Definitely buy a Wacom.
I have an ArtZ II (6x8") that's about 5 years old. I use it almost every day and although it's pretty dirty, it still works perfectly.
They don't sell these any more, but the new "Intuos" series which replaces them are also great. There's something a little bit failed-futuristic about the new design, but the surface has improved and so has the resolution.
If you want something cheaper, I hear that their "Graphire" series are pretty good. These are iMac-colored little USB things with decent resolution and also a cordless (and ball-less) mouse. They're only available in 4x5 size, which is a *little* bit small though some people like it better. You can get one for about $70 at buy.com. |