anyone using a graphics tablet?

[tetraplan]

I use a Graphire 3 for almost everything, but I'm really tempted to save up and get a iGesture Pad. A friend got one and she's really happy about it. I tried hers and it works great.
Really expensive though, nearly twice as much as my Graphire.

Also, GTK2+ for Windows seems to really dislike my Graphire, I can't work with it in combination with Gimp or Inkscape (which is what I got it for in the first place. Grrr!).

Groet, Erik

[noizetronic]

i do suspect that a change in motion and wrist angle could help, even in the same hand.

already tried to straighten out/ease up arm position as good as possible.. to no avail. Found out very soon, that operating a mouse while standing is a no-no-no...

Also, GTK2+ for Windows seems to really dislike my Graphire, I can't work with it in combination with Gimp or Inkscape (which is what I got it for in the first place. Grrr!).

aargh - gimp would be one of the main targets for the tablet.. has anyone seen this behaviour with a volito?

regards noizetronic

[BONES]

My Spunky-looking Intuous 3 just sits off to one side of my desk gathering dust. If you switch to a tablet you can forget about middle-click, right-click and scroll-wheel. Even double-click requires practice. And the replacement buttons/touch-strips on the INtuous require you to move your hand across to them which is bad workflow. Maybe you could use your other hand on them but I still don't think it would be as handy as a good mouse. IMHO tablets are good for precisely one thing - drawing. A good scroll-whell mouse is infinitely more productive for 95% of all the work I do.

[cptgone]

as a developing case of RSI on my mouse hand is starting to drive me bonkers

tried a trackball yet? I use one at work.

[tetraplan]

My Spunky-looking Intuous 3 just sits off to one side of my desk gathering dust. If you switch to a tablet you can forget about middle-click, right-click and scroll-wheel. Even double-click requires practice.

On my Graphire, right-click is the front of the button, middle click is the end of the button. For scrolling I have a page-up, a page-down and a set of arrow keys. I'm sure the middle-click coud be set to scrolling, too- it does universal scroll already (which can be annoying).

I find drag-and-drop much more natural with a pen, by the way. And tapping twice- what's so hard about that?

Groet, Erik

[haydxn]

i don't have any problems with the various clicking methods with my tablet. and there's a button that acts as middle-mouse, which means i can wave up and down instead of using a scroll-wheel; just as easy.

i do feel a bit strange when using it for anything other than drawing tho. i tried using it with my audio software and just gave up straight away, it feels much nicer using a mouse for that. to me.

[Spe3D]

I use Wacom, but not for host/music programs

[Scot Solida]

I use a small Wacom Graphire everyday with my Kyma system. I usually use a mouse for other applications. I also use the stylus for the V-SynthXT's touch screen, 'cos I hate fingerprints.

[Spratman]

I love to use a tablet. Have an ipad, bit old, but still good for the occasional sketch and other things, even if all the features aren't supported [thinking Inkscape and Sodopodi].

Some of the newer tablets I've seen appear to have pretty good three button and scroll support.

For those of us getting/coping with RSI

At one stage I had a serious problem with a nerve related problem in my shoulder and wrist; basically you have to learn to use a mouse without flexing your wrist so much. With some good sized mice you can basically "pat" them, keeping your wrist almost straight and push the buttons with your fingers. It also helps if you're sitting slightly higher than the mouse and can learn to use your upper arm more. For people who don't have RSI I think this is also somewhat important to, I haven't had surgery and hope never to have to. I'd also recommend ergonomic keyboards to, though I imagine some people may convert to alternative pointers, certainly never liked things like accupoints, or more "joystick" type things, though as suggested previously, trackballs aren't all bad.

Spratman

[Spe3D]

Trackballs is what I use for music apps and the net, very good points anout rsi Spratman

Best regards,

Spe3d

:O)

[ceenda]

dharmawan, noizetronic: Thanks guys. Used to use Corel Painter, but I tend to use Photoshop CS thesedays.

A friend of mine who works as a web developer was having RSI issues with mice. He has since switched to a trackball and swears by them.

[noizetronic]

The trackball suggestion is a good one.. Had to use one of those large textured Logitechs on a job once; pretty much liked the mouse pointer flying over the screen when you kicked it

Thank you all for your reflections on this painful problem
BTW i never would have thought of RSI problems being so common around here.

regards noizetronic

[ugo]

BTW i never would have thought of RSI problems being so common around here.

sure, lots of keyboard playing, lots of mouse clicking, lots of typing, and then any other instruments we play. that adds up to a lot of potential for tendon/muscle/nerve strain.

...and thats not counting whatever we do for our day jobs.

-ugo

[Lunatique]

I know a lot of artists that are also musicians, and AFAIK, none of them uses the tablet for making music, including myself. There is just no reason I can think of that will make it easier/more comfortable to use a tablet to make music. When recording/mixing, precise mouse movements are required, and the nature of the pen just isn't catered to that. The reason is because the mouse stays stationary unless you choose to move it, thus granting a much better anchor for solidity, but with a pen, you have to keep it raised, and your hand contains a lot of bones and joints and tendons and muscles and nerves--none of which are quite stable--there will be slight shaking even for the most experienced artists. I don't even browse the web with the tablet--it's strictly for drawing and painting and editing photography for me. (No shameless plug for me--most of you have seen my paintings and photography already)

[kritikon]

I use a trackball too. I simply can't use a mouse for more than an hour.

One of the best ones I used was one of those little trigger grip ones designed for presentations with Powerpoint etc. Has a long lead for walking about with, but it means you can hold it in any position that eases RSI. A big downside is it only had 2 buttons on the top (a trigger button for the left-click though), and no wheel, and it was pretty flimsily made too - only lasted for about 8 months. And it had such tiny wheels inside, that wouldn't grip the ball that I had to occasionally take the ball out and sandpaper it to get it to grip
The lack of a wheel is a pain in something like SX.

That broke, and now I got a tabletop trackball - It's not perfect as it still causes pain when used on a flat surface, but it can be held upright in my lap even though it's a little clumsy. And it has a wheel, which mitigates it somewhat.

What would be prefect would be a better made trigger trackball with a wheel on it - haven't found one yet though...


I'll have to look into a pad - I like the idea of the pads on laptops, but I haven't seen a separate one anywhere around these parts.

The trigger trackball was ideal for RSI though - never had any problems once I started using that. If only I could find a well-made one.