Rating: 
Summary: I like this product very much BUT....
Review: the radio station nearby seems to interfere with it. The cursor on the screen jiggles so much that I can hardly use it. The Painter software and the pen tool are great. The cordless operation and smooth movement of the mouse are great (there are a few times when the cursor doesn't jiggle). I wish I could use it more.
Rating: 
Summary: Why you might want a graphics tablet
Review: The Wacom Graphire tablet is a mouse-pad like device that connects into the USB port (or serial port if you don't have USB.) A special electronic stylus comes with it and you can draw on the pad as you would on sketch paper. The Graphire tablet is for home use and is distinguished from other Wacom tablets in that it also has a cordless mouse. It comes in a choice of kid-pleasing colors (well, I like colors too, I must admit. I bought a clear purple keyboard recently, so who'm I kiddin'!) Now, this tablet-mouse pad is a darn clever idea. Both a graphics tablet and a mouse are "human interface devices" or pointing devices for the computer (how you move around and click on items on the screen.) So having a combination mouse/pen pad is nice as you can eliminate your regular mouse. And I can tell you, cordless mice are the way to go. Much more comfortable than mice with cords. I prefer my Logitech cordless mouse to the mouse on the Graphire as it isn't as smooth as the Logitech, and I also use an ergonomic mouse pad to prevent wrist strain. You must use the Graphire mouse on the Graphire pad--that's how the electronic connection is made, through the tablet. Still, this is a wonderful interface especially if you have kids. They can draw and paint on the computer. What a great idea. And this is wonderful for creating digital art for your webpage. (ok, who'm I kidding! I'm the one who uses the pad and draws for the website and sends pictures to my mom in email.) Wacom sells their Graphire tablets with a copy of Painter Classic. Great idea as this helps you get a lot out of the tablet. Painter Classic is a cut-down version of the powerful Painter sold by Corel and developed by Metacreations. It replicates the look and feel of real art media like oils, watercolor, chalk, crayon and pencil. For the home user (maybe doing some homepage graphics, someone wanting to dabble in digital art, or for kid) it's simply great.) The art you create can be saved as a .jpg, gif, .tif, .bmp files, put on your page, used as screensavers or sent to Grandma in email. If you want to know more about what Painter does, check my reviews about it and Painter Classic. Check out the Wacom website http://www.wacom.com . You can find out more about Painter at http://www.corel.com .
Rating: 
Summary: Great tool for an artist - Bad tool for the average user
Review: Wacom tablets are the best choice for a pen type interface. It takes a while to adjust, but once adjusted, it works much faster and precise than a mouse. It works great for illustration work and graphic design. If you are not a professional artist/designer, this may not be a good investment of your money. It's not ideal for general usage since it lacks a scroll button like newer mouses. The wacom mouse just isn't usable unless as a backup. Another factor is the pen is small and can easily be lost or misplaced. If so, you are in trouble. (...) No other stores sell replacements, so wacom obviously exploits the situation with inflated prices and poor service.
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