Wacom experience?

[joannekwan]

Wacom's are pretty dependable. I'm still using my Intuos 3 that I got in 2008, works like new.

[Wolven_Sister]

I haven't had any problems with mine. I have 2 products from Wacom, but my Intuos 5 I've had since 2013 and I've only had to change the nib once (because I was pressing too hard on it so it wore down). But technical problems? None at all :')

[Aetherwing]

Wacom is pretty great. I'm currently using an Intuos 5 and I've never had an issue with it. The only reason I had to replace my Intuos 4 was because of a computer issue, not a tablet one. Also the small pen is pretty nice. The one that comes with the tablet can be kind of awkward at times but it's not hard to get used to.

[heterodont]

I use a Intuos Pro Pen & Touch Medium. Prior to that I had a Wacom Bamboo (from the now defunct line <:l) that was still going strong for over 5+ years through usage of both its intended purpose as well as a coaster for food, it still worked even when I decided to upgrade to the intuos! (I still feel guilt to this day)

The pen pressure difference is phenomenal! However, I do have one beef with the Pen & Touch and that is the driver crashes for dumbest (yet sensible) reasons. If my computer starts lagging out - kaputz goes the driver. Heck, one time while I was editing a page of my comic, the driver crashed in the middle of my brushstroke

Beyond that I do recommend the intuos.

[CSJones]

I use a Pen & Touch Medium too, and every word of heterodont's post is pure truth.

Honestly, the choice of what tablet to get seems massive before you buy one, but then after you get one, you realize all that really matters is comfort, reliability, and pressure sensitivity - and reviews are extremely unreliable when it comes to these, especially since you never know how well the drivers will work with your particular computer.

For example, like ^, my driver also crashes and has to be restarted 5 times a day, but usually only when I work with Photoshop. With Manga Studio or any other program - except GIMP, where it doesn't work at all - it's fine. Those are the kind of things reviews can't tell you because they vary wildly from computer to computer.

(But no matter what tablet you get, memorize this. You'll need it. A whole lot.)

I will say, though, that I recommend the P&T over just the Pen because the touch functions let you use it as a complete mouse replacement. I haven't used a mouse in three weeks since getting mine, and I don't miss it at all. However, if you don't want to use it that way, don't bother, and just get a regular tablet, cause you really don't need the on-pen eraser. It's actually faster to use the B and E hotkeys to switch between brush and eraser with your left hand then to stop drawing and turn the pen over. You can find a used Intuos 3 or 4 for cheaper on Ebay and don't mind waiting, that's also perfectly fine, since industry pros used it for years at all the best studios, after all.

Huion and Monoprice also make alternatives that I've heard good things about. Their drivers are less reliable, but they make up for it by being like $100-$200 cheaper than a comparable Wacom.

[J.MORK]

i'm still using the same intuos3 that i got in 2007. wacom is a pretty dependable brand, from my experience

[AnnaLandin]

Wacom is expensive, but dependable. I've had my Cintiq 21UX - a model so old that it is no longer being produced - for nearly a decade now, and it still works like it did when I got it. I've gone through a couple of pen-nibs, and there's maybe a scratch or two in the surface of the cintiq, but otherwise, it's like I bought it yesterday.

If you're uncertain about the Intuos, perhaps you could see if you could try using the one in your local shop, just to get the feel for it?

[Luie]

I just bought one. It is expensive, but it's worth the money for a dependable drawing tool.

You can check on amazon for better prices. I went hunting for the perfect price for a month and managed to find a larger sized intuos for around the same price as the small. But I ended up going to wacom's site and buying a refurbished cintiq for a few hundred more :U

[carloswebcomic]

Well, I sued to have a Wacom tablet and died after 6-7 years, then I got a cheap XP Pen tablet. Man, I didn't realise how good Wacom is compared to cheaper brands!
Needless to say, I went back to Wacom and never looked back. It's not just the quality of the hardware but also the software.
Drivers are updated regularly and getting replacement parts like nibs is quick and painless.

