Graphics Hardware & lots of questions!

[Jill]

I've been asked to buy some bits for a chap I made a base unit for and am a bit unsure on what to get.

He wants something that I think is called a "Graphics Tablet". He says it has a pencil of some sort with it and that he can draw round the outside of an image, for instance, and cut that bit out of the image. So I looked on Redstore.com to try to find such a thing but had no success. Does anyone know where to find one of these things?

He also wants an optical cordless mouse. I know what they are, but don't know what to recommend. It has to have a scroll wheel and be the cordless optical equivalent of the Microsoft Intellimouse. Any suggestions on what's good and what's not?

In addition, he wants a webcam to do videoconferencing sort of stuff. Best I can see at the moment that's inexpensive is this:
http://www.redstore.com/techinfo/atn029010.php3
Does anyone know of a good offer at the moment?

Next, I need a graphics card that's sensibly priced but that has TV as well. Currently have ATI All in Wonder 8meg (AGP) attached to a Slot 1 A-bit BE6 RevII mobo. I don't do games (no co-ordination! :lol) but would like something that can do justice to a 21" monitor. Keep hearing the word Geo-force here, is that what I should go for?

All suggestions welcomed :)

Please nicely? ;)

[TNT]

My experience with digital boards is somewhat dated (11 years to be exact) but I'll try to help. That "tablet" senses the position of a pointer (pen type or mouse type device) which allows you to draw or point and select object on the screen. With appropriate software you can also move them, stretch them or rotate them as well. You can also insert a template under a see through foil and use it as a quick command line editor for CAD programs like AutoCAD. You just point and select boxes on the board and program, for instance, inserts a double door into the selected wall. The board I used all those years ago was made by company called Kurta. No idea if they still exist. Best place to look for that stuff might be amongst CAD accessories.

Hope this helps. I don't think that I would be of much help on other issues.

[Bluetack]

Any geforce2MX based card will do you mighty fine Jill, from £80 upwards!

Pudds said this one is brill and worth every penny:

64Mb Gainward Jumbo MX

Online Price £76.62 £90.03 Including VAT at 17.5%


Someone else will tell you where thats at cos they all think i work there :lol

[Rock DJ]

if ya wanna decent webcam. get ya backside into Game or Electronics Boutique cos ya can get yaself one for 20 smackers a real bargain :)

[Bluetack]

Trouble is webcams on a 56K connection are sooooooooooooo crap its unreal!

[Jill]

Thank you lads :) :)

I'll try and find some sites that find CAD type accessories for this thingy then as I can't find any on pc parts type sites. Sounds very clever. Think I'll print off some information for my friend and show him before committing to a purchase, just so as I get the right thing. I hate buying something I know absolutely nothing about. :lol

Mouse wise I'm still confused. I suppose I could go and wander round PC world for a while and have a shifty, but as for asking advice there, don't think I'll bother :lol.

I'll try the places you suggested Rock for the webcam, hopefully someone there will have knowledge of what they can do although Bluetack's comments about their slowness has to come into any conversations I have with 'em. I can't believe why he wants it anyway ... says it's to videoconference with his son who lives in the same town ;) Everyone to their own I guess :)

Pudds is indeed a good source for information John as I have the same mobo as he does. If it fits on his, it'll fit on mine :) And of course I know the store you're talking about, it's in my bookmarks too! :lol

Thanx for all this information, I've got a better idea of what I'm looking for now :)

Regards,

[Bluetack]

Jill, Beep has a MS optical and he loves it to bits!

[Magnum malum]

http://www.logitech.com/cf/products/productoverview.cfm/91

[Jill]

Thanx John and Nick :)

First of all, I'm trying to tackle the thing I know least about, the graphics tablet. The guy that wants it will be using it for personal use (ie he runs a Karate club and wants to fiddle with some graphics for newsletters, cut out a photo or two and include them at times, design car stickers etc). He likes to play with graphics a bit. He happens to work for an animation company so he must have seen graphics tablets in his office, although I don't think he's directly involved with the graphics side himself. Bearing this in mind, he'll want something fairly basic I think and money is also relevant. I found this:
http://prices.cclcomputers.co.uk/specs/mice/easypen.htm
it retails at £18.19 which is very sensibly priced I'd have though.
He said he wants something about A5 size but most of them are bigger. This one's smaller, but would possibly fit the bill. Am I going to make a mistake if I order him up one of these? ;) What do you think?

