JOHN438 Loc: West central Florida

And the active surface is 6"8"...doesn't sound like alot but seems to be causing a heck of a lot of arm movement

I would like to hear from some others that have different size active areas and do they like them/dislike them etc

lesdmd Loc: Middleton Wi via N.Y.C. & Cleveland

Your active surface measurements do not equate (what is 6"8"?), and the Wacom website lists the dimensions as 5.8" x 3.6". That said, I am using a Bamboo tablet (cth460) and love it. There is a period of acclimation, but the precision and control is so much better than what I used to get with a mouse that I will never go back. I still use my mouse for certain purposes (switching windows, opening file menus for example) but I do all my photographic manipulation with the stylus and tablet. If a larger screen provides even better control I would opt for a medium sized tablet next time. I do not mind the arm movement at all.

normanhall Loc: Leslie Missouri

I have a wacom that i have been using now for about a month and a half. I love my wacom would not go back to a mouse for nothing. It took me about a week to get used to it but man it is so nice. One other thing it does is make you learn the shortcuts on the keyboard, now that i am learning more of the shortcuts it is even better.

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

According to Adorama (and a couple of other sources), the active area of a Wacom capture cth470 is 5.8" x 3.6" which gives a diagonal of 6.8". Try using a pad to raise your forearm an inch or so and use more wrist motion.

Lucian Loc: From Wales, living in Ohio

I use a Wacom and my first purchase was the smallest one they sell. I found it was too small. I sold it and then bought the 6x8 inch "medium size " and that was optimum so that there would not be too much arm movement over the area. I have since bought Intuos -3 the large 12+" PTZ 930 model but that seems too large a surface to move all over with the stylus.

From what I hear, the 6x8 size is the best all-round size for photo work.

bkyser Loc: Fly over country in Indiana

Keep using it for at least a week.

It does feel awkward at first. I don't even use a mouse for navigation any more. The tablet just becomes so natural (like the mouse did when you first started learning to point and click) Give it time, you made a great choice.

JOHN438 Loc: West central Florida

Ok guys thanks for all the input....will stick with this one...getting better already.