Tablets: An affordable tablet that ages better than Intuos?

[ThePhotographer]

Okay I canceled my order for an Intuos4 because of the pen wear issue which while it has been fixed created a new issue, the surface wear issue which i guess is even worse. Is there a good quality alternative? I like buying stuff that lasts because I don't have lots of money!

[Repairman]

Buy cheap, buy twice. Unless you spend more time retouching than taking pix I wouldn't let the wear issue put you off buying Wacom. I have one on a proprietary system - 15 years hard use, one on a Mac - 6 years hard use and a little Bamboo for home use. If you need a tablet more than eight hours a day I'd quit photography and become a retoucher!
R.

[Rohape]

Intuos3. The plastic sheet is only held on with double sided tape. If you flip it over (like I did) the surface is smoother. I don't mind the other side, I like the smooth side for aesthetic reasons.

[kav]

intuos3's are cheap now. Pay attention to usb cable wear where it comes out of the tablet. Wacom has the best drivers and stuff but none of these things are constructed as well as they deserve to be any longer. The older ones felt practically immortal. Anyone else recall back when they used to use serial port connections?

[Heretic]

to save on the wear problem use the supplied mouse for all tasks except ones that require pen pressure or creating paths. I was destroying pen nibs and the plastic cover until I switched up my pen use to mouse.

[Repairman]

@kav - yeh, I have a serial wacom on my Paintbox - still going strong after 15 years. You may recall, also, when the stylus was attached to the tablet. When they first introduced the cordless pens it was a pain when an operator walked off site with it. Good tip about the usb cable on the intuos; I'll take out the kink in the cable!

[kav]

Originally Posted by Repairman

Good tip about the usb cable on the intuos; I'll take out the kink in the cable!

If your usb cable goes which it can it's about $80 to repair + shipping and their turnaround is absolutely terrible. This can happen within a few years especially on newer models. The old ones definitely seemed sturdier. I can remember seeing the non wireless pens but this was before I ever used one.

[ftp-Jeff]

I usually go through 1 Wacom a year. Sometimes more. The newer ones seem to last longer. They wear out! Suck it up! It is a tool.

[kav]

Hehe so you actually completely destroy at least one every 12 months? That's pretty insane.

[ftp-Jeff]

Yeah.... I am pretty tough on them.... I remember the first ones back in 1989.... The stylus was attached via a cable to the tablet! At least you did not keep loosing the stylus!

[Siciliana]

I have my intuos 2. I've used it for at least 8 years, averaging 4-5 hours per day over that time. I use it for all my computer use, never use the mouse. I'm knocking on wood right now but my experience with this product has sold me on Wacom. I have also hauled this thing back and forth across the world with no box, loose in a suitcase, etc., dropped it many times, jerked it out by the cord(by accident), etc.

[kav]

I can remember when it ran off a serial connection. I was too young to buy my own tablet in 1989. Also I have no idea what they would've cost back then.

[girlsfather]

I have an intuos4 and realized a severe pen-nib wear in the beginning.
But that went away with the surface getting smoother by use.
So after 2 years, I used up like 10 pen nibs. That is 10 Euros per 2 years.
That is not what I would call a problem...

So I would definately buy an Intuos4 again.

Michael

[JohnnyQuest007]

i second on the intuos3, and or if you can find it, the intuos2. check ebay and craigslist...you never know.