Graphics Tablets - Computer Peripherals

Microsoft Sidewinder X8 Mouse

A nice mouse., 2010-07-26
The mouse has great features but I would suggest trying it for comfort if possible before you buy.

The wireless feature is great although I have had the mouse for about 3 weeks and use it daily and have only charged it 2/3 times.

The thumb buttons are great as are the dpi buttons, although the dpi buttons can be hard to find quickly during a first person shooting game but I am sure I will get used to them in time.

I find the scroll wheel to be a little 'iffy' there is no real problem with it but it is not the best wheel I have used. I have also not yet found any real use for the side scrolling feature on the wheel.

These are all small issues really, my only problem is the comfort. My thumb and first 2 fingers fit perfectly but I find the next finger and little finger do not sit well on the mouse, I have fairly large hands. Again this is only something that is noticed with prolonged use and I may get used to it in time.

Trust Slimline Design Tablet TB-5300

A great add on for your PC, 2010-07-20
Did just what I wanted it to. Great on Win 7 but couldn't get a driver for XP (I didn't try too hard so maybe there's one out there).

Razer Naga Mmog Gaming Mouse

• 17 MMO-optimized buttons
• Program up to thousands of different in-game com
• Maximum Comfort for Long Gaming Sessions
• Game for days with the Razer Naga?s ergonomic de
• Custom Interface AddOns for MMO Games

Best mouse ever owned, 2010-07-30
After going through many mice, ranging from the Sidewinder, to the G5, then to the G9 and finally this, I can safely say it is hands down the BEST mouse I've used for RPGs.

The amount of buttons on this mouse is incredible, 9 or so are easily reached, the back 3 are a bit harder however. I use this mouse primarily for WoW but have used it in games such as Modern Warfare 2, Borderlands, Starcraft 2 etc. It performs decent on any game, but RPGs is where it shines. This mouse WILL improve your game, the size is very comfortable to use for extended periods and also has a neat pulsating Razer logo!

Being a hunter on WoW, I need a lot of binds. This mouse will satisfy your needs. Then ask for seconds. You easily get a possible 27 buttons on this mouse if you use ctrl and alt modifiers, with room for another 9 or so if you use shift modifiers. I've had no problems with this mouse at all so far, however like all mice the DPI is part gimmick. I don't see anyone playing games above maybe 2000 dpi since the mouse cursor will go from one end to the other of the screen in 1mm of movement if played at too high dpi.

In short: BUY THIS MOUSE, you honestly will not be dissapointed.

Wacom Bamboo Pen and Touch

• Two sensors for precise pen and Multi-Touch input
• Use a single finger for navigation and multiple
• Simple gestures make it easy to scroll zoom rota
• Pressure-sensitive pen tip for natural pen and b
• Battery-free ergonomic pen with two switches

Perfect for a freelancer, 2010-07-26
I bought this Wacom because I move a lot between different studios and needed something good, light and affordable. This tablet is perfect for the job, is almost as good as my intuos but cheap enough so I don't panic too much by carrying it in my backpack all the time.

If there was something I'd change, it would be the position of the cord (left) as it gets in the way a little with the keyboard, and the canvas holder, as I am used to the traditional quill style holder, but that's just me being picky. I'm already used to those two things and I'm very happy with it, specially with the fact that is multi-touch, I wish my intuos tablet had it.

It's a good product and worth the money.

Wacom Bamboo Fun Pen and Touch - Medium

• Bamboo CTH-661 Fun Medium Pen and Touch Tablet
• Pen Active Area: 217 x 137(mm)
• Touch Active Area: 190 x 130 (mm)
• Tablet Resolution: 2540
• Pen Pressure Levels: 1024

Works great!, 2010-06-28
I've had the pen for about a month and love it. I use it primarily with Illustrator and don't use the touch function. But so far so good. No problems with the nib yet.

Wacom Intuos4 Large

• Wacom Intuos4 Large Pen Tablet
• The Intuos4 Large has an active area of 325x203
• Tools: Grip Pen
• Max. distance: 10 mm
• Max. pen tilt: 60

Great Product, Really pleased with it., 2010-07-08
The Wacom Intuos 4 Large is really good. Totally changed what I can do and how I go about it using Photoshop. I've still plenty of exploration to go.

