo is an excellent choice.

Check the return policy before you buy, just in case. What's good and awesome for everyone else may not be the best for you, and with something like this, you'd want to make sure you can exchange it even after you open it, just in case you don't like it.

Good luck!

Wow thanks for the advice KiwiSquirtBottle! That's really detailed!

I was considering the Bamboo one as so many people seem to use it and I always heard very good feedback on it!

Now that KiwiSquirtBottle told me more though, I think I'll go for an Intuos 4 medium size. Though I'll start as an occasionnal user, I love to draw! I'm so proud of my lines on paper and so disappointed of my mouse skills

Fun fact: here, the better tablet you buy, the more gifts you get! If you buy the biggest Intuos4, you get no less than 27 drawing softwares and 15 drawing techniques books! Something's telling me it's not original stuff
detail.tmall.com/item....4166375326

I'll go with Wacom because even if I buy it here, I get international guarantee.