Wacom Cintiq 21UX, anyone got a good deal on this or something similar?

[Cymae]

Ok, I took one look at it and I fell in love:

http://www.shopbot.com.au/i/2005/12/26726932_small.jpg

http://www.wacom.com.au/products/cintiq/cintiq21x/cintiq21x.html

Does anyone know where I can get a good price for this and/or something similar? This tablet screen is somehting I'd kill for but unfortunatley I can't afford the AUD3,500 (USD2,800) pricetag that comes with it. Wacom's the leader in the industry and I've heard a great deal of good things about this tablet, I'd love to take it for a spin and see how it goes..

[simon275]

Nah touch panel technology like that still has to take some great leaps to become affordable to the average consumer. Try having a look round on ebay.

[Cymae]

no such luck. Looks like i'm going to have to start saving :D

[OvRiDe]

I gotta friend that looked into getting one of those, but of course with the price he had a hard time justifying it. He did a bunch of research and found that the Toshiba M200 Tablet will do the majority of what the Cintq would do, just not as big. He ended up with the Tablet off of eBay for just over 300 bucks (US), and hasn't regretted it at all. It has a true pen system, its not just a touch screen. It has a specific pen that can determine up to 512 levels of pressure and even can detect which end of the pen he is using. So for instance in Sketchbook, he can use the back of the pen as an eraser. I got to play with it a bit and it really works well. Whereas it may not be as cool as the Cintiq, it may provide a much cheaper, and what he likes a more portable solution to boot.

Other then that .. here is a nifty article on a DIY version from HackaDay--
http://www.bongofish.co.uk/Wacom/wacom_pt1.html

Good luck and hope this helps...

EDIT: Here is a pretty good review of it.. http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=2127&review=Toshiba+M200
Apparently WACOM makes the tablet interface. Its in the article.

[xRyokenx]

I have a 5"x7" tablet w/out the screen. It's fine, I'd get one of those for like $100US and practice with that and get something better later on. Works quite well, they're cheap crap isn't cheap nor crap. :D

[Elenril]

I have a Wacom Intuos 3 tablet, I wouldn't be able to live without it, it's absolutely fantastic, especially for doing art and graphic-y stuff. It's just like the Toshiba M200 tablet that OvRiDe described, but of course far cooler (I'm not sure how, let me figure that out later :p)

If you still want one of these, I may be able to see if I can get one cheap for you at staff price where I work, just IM me.

[Scotty]

Thew Intuos models are far more advanced in sensitivity then the Cintiq. Plus at about 2k cheaper there much better value. Im looking at the A5 Intuos3 tablet when i get my new pc. would like to go bigger but that looks fine as is.