heres a pic...anyone use these for vectors? is it better than the pen tool in design programs?
You won't really see much use out of a tablet for working with vectors.
Well, apart from the drawing like a pen thing. Illustrator, for example, has very little pressure sensitive tools.
I loved mine so much (after i got used to it...first few weeks it was baaaadddd lol) that I ended up getting one for each of the production stations and a Cintiq for the one I do the designing on. I could never go back to just a mouse because it would kill my workflow...but the Wacom packages come with a stylus and a mouse (that only works on the tablet but its extremely precise). Well worth the money. Let me know if you are interested in buying I can get discounts on this sorta stuff usually.
I use mine here at work all the time, with vectors and with Photoshop. It doesn't take long to get the hang of it. Wacom does make one that draws right on the tablet itself but it's like $2500.00 I think. I bought mine off of e-bay for a song you just have to know which one to look for.Some have nicer features. If I have work to do in PS like removing backgrounds or whatever I find the tablet to be more precise.
Actually I do about 75% of my vector conversions using a Wacom tablet. Much easier to do cartoon like images, natural shapes like trees, bushes, etc. Much easier on the hand than clicking.
It does take some getting used to, but when you think about it, that's likely because we have all gotten so used to a mouse. The tablet is much more natural feeling especially when drawing. I don't use it when browsing websites, working with text based programs and general computer use, but it is my preference when drawing/tracing in Illustrator