Is a tablet a worthwhile thing to buy as an add-on for a person into CG?
Any ones to recommend? (only restrictions are cost and compatibility with Linux)
Thanks
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Absolutely !
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Wacom Bamboo
I agree 100% with organic! I just bought a Bamboo, the basic level pen tablet, and I gotta say I am impressed! Texturing in paint programs is alot better with it, almost to the point you would think texturing is fun…
Randy
I use a tablet for everything, things can be a bit hit and miss with some Linux distros, but with ubuntu everything works out of the box.
The first question that comes to mind nowadays:
Does the OP mean an artpad or a tabletpc… to give it more face… Wacom or iPad? 
Wondering the same. I am hoping competing iPad style devices get additional stylus input to help differentiate? Sahara has a slate that does both touch and stylus, but is way overpriced. I could finally replace my iDeadTreePads and iPencil with a high resolution, accurate stylus input device and stop cringing at the price of a Cintiq which is cool but dragged down by lack of true portability and price considering all it is a screen married to a touch screen.
I used a Bamboo for 2 years, and never knew how limited it was until I got an Intuos. Those itty bitty Bamboo’s really give a first time user a bad experience, especially if you have a large monitor. One tiny movement of the wrist, and your brush soars across the screen, makes for squiggly lines.
I have completely ditched my mouse, I highly recommend a tablet to anyone that wants to paint or sculpt.
OK Overwhelming support for getting one.
Thanks very much for the advice. Seems like a few people have the Wacom Bamboo, which certainly seems good for me as it is cheap.
Looking at the Intous, there are 3 or so different sizes, so what size would you recommend (specific or in general)
Oh, I was trying the other day with a stylus on my laptops touch pad, it was defiantly a bit small…
In general? The bigger the better.
The bigger the tablet, the closer it gets to a real canvas. There´s nothing more annoying than a too small tablet, where you end up making a 1mm line on the tablet and got a line across half the screen 
My wacom is A4+ and it is a lovely size when you can really stroke across the pad with joy and passion.
But for wacom usually the budget is what determines the size, but rest assured the average Intous is a companion for life =) I got a Intous3 and it still like new, no signs of scratches in the surface, pen works like on the first day, no broken cable nothing. Wacom should consider making crappier products, else they´ll barely get returning customers
Better spent big money once and be happy a long time if it is possible - but thats just an opinion.
Hey , I am using wizardpen tablet, Its also good and way cheaper and works on ubuntu linux… 
I recommend u take a look at that too and read reviews on net.
as everyone in this thread has said: yes. Intuos is probably your best choice, a bamboo is good (I’ve got one and want to upgrade as soon as I can afford it) but not great. I’m studying 3d graphics and the only “course literature” that is mandatory is a wacom tablet
I use both the tablet and the mouse.
For most operations I find that the mouse is easier, because you don’t have to pick it up, hold it and put it down, just kind of scoot it around on the desktop. Take your hand off it and it stays put above the button or setting or what ever.
The tablet comes in better when you need pencil-like control. I don’t like the slick plastic surface of most tablets. I’m old school, so I find that putting a sheet of drawing paper on top of the tablet area helps give me better control. I also don’t like the shape of most tablets. I need more of an extended framing so that my hand does not drop as I get to the edges of the tablet area. Part of this is a problem with the table. My work table is horizontal. When I draw, I use a drafting table tilted at an angle which gives a much more natural feeling.
I suspect that ones like the Cintiq where it is pen on screen may be much more intuitive. Then the eye-hand coordination gets a boost.
I’ll still want my optical mouse for button pushing and slider dragging. It’s just that much easier on the hands when you don’t have to clutch something all day long.
Hi
I want to buy a tablet too
so I tried to wander in internet and found an interesting tablet from Trust
TB-6300
this one looks bigger than wacom bamboo I think it is also 6x8 like intuos
costs about 50 60$
I dont know how much is intuos.
has anyone used TB-6300? if yes then is it good to buy ?
has anyone used TB-6300? if yes then is it good to buy ?
I can’t recommend anything other than Wacom ones 'cause the only ones I liked were Wacom. That TB-6300 has very nice specs for the price and the reviews are generally good. But I emphasise: tablet is like a musical instrument, you need to try it before buying. I am totally satisfied with my Bamboo but I know people who find it uncomfortable.
I use a Bamboo Fun pen & touch for texturing. When I really need to draw fluid designs I use it with MyPaint (also a free program) owing to the GIMP’s glitchiness with the drivers. It’s definitely something any artist could use.
I had a trust tablet once. the TB4200 IIRC. The A4+
Worst crap ever. It was impossible to draw a straight line, the cursor was jumpy when you rest your hand still on the tablet.
Contacted Trust support if it is broken or an driver issue… Reply. Its a common issue. And thats that. Live with it.
Thanks -> Trash
I had 3 Tablets before the Wacom. I should have bought Wacom in the first place would have saved me a lot of money.