Tablets for handwriting (not art)
June 19, 2007 6:27 AM Subscribe
Thinking of getting a graphics tablet to replace my keyboard as much as possible. Do I need to spring for something high-end, or are the cheaper / smaller tablets good enough to write with?
I need to find ways to type less, hence the tablet idea. I won't need it for drawing, which is what most reviews I've found focus on. I just need the cheapest tablet that can give a decently comfortable writing experience for a fairly heavy workload.
Do I need anything larger than this for example? Is there any reason to go for a more expensive model like the Intuos?
Bonus points for any personal experience with handwriting recognition on unix.
I need to find ways to type less, hence the tablet idea. I won't need it for drawing, which is what most reviews I've found focus on. I just need the cheapest tablet that can give a decently comfortable writing experience for a fairly heavy workload.
Do I need anything larger than this for example? Is there any reason to go for a more expensive model like the Intuos?
Bonus points for any personal experience with handwriting recognition on unix.
Response by poster: Thanks curiousleo. Why do you say writing on a separate tablet is hard?
posted by lullabyofbirdland at 6:53 AM on June 19, 2007
posted by lullabyofbirdland at 6:53 AM on June 19, 2007
The intuos line has some nice extra buttons on the face of the tablet that can be programmed to replace commonly used keystrokes. There aren't really enough, but this can be sufficient to keep you from going back to the keyboard if there are only a few keys you need frequently. They're individually programmable for each application.
posted by Caviar at 8:39 AM on June 19, 2007
posted by Caviar at 8:39 AM on June 19, 2007
Thanks curiousleo. Why do you say writing on a separate tablet is hard?
...because you're not looking where you're writing, and you can't directly see the output of your "pen".
Try closing your eyes and writing something on a piece of paper, but omit one word. Then, eyes still shut, try and insert that word in the right place on your paper... this is what writing using a separate tablet is like all the time, and it can quickly get frustrating.
Tablet PCs solve this, obviously, as you're looking at the screen that you're writing on. You can buy tablets (not PCs) with LCD screens built in, but I believe these run to $4000 or so... unfortunately.
posted by jon4009 at 8:41 AM on June 19, 2007
...because you're not looking where you're writing, and you can't directly see the output of your "pen".
Try closing your eyes and writing something on a piece of paper, but omit one word. Then, eyes still shut, try and insert that word in the right place on your paper... this is what writing using a separate tablet is like all the time, and it can quickly get frustrating.
Tablet PCs solve this, obviously, as you're looking at the screen that you're writing on. You can buy tablets (not PCs) with LCD screens built in, but I believe these run to $4000 or so... unfortunately.
posted by jon4009 at 8:41 AM on June 19, 2007
If you feel like geeking out and hacking something together, usb-adaptable touch-sheets are available to purchase online. You could get a 19-inch widescreen monitor and a touch-sheet and place the sheet under the bezel of the monitor. Then just find a way to lay the monitor down on the table and have the wires go to the computer and you have, in effect, a tablet input device.
posted by ijoyner at 8:57 AM on June 19, 2007
posted by ijoyner at 8:57 AM on June 19, 2007
Response by poster: >Try closing your eyes and writing something on a piece of paper, but omit one word. Then, eyes still shut, try and insert that word in the right place on your paper... this is what writing using a separate tablet is like all the time, and it can quickly get frustrating.
Hmm, interesting. I thought it would be like using a mouse in that you still get a cursor on the screen indicating where the pen is, so that you can you can figure out where to write using that feedback. Is that wrong? It seems as though drawing would be even harder than writing if that's not the case.
posted by lullabyofbirdland at 11:19 AM on June 19, 2007
Hmm, interesting. I thought it would be like using a mouse in that you still get a cursor on the screen indicating where the pen is, so that you can you can figure out where to write using that feedback. Is that wrong? It seems as though drawing would be even harder than writing if that's not the case.
posted by lullabyofbirdland at 11:19 AM on June 19, 2007
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Wacom is the best.. anything else is just a bad investment even for just writing. (this is why most Tablet PCs use WACOM under their LCDs)
I must say.. anything less than 8 1/2 x 11 letter size tablet will be difficult to use... I use 9 x 12 personally.. and found it to be the perfect size... You really don't need the latest models from wacom.. You should be o.k. with older models... even if it is 10 years old... the only real difference is the sensitivity level.... Most writings don't need whole lot sensitivity than what WACOM had in the beginning.
Check Ebay for any used WACOM in that size since any newer ones in that size will be very expensive... (make sure the tablet works with Windows XP or better... some very older ones may not work with your newer system)
My personal experience tells me it will be hard to replace actual keyboard for writing.... Windows Tablet edition helps a bit... but i don't think the technology is there yet.
Of course if you can get TABLET PC... it becomes more worthwhile.... if you are into writing alot.. i would say skip the tablet and get Tablet PC ... (used ones are fine for any writing tasks.. i think they run 700 or less on ebay)
trying to write with separate Tablet on PC is extreamly hard... Even now... I can barely do it for anything longer than one sentence writing.
** AGAIN.. my past experiences with any other brands other than WACOM even for just writing has been extreamly bad... they either break down very quickly or the pens are just horribly calibrated.
For writing check out USED first gen tablet pc.. prefably 14incher ones like acer or something.. don't need fast or latest.. as long as it has TABLET PC edition Windows XP..
posted by curiousleo at 6:43 AM on June 19, 2007