I’ve been using a graphics tablet and stylus for years now, instead of a mouse or the trackpad on my laptop, and I wouldn’t give it up for anything. Here’s why.
First, the Wacom tablet has a settings control panel. I have it set so that the corners of the tablet map to the corners of the screen and points in between are fixed. With a mouse to move from bottom left to top right you have to roll, lift and flick back, roll, lift and flick back until the cursor reaches its destination. With the stylus I just lift it up and put it down. Wherever I put it is where the cursor is.
Second, the stylus has a side button I can program how I like. I’ve set mine to double click when I press the bottom part and to call up a menu when I press the top. I can add programs or keystrokes or all kinds of things to that menu, and with different choices depending which program I’m using at the time. I hold the stylus so that button is below my thumb.
Third, I always sit in a chair to work. I put the tablet on the arm. Using the stylus is like using a pen: my wrist’s flat, my hand’s relaxed. To type I just tuck the stylus up, holding it loosely between my thumb and palm. I’m a two-finger typist so I don’t need all five fingers on each hand while typing. If necessary I can put the styuls down.
Fourth, when I’m using Photoshop and the like the stylus is way easier to work with than a mouse. That is what it’s designed for, after all.
When I first bought a graphics tablet it was a cheapie. I went through a couple over time and recently moved to a Wacom Intuos. Although a bit pricier, it’s a delight to use. The surface is very pleasant to work with — more like smooth paper, than the horrid hard plastic of the cheaper models. There are even some physical buttons beside the drawing surface that you can map to functions such as Shift and Space. I never think to use them, but I reallly should train myself to do that.
And one tip for laptop users: the USB cord may end up cramped and bent. I had to throw away one tablet after the cord frayed and broke from that bend. Now I use a $10 USB extension cord. When that frays and breaks it’s a lot cheaper to replace.
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I also love my Wacom. I am using the same ole Graphire that I have had for years! I find it much easier than a mouse, and better on my wrists!
I use a Wacome Graphire4 Tablet but my cat chomped through the USB cord and I was wondering if there is anyway to salvage the tablet and just replace the USB cord itself?
You may be able to find someone who can repair it, but cord breakage was why I had to throw away one tablet and now use a USB extension cord.
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