I bought this as an nearly new item from my supplier and it came in immaculate condition with everything in place. However, the software had been registered by the previous purchasor who then returned the product.

I wrote to Wacom and explained this. They sent me new activation codes straight away.

Great piece of kit!

Wacom Bamboo Pen Graphics Tablet

• 512 levels of pressure sensitivity on the pen ti
• Battery-free ergonomic pen with two programmable
• Textured work surface for a pen-on-paper feel
• Attached fabric pen loop conveniently secures pen
• Easy USB connection

Easy to use, intuitive and the right size: points to help you choose, 2010-06-15
I bought this because I was suffering increasingly from pain and irritation from using a mouse all the time.
I've never had a graphics pad before, but I wanted to see how it went, and I bought the cheapest Wacom one Amazon had.

Be aware - the full range of Wacom graphics pads has lots of different features at the more expensive end, like finger-touch interaction, and bundled software. This pad just works with the special stylus provided and that's all it does.

However, that's all it needs to do for me - it's great: value, quality, and ease of use.
And small is good too - the default mode is for the pad to represent your whole screen. If you buy a bigger tablet, you'll find yourself making grand sweeping gestures all the time, which might knock your coffee on the floor!

Anyway, pros and cons as usual for my reviews...

Pros:
- small: doesn't take up too much desk space
- can be used in conjunction with a mouse (they can both be left plugged in)
- tablet automatically senses if you're using it left- or right-handed
- very easy and natural to use, once you've spent 5 minutes on the instructional programme
- perfect for natural writing and drawing-like interactions, like photo-retouching

Cons:
- doesn't come with a carry case/protector (why not? I want to take this to work!)
- you DO need to follow the training video for 5 minutes if you've never used one before, so it's not for the critically impatient
- (very minor, but annoying) doesn't work with my Linux machines unless I compile new drivers for them, as this is a new model; however, works stunningly well once this is done

It's so cheap I think you should try it out - it's a great way to interact if you're having mouse-induced hand or arm problems.

Belkin Waverest Gel Wrist Rest (Black)

Brilliant Product!!!, 2009-12-09
I purchased this product after a number of weeks of developing 'pins & needles' in my wrist and hand.
After a couple of days of using this rest I felt much more comfortable at my desk.
Once again Belkin delivers high quality goods. Well recomended!

Wacom Intuos4 Medium A5 Graphics Tablet

• Wacom Intuos4 Medium Pen Tablet
• The Intuos4 Medium has an active area of 223x140
• Tools: Grip Pen
• Max. distance: 10 mm
• Max. pen tilt: 60

The sweet spot, 2010-07-13
Wacom have long been the gold standard for graphics tablets and it's not hard to see why. My old Wacom Graphire had suffered about seven years of use and abuse before it finally gave in and when the time came to replace it, I went for an upgrade.

Size: For me, the medium size is the definitely the sweet spot! The smaller sizes tend to feel limiting and twitchy after a while (particularly on large displays) and the larger tablets require too much arm travel, which can be uncomfortable.

Sensitivity: Coming from my previous experience with the Graphire, the sensitivity is mind-blowing and the customisable 'precision mode' works incredibly well. This can be set so that you get the detail of movement that you'd get on a larger tablet, with the smaller footprint.

ExpressKeys: The customisable express keys and touch ring are great and the ability to set the mapping of these keys and the pen on a per-application basis is what makes them useful. They feel a little strange to use at first since they don't feel anything like a keyboard but over time this becomes less of an issue.

The Surface/Feel: The active area has a rougher resistance than the older smooth plastic finishes... I'd describe it as feeling most like a precise/rigid felt pen on paper; pencil on paper feels lighter and smoother than this. At first I wasn't too sure about the feel but it does offer a more natural, tactile experience. That said, the feel can change depending on the nib you use and I am yet to try out the others. Note on the nib: I've had the Intuos4 for a short while now and I'm already noticing some nib wear after normal use... This may or may not be an issue.

Conclusion: In my opinion, this is the best graphics tablet on the market today (with the exception of Wacom's Cintiq range) and I'd highly recommend it to both new and existing tablet users.

Labtec optical glow mini mouse

Labtec Mini Mouse, 2010-04-17
These optical glow mini mice are really good. Small for carrying around in lap top bags, responsive, don't depend on batteries and look cool on a desk as they change colour in a relaxing way. I've bought three and recommended them to friends.