ive found a few different sizes but with very different price tags! i was just wondering if anyone had an opinion on what is actually necessary and what is pure luxury. im not the saaviest when it comes to techy things...so too much will just go wasted.

so the basic question is...is the size the only real difference or is there more?

Wacom Graphire4 4x5 Tablet Set (Silver) $99.95

Wacom Graphire4 6x8 Tablet Set (Silver) $199.95

Wacom Intuos3 6x11 Pen Tablet $369.95

Wacom Intuos3 4x6 Pen Tablet $229.95

Wacom Intuos3 6x8 Pen Tablet $329.95

Wacom Intuos3 9x12 Tablet Pen $449.95

I have the smallest. It's just like a mouse, you can move quickly to another section of the image, but you normally are working on a small area at any one time (and of course by zooming in or out that area can be any amount of the image).

If I really wanted something bigger, I'd go with a tablet pc where you can draw directly on the screen.

They're different in the aspects of how you would use it.

Like jkantor says, the small ones you use pretty much like a mouse, the bigger ones are for when you 'paint' and want to use big brush strokes. In between is, well, in between really.

I have the Intuos 6x8 and I really like it. I do a fair bit of retouching and this thing is a great asset in Photoshop. I lurve the pressure-sensitive options! For major retouching on faces this thing cuts my time down to about 20% of what it would take with the mouse.

I had the Intuos 6x8 for a while and liked it. Consider carefully what you really want to do with it. For Photoshop work, I don't believe you need anything larger than the 6x8. For graphics or especially Painter type work, you might wish you had the 9x12. The larger the pad, the more you're going to be moving your arm around.

I used my for a short time but just couldn't get used to it for PS, so I recently shipped it off to Robin and she seems to like it.

I use the 6x11. I really like the dimensions, when set to match my screen it works great. it's true that you have to move around more but i like it! plus setting up hot keys are great and huge time savers. do all of my creative suite work with the tablet, and often find myself using it to surf the web, check email, and everything else, except when i have to type!

I use a 6x8 mapped out for widescreen... the 6x11 would not fit on my sliding keyboard tray. say good bye to carpel tunnel!!!

I have the 4x6 and love using it with PS. The better pads have nicer pens. Mine just has the key pad on the left side of the tablet. I can zoom in and out with the slide pad. My large left key is undo. The others are the Ctrl and Alt buttons and the bottom key of the set is the space bar. I can undo, do alt selections, shift to move the pic around with the pen, the button on the side of the pen lets me change brush sizes and I don't have to touch the keyboard while I'm using it. Makes it great to touch up blemishes and such. It's a wide screen pad but maps to my regular screen with no problems.

ok my only other question is with the dimensions you all gave me are you talking about the intuous or graphire??

i really appreciate all of your help! theres nowhere else on earth you can get realiable information this fast! thanks!

Mine's an Intuous. Got it at Best Buy. They are just a nicer experience in my opinion. I have a Grapire2 that I replaced with the Intuous to get the programmable buttons and better pen.

Wacom Intuous 3 6x8" here. Personally, I think anything bigger would eat up too much room at my work area. The actual size of the unit is about 10x13". I don't find myself needing anything bigger either.

FWIW... I bought mine used on the buy & sell forum over at FM for $200.

intuos3 6x8. yeah, anything bigger really starts encroaching on your workspace.

i agree that the intuos3 tablets are a much better experience than the graphires - they have more pressure sensitivity levels, and more options for customization. amazon.com sells them for about $300 - click here