[mg78]

my wacom is... dunno even how old it's. maybe 10 years (et 0405 u) and keep work :o
time ago i had a problem with the pen, it stop working.... because it had a crash (from table to ground, bad idea)

when this one ll be broken i ll move to another wacom... because just the pen cost too much and driver are not anymore supported by wacom itself

[DeadAccount]

From my experience, I'd prefer a cheap or used Wacom tablet to any other brand. My 10 year old Graphire still works, so does my 2009 Intuos 4, and I expect my recent upgrade, 22HD Cintiq to work just as well (it's been a year so far). All my non-wacom experiences were pretty terrible - My first tablet was from Trust and it died within a year. Then recently I invested in a Surface Pro 3 without realising they no longer use Wacom technology and was really upset by the drawing quality. So..yeah, Wacom's definitely a worthy investment. The only thing that keeps breaking are their goddamn drivers :V

[Vikiro_Hop]

I've been using a cheap wacom on and off for a couple of years and its handled quite a bit of carelessness and abuse on my part.

[ToonDoctor]

I've been using my Wacom Cintiq since 2007. It's paid for itself a long time ago. I made a very good decision. I have no regrets.

[Chopythes]

I've had a Trust tablet before (don't trust them, they're horrible D: ) and when it broke less than a year later I got myself a wacom bamboo. If I hadn't spilled water on it and let it be for like 24 hours, it would still be with me today 9 years later (today I've got an intous PRO medium, pretty much a big upgrade from the small one I was using before ;D).

What I'm saying, as everyone else in this thread: Get yourself a Wacom. And Intous are highly dependent and you can get yourself extra nibs from their website if you'd run out of them.
I've had my wacom for Windows XP and now on my mac, so it's durable and great if you're using different computers.

I mean, Wacom creates FOR the artists, they're expensive because they last a decade and more.
So yeah, I think that the price is low for what you get, even though it's a lot of money - but you're getting quality.
And it usually will be arrived with some extra nibs, so you won't be getting just one!

[BraveHeartTatsumaki]

Thank you to everyone for your comments. Now I'm really convinced in get a Wacom, and via online, is cheaper (and also will come "new") My Genius Tablet that died yesterday didn't even got a year of use and died :/ (the only thing that happened was in ferbuary when the pen fell from my table) so that's why I was worried but seeing your comments, I see Wacom is much better, also I've seeing they have an alternative pencil in case happens what I said before

Thank you so much, now I'll try to get a Wacom soon :D!

[zelkats]

While I'm a firm believer that Wacom is the ultimate drawing tablet brand, I think it's best that you buy it from an online store that gives you a warranty just to be safe.

Last year, my friend purchased a brand new Intuos Pen and Touch and it died on her after a few days (we still don't really know why) and she couldn't get it replaced because she bought it from an unofficial online store and wasn't given a warranty card. Eventhough she got it cheaper than usual, it was a huge waste of money T_T

Not saying that it's a must. You can always try your luck.

[Marvin]

I have an Intuos 4 that still work, but I barely use it now that I have a Cintiq 13HD. I used to work on Cintiq 12 at work and maaaan the definition of the 13HD changes everything.

Anyway, I'm not gonna repeat what everyone else said, Wacom are the best, blablabla, I'll just add two things :

• They're pretty solid, my pen falls from my desk ten times a day and still works perfectly and I carry my cintiq everywhere in a bag without problem

• Try not to use the default hard nib, especially if you work on a cintiq, it will kill your screen (if you're on an intuos, it's ok because you can easily replace the protection sheet for about 15$ I think).

Personally, I use only the hard felt (they're mostly in paper so it feels great but they barely last a week or two for me) and the flex ones which have a bit more resistance against the screen but I love it and it doesn't give this feeling of "plastic angainst plastic".

If you still want to use the standard ones, please change them as soon as they become a bit used because they can become very pointy pretty quickly.

[Pigknit]

I had a bamboo for about 3 years and then upgraded to the intuos4 in 2011. Still using the intuos and it works perfectly. I love Wacom and I think you'll be very happy with the switch!

[Zanreo]

Been using my Bamboo tablet for about 5 years now and it still works perfectly Starting to get a bunch of scratches at this point but still works

[DynamoToon]

The Wacom is a superb piece of technology, it is extremely reliable and I use it all the time. Ive had it for more than a year now and I ca honestly say it still works just as well. However, i would recommend that (if you hav the money of course), you should by the 8x10 model, i feel like its more comfortable to use. But any wacom appliance is good enough, it gets the job done and I love it. So yeah, get it. Just...