[Magnum malum]

Too small, may as well just use the mouse if you get one that small. I do a fair bit of graphics work and I use the mouse to cut out some quite intricate stuff in graphics packages. If all he wants to do is cut out some photo's for newsletters he doesn't need a tablet. I use a logitech trackball mouse which is very accurate.

Here are some tablets http://www.dabs.com/products/prod-search.asp?action=search&tid=474&ob=manufacturer&obd=asc&stab=ref

[Richy]

he could always draw what he wants by hand and scan it in :) trust do tablets altho i can vouch for their quality as i have never used one. a local computer shot should be able to help, ask them to look in cpc or computer 2000 catalogues. on second thougts i just checked computer 2000 and they dont stock any. i would guess that a5 is an absolute minimum for practical graphics use.
on the grapics card from the nvidia geforce 2mx (not the 2mx 200 which is pants) with tv is safe choice. the gainward listed above seems like a fine example altho you are paying 20 quid over the odds for the extra ram. 32 mb would be fine.

[Jill]

Thanx Nick. Isn't it annoying when someone things they need something and they probably don't? I thought I'd found the compromise with the small one, but there's no point in him wasting his hard earned cash on something that's of little use :(

I looked at the dabs site and am now printing the details of an A4 one so he can make some decisions himself. Going to need to visit him and discuss this I think rather than make a decision on his behalf. If he's going to have an optical mouse, then he may find that accurate enough to do without the graphics tablet, just as you do. I'll tell him what you said and try to persuade him away from the graphics tablet :)

If he ends up still wanting one, then that's his decision ;)

[Yump]

I noticed that Adams54 has been around for a while now and sometimes I wonder if its getting a bit jaded.

Does anyone know when Ver.55 is due for release (has there been any Beta-testing?) :lol :lol :lol

[dsac1]

Jill,

Cordless Mouseman Optical from logitech, works on any surface, smooth as a babys bum, superb.

Available immediately from jungle, or in a couple of days from dabs, here is the address, also a few quid cheaper at dabs.

http://www.dabs.com/products/prod-search.asp?action=search&tid=470&mid=550&ob=manufacturer&obd=asc&stab=ref

cheers

Chris

[Synergy Blades]

Hi Jill,
Don't know if anyone else has mentioned this but if you're looking for a really good graphics tablet, look for one made by 'Wacom' as they're quite incredible! They can be a bit pricey though, depending on what size you're looking at :confused:

[Yump]

Jill
The high street Maplins stores currently have an offer on an optical mouse - looks good (I might get one myself)
It has 5 programmable buttons, scroll wheel, zoom, magic jump, leaps through flaming hoops, fully house trained, very fond of children, will eat off the hand.

£12.49 inc VAT
see info here (http://www.maplin.co.uk/offers/itemjump.asp?ItemID=2741&cartid=989686220&PartCode=ZV82&d=f&PromoID=31&SubGroupID=2&PromoName=Supersonic%20Sale&type=1)

(Remember - just block their holes):lol

G

[Jill]

Synergy - thanks for that info, I've found the graphics tablet you're talking about and it's lovely :) I want one! :lol In fact they're not toooo high price wise, I've found one for £75 and that includes a cordless mouse ... this may be the answer in the end, killing two birds with one stone ;)

Yump - I had a word with the guy last night and his priority appears to be cordless rather than optical, although he'd like both. I'd go for optical first, but it's his choice I guess ;). The one in your link looked good .. I might even get one of those as well! :lol

[Synergy Blades]

I'd love an A4 tablet for drawing but they go up in price as they get bigger! It's about £340 :(

[Jill]

Synergy - going to have to put your 11 weeks holidays to good use and go spud picking :lol you might be able to afford one then ;)

Yump - what's all this about me changing my user name? :lol
Sadly I can't change the year I was hatched ... but wish I could sometimes! :lol