Which Graphics Tablet?

[Kevin]

Which is the best graphics tablet to buy at a reasonable cost?

 

[Erik Sojka (MVP)]

If you can draw a piece of string on it, that's the one you should buy.

You may have better luck with this question in one of the hardware
newsgroups. This group supports the OneNote application.

If you were by chance wondering about graphics tablet support in OneNote,
an external tablet will be treated by OneNote as a mouse device. Anything
you "write" on an external tablet will be treated as a picture and will not
be convertible to text or searchable. Those features are currently only
supported in OneNote when run on a Tablet PC.

 

[Chris H.]

Just so people don't get mislead about the external writing tablets (vs.
Tablet PCs), use of them in the current (SP1) version of OneNote will result
in creation of just a graphic in OneNote. The writing tablets will create
only a graphic of the handwriting, and your cannot search the creation or
convert it to text. Those options are only available on a Tablet PC with
the digital recognizer in place.
--
Chris H.
Microsoft Windows MVP/Tablet PC
Tablet Creations - http://nicecreations.us/
Associate Expert
Expert Zone -


Given what Erik indicated about the lack of integration:
the Graphire tablets are VERY affordable and unless you
have a reason go with the cheaper "small" tablets (like the
one below) instead of the big honking ones.

Both are quite affordable but the big tables are difficult to
find space on your desk or lap to use.

Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0000C4DWW/learnquickcomacc


Wacom Graphire3 4X5 USB Tablet -Sapphire Blue (CTE430SA)
by Amazon Price: $84.99
Average review: 4.0 stars (of 5) based on 8 reviews.

 

[Chris H.]

DUH. My post should read, ". . . and you cannot search . . ."
--
Chris H.
Microsoft Windows MVP/Tablet PC
Tablet Creations - http://nicecreations.us/
Associate Expert
Expert Zone -

 

[Klaas Visser]

Just so people don't get mislead about the external writing tablets
(vs. Tablet PCs), use of them in the current (SP1) version of
OneNote will result in creation of just a graphic in OneNote. The
writing tablets will create only a graphic of the handwriting, and
your cannot search the creation or convert it to text. Those options
are only available on a Tablet PC with the digital recognizer in
place.

At the risk of confusing people even further, I'm running OneNote SP1
on a desktop, with a Graphire tablet, and can use the "Write Anywhere"
and "Writing Pad" functions in the WinXP Handwriting Recognition
language bar to "write", and it gets converted into text.

This is not the same as using the Tablet PC Input Panel.

 

[Chris H.]

And how are you doing that? Are you a developer with the Tablet PC Edition
installed on the desktop?
--
Chris H.
Microsoft Windows MVP/Tablet PC
Tablet Creations - http://nicecreations.us/
Associate Expert
Expert Zone -

 

[Erik Sojka (MVP)]

It's an Office XP function.

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/HA010451251033.aspx

 

[Klaas Visser]

And how are you doing that? Are you a developer with the Tablet PC
Edition installed on the desktop?

As Eric said, it's a function provided by MS Office XP and up
(apologies for not mentioning that in my original post). I'm running
Office 2003.

 

[Chris H.]

How are you using Write Anywhere? Just curious.
--
Chris H.
Microsoft Windows MVP/Tablet PC
Tablet Creations - http://nicecreations.us/
Associate Expert
Expert Zone -

 

[Klaas Visser]

How are you using Write Anywhere? Just curious.

I generally use this if I'm on the phone and need to take a quick
message. I just write anywhere on a OneNote page, and it gets
converted into text in a container. Note that I do not have a mouse on
my system, I use the Graphire tablet for all pointer work, so it feels
fairly natural to do this.

I also use it when I'm working in Photoshop, and want to make a quick
note about a particular filter or action I've run, and I don't have to
use the keyboard.

Most of the time, the Language Bar is set to Drawing Pad, so I can
enter sketches, etc, as the bulk of my OneNote input is through the
keyboard. Switching between input modes is just a click or two, so it
is straightforward enough to use.

 

[Chris H.]

I see. Thanks.
--
Chris H.
Microsoft Windows MVP/Tablet PC
Tablet Creations - http://nicecreations.us/
Associate Expert
Expert Zone -

 

[Herb Martin]

I generally use this if I'm on the phone and need to take a quick

message. I just write anywhere on a OneNote page, and it gets
converted into text in a container. Note that I do not have a mouse on
my system, I use the Graphire tablet for all pointer work, so it feels
fairly natural to do this.

At the risk of confusing the issue EVEN more <GRIN>:

Many of the Graphire pads come with a very nice mouse that
rides on the tablet, but all of them allow for switching between
pen-mode and mouse-mode when using the tablet.

This may not be obvious to those who haven't used a drawing
pad but in pen-mode these things use absolute positioning so you
have the equivalent of your drawing surface on the pad -- when
in mouse mode if you pick up the stylus and move it to another
location the tablet ignores the "jump" and treats it just like picking
up a mouse and re-centering (etc) it.

I also use it when I'm working in Photoshop, and want to make a quick
note about a particular filter or action I've run, and I don't have to
use the keyboard.

This is so cool - maybe I should hook my pad back up more often.

Most of the time, the Language Bar is set to Drawing Pad, so I can
enter sketches, etc, as the bulk of my OneNote input is through the
keyboard. Switching between input modes is just a click or two, so it
is straightforward enough to use.

Mine even has these modes on the function area of the tablet so
you just touch a hotspot. (IIRC).