Wacom Intuos5
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- Amicus0
I'd welcome a variety of input devices to limit the Repetitive Strain injuries. I'll definitely be shelling out on a Medium before Xmas.
- fyoucher10
Mouse vs Intuis / Pen Tablet:
Don't you get tired of having to put down and pick up the pen every time you need to use the keyboard? I found it kind of a pain to do that when I was using my pen. With a mouse, you never lift it up, just move it around. I've also been thinking about switching fulltime to the pen/Intuis but wasn't sure how most people worked (speaking to designer/coders/animators...not just folks who use Illustrator or Photoshop). I like using the pen when drawing but I'm still not completely used to using it yet, especially when interacting with an apps UI.
Would love to know your experience/thoughts.
- mantrakid0
How do you type with a mouse in your hand. I actually type with the pen in my hand for quick stuff, and its ingrained in me to snag it from the space bar on my way back to the tablet... I actually grab air there when im using someone elses computer haha.
- Try it. You'll Like It! For a Better Tomorrow™.mantrakid
- fourth0
fyoucher1,
Yes putting the pen down every time you type can be a nuisance at first. I got really good at throwing the pen into the holder like a dart (more with my old intuos3). Lately I've noticed I just type while still holding the pen between my pointer and middle finger– and when I type I'm not using the pointer finger. I can still type pretty fast like this. This is while editing html/css, email, surfing the web, etc. The mouse is connected only because I have to fiddle with BT settings to get my intuos4 wireless connected upon startup every once in a while.
One day wacom will find a way to suspend the pen in mid air right where you left it above the tablet when your hand leaves the tablet to type.
- fyoucher10
The mouse never gets picked up, it just sits there. Whenever I need to use the keyboard, I just move my hand over to the keyboard and type. When I've used the pen, I have to pick it up and put it down. When you're constantly going back and forth, I feel like that's unproductive and prohibitive but let me know if that just because I've only used it so many times. Maybe it just becomes easier over time though.
Also, if you use the pen fulltime, does your hand ever get tired from gripping the small pen? Your hand just rests on the mouse, so my hand never gets tired.
- fourth0
the pen is much more ergonomic for your hand/wrist. Lots of people with carpel tunnel/wrist problems, hand aches, etc find the pen frees them from pain or irritation
- ThisIsMe0
An old employer shelled out for a Large Intuos 4 for me on a recommendation from another designer who found the pen/tablet reduces wrist strain. It took me about a week to get used to it. It was a great change. My only complaint was the Large was a little too big. Too much arm movement. Particularly on a dual screen setup 27" imac + 23" screen. Before I left that job my responsibilities changed from a typical designer to that of template creation and data entry and cutting/pasting snippets of text from multiple windows was a drag.
- yeah medium is a good sweet spot. large only if you are a wide stroke "shoulder" painterfourth
- turnerworks0
Definitely get a tablet. When I type, I simply let it go from in between my pointer and middle fingers so that it naturally rests in the crease of my thumb and palm. All my fingers are then freed up to type. When I'm done I grab it with my two fingers again and I'm back to holding it normally. Been doing that so long I don't know how long it took my to adjust to that, but it just feels natural now.
- thanks for the tip this is a much better way to hold it than I've been using haha!fourth
- MrT0
I'm convinced. I've just ordered one. And I thought I'd stopped buying tablets many years back...
- mantrakid0
hand definitely doesnt get tired for normal use, only time it actually gets tired is when im doing pressure sensitive work and press hard to get thick strokes when inking, etc.
i also fucking LOVE the felt-tip nibs, and ordered up a mad stack of them so i can use them exclusively. Im kind of a neanderthal on the thing and push harder than i have to. With the other pen nibs it was actually causing wear to the protective sheet on the surface. with the pen nibs its like your drawing/writing with a sharpie, so it actually feels a bit soft and frictiony, not to mention zero damage to the surface sheet.
A felt nib, when im done with it, looks like a fucking piece of pocket lint though... just a soft little fluff sticking out of the tip haha.
- fourth0
mantra... are you talking about the grey nibs? are you on an intuos3 or 4? I've been using the normal plastic nibs on my 4 and I don't go through many nibs but the paper like surface sheet is super smooth and has no feedback now. I'm thinking of getting a new sheet and using the felt nibs instead. Also I've read that the best thing to do is turn up the sensitivity and lighten up your stroke... this will save nibs and wear and tear on your sheet.
- mantrakid0
Well the felt nibs i use are dark grey, almost black... lets see if i can find them here. I think they give 1 sample of each kind when you get the tablet out of the box. Theres the normal plastic ones, the ones with the spring and these 'black' felt ones:
- This was for my intuos3 tho.. no idea what came with the 4...mantrakid
- fourth0
hmm those could either be: http://www.wacom.com/en/Products…
or the:
http://www.wacom.com/en/Products…either way I got both with my intros4 and I'm going to try them out. I need to order a new top sheet ($25!)
- fooler0
I had an AD buy us all tablets years ago. None of used them so he stole all our mice until we converted. It was great except when you get up and take our pen with you and lose it somewhere.
These new tablets look 100 times better but everything I've ever seen coated with "soft touch" wears off especially with heavy use (ever seen inside of a 6 year old VW?)
- ArmandoEstrada0
Worth upgrading from a 4?
- maquito0
i love my 4 wireless... does not look worth upgrading... yet.
- mantrakid0
Hard to say cuz i was upgrading from a 3, so it was definitely worth it... but from what I hear the 4 was sick. Main thing with this one is the ability to use your fingers / multi-touch gestures, so if you ever just wanna chill without the pen and use it as a trackpad, its nice.
- insomnie0
Medium of large?
- mantrakid0
im actually rocking the 4x6 / small one. I find it fine for the shit i do, and dont really need to swipe my whole arm across my desk to click something on the other side of the screen, since i use the pen for normal computer operation / web browsing / etc.
- How is the 4x6 for Adobe stuff? (AE, Flash, Web shit, PS, AI, etc)fyoucher1