Being completely tired of using the mouse for everything, I'm planning on getting a tablet in October. I can't afford anything hugely expensive as I have to get another external hard drive the same month for my backups. So my choice is a Wacom Intuos Pen Tablet. It's like 6X9 and factory refurbished, but it has good reviews on Amazon. Does anyone here use one? Does it work well with CS3? Being as it's a less expensive tablet, the screen size is a little small. Does it scale up well? As I paint in both Photoshop and Painter, I need it to do well in both. Plus I use Pshop for retouching and photo manipulation. How is it there? Is it hard to learn to use? I'd appreciate any advice. I've been using the mouse for years, but as I've been so seriously ill for a while now, (I'm okay at present) it's gotten a bit hard for me to draw accurate lines with the mouse, and I trust my freehand skills more, as I started out as a traditional artist. Also, does it work well with the standard controls in Photoshop? For example, when I draw a straight line or move layers, I'm used to pressing control while I do it as Pshop automatically makes it straight. I guess I'm just looking for some info on what I should expect. I know I could have gotten a cheaper tablet from another brand, but Wacom's the standard and I know it's quality, so I gotte go with the best I can get.

Yes, Intuos tablets work well with CS3, mine is slightly bigger, but I think I would have done just fine with a 6X9, it does scale up well and too big isn't necessarily better since you need the room on your desk for it.  ;)  Anything you can do with the mouse you can also do with the pen.  I also use it to paint, draw, retouch photos, manips etc and I would have a really hard time going back to a mouse. 

It's not really hard to learn to use, but it does take a little bit of getting used to, not so much learning, just practice really.  I remember when I first got mine I kept going back to the mouse because I was so used to it and the pen felt weird, but then I decided that for a couple of weeks I'd put away the mouse and only use the pen for everything I did, even surfing on the net, that got me used to it, made me much more comfy with it and I hardly ever use the mouse anymore.

Once you get used to it, you'll absolutely love it!  :)

I use the el cheepo Bamboo product and am quite happy with it...around a hunderd bux depending on your country.. ..

I looked at the Bamboo first, because of the price. However, the reviews suggested that, for a hardcore Photoshop user, the precision of the Intuos and the almost doubled sensitivity levels was preferable. The screen was about the same size, and there were extra features on the Intuos, for only 50 bucks more for the factory reconditioned model.

My problem is, I dream of the high end Wacom where the tablet is actually a screen and you work right on the image. But that's what, like $1000+ I have about 200 a month I can spend on stuff like this. It usually goes on books and movies and such. I got new cutting boards this month, woohoo lol. Next month is my Bday though, so I'm splurging there. But October is saved for the tablet and the external HD.

Oh.....  That's my dream tablet too, I drool at the thought of getting one of those!  lol  One of these days, maybe...  (sigh)

I could never work with a mouse again. It's so much more natural to use a stylus/pen. I still have my Wacom Graphire 4 which is a 4 x 5. I don't want it larger. I even take it from my desktop to use on my laptop. It works great with Photoshop, Paint Shop Pro, Painter and all the rest.

I have the Intuos 2 6x9 and once it’s all configured for your particular graphic software/s it works beautifully and will leave you wondering how you were able to do without it. As with all tablets, there’s a small adjustment period…say about 20 minutes to get used to it...if that. BTW, imagine, I can control the software GUI on a 24” flat screen with a 6x9 tablet. You can get in nice and tight at the pixel level and control where you place your stylus point. You can even sign your name naturally…try that with your mouse...well unless you sign your name "I".

I use the 12x9 int3, but I have been considering a smaller model for a while now, just haven't gotten around to actually buying it, I do love the large one, but I think that now I could go for a smaller one to save some space on my desk, and to have more mobility.  I like to make large brush strokes and when I was researching this back in 2006 I read a lot of people who said it depends on your brush stoke, so I went large, but for the work I do now, I think small would be better, so yes its VERY true that bigger is not always better, it really depends on  you, your style of painting and work, and your space.

It took me 1 painting to get used to it, I switched back and forth a bit, but eventually stopped.  I do still use the mouse for some things that are easier for me with the mouse, like the busy work of doing clothing textures, but even there I will switch to the pen for detail.

The pen pressure is amazing, and makes all the difference in the world as far as painting goes =)

Good luck and congrats, you will love it!

I have the 6x9 Intuos3 here at work, and the 6x9 Intuos4 at home - love them! Could NEVER go back to a mouse!

That said, expect to be cussing and pulling your hair out for about 2 weeks after you get it - it takes a little getting used to as far as the disconnect of drawing "down here" and "seeing it up there".

Keep your fingers off the little side button and you'll be happy and cuss less.

Some folks use the buttons on the side of the tablet, I still keep a left hand on the keyboard cuz I use lots of shortcuts as well - dealer's choice.

Have fun and happy painting!

-Lew