Hey Guys,

I'm tired of using a mouse. I want a pen tablet I've read reviews online, but am a little confused
Different sites have completely different pens listed as their "favorites." I've seen PORT and Toshiba listed at the top on one site, while Wacom is atop another, and yet another site picks Adesso as the best. All I have learned in my research is that it is VERY subjective. Well, if I want an opinion, I can just get that here

What I'm looking for:

-Affordable. I do not want to spend over $200 on the thing. I'm a self-taught amateur and hobbyist using Photoshop Elements 10; not a pro

-Preferably wired. I typically don't like wireless tech. I hate batteries and the signal dropping. I don't use wireless for any of my peripherals. However, if you can vouch for the reliabitly and battery life, I would consider it.

-It doesn't have to be lightweight or portable. I only do this at home and it won't be going with me anywhere.

-Performance. Although I'm not a pro, I want the thing to be better than a mouse; that's the whole point

I also have a couple of quesions. I keep seeing "pressure sensitivity" and "tilt sensitivity" shown. What gives? Once I set my tool strength in Photoshop, isn't that the end of it? Also, will a pen tablet work with Photoshop Elements 10?

Thanks in advance for any help you can offer

Wacom is what I've used for years. I love it.

Go to Ebay and save yourself a couple a bucks why don't cha.

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=wacom+tablet

I have a very old WACOM TABLET MODEL ET-0405A-U at home. It was my first tablet. It has a small surface/work area but it works just fine. Goes really nice with my laptop. Easy to take with me. I've had to get a new pen for it though. Wore the old one out. It is Pressure sensitive.

At work I've got a WACOM CTE-640 larger surface area, doesn't come with many bells or whistles. Has nice Pressure Sensitivity of 512 levels though. Really great when you're smudging fur and other kinds of stuff.

both are USB plug ins. Both have wireless mouse/pens (that don't take batteries)
I cannot photoshop w/o these now.

My husband got me a bamboo pen and touch a while back, and I think it fits what you want. It's relatively inexpensive, probably around $100. It's pressure sensitive, so if I want to use it to paint I can go from thin to thick by using the same pressure I would with a brush.

http://www.wacom.com/en/Products/Bamboo/BambooTablets.aspx

here's your answer about it working in Elements.

http://www.the-graphics-tablet.com/photoshop-elements.html



nice!



I use my pen in Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign etc. Hell, even for a few drawing games on the interwebs.

Go get one already!

wacom bamboo. if you can, get the intuos

Thanks, Shaman and Kittie. I have to wait for my next paycheck, as this last one went toward rent and bills, but I guess I'll go with a Wacom. I'm glad they'll work with my Elements

Edit: Supa slipped in there as I was typing; thanks for the confirmation.