Don't get a tablet if you don't know how to draw. I don't mean that in a rude way, it's just not a very good arena to learn how to draw in. You'll be better off if you learn the old-fashioned way, so you don't have to overcome the hurdle of technology in addition to learning how to draw in the first place.

I gotta agree with the guy above me on this. Do pen and paper first. It takes much longer than people think it does to get used to drawing on a different canvas than what you're looking at. Plus with pen and paper, it teaches you to draw with much more care and precision since there's no ctrl+z

Howard Johnson is right! Tablets don't have enchantments on them that give you +15 Arts. If you've never drawn before your art is going to look pretty rough no matter what. It's best to start with the pen and paper not just for the quality control issues, but also for the cost.

I'll admit that was my plan at first and you guys aren't the first to say it's a bad idea. SO redefined objectives, learn the ropes of drawfagging first, pick up a tablet bit later. I woudln't have the spare funds to get a decent one right away anyway.

I'd appreciate recs for future reference. Can't imagine the tablet industry moves by leaps and bounds and even if it does I don't mind older stuff.

Wacom is your best bet, usually. There is other good manufacturers, but Wacom is the most popular one.
If you want a good, simple tablet model, get a Bamboo. If you want to be art faggy and expensive with yer pen tilts, go with Intuos. If you want to be a filthy cheater, go with Cintiq.

http://www.icrit.org/tablets.html
That might guide you a bit

Thanks for all the advice mates. I'll probably aim for something in the Intuos line.

This topic is now about trucks.

So my venerable Intuos2 A4 started acting up, developing an intermittent, but annoying, line wobble. Apparently a common problem in older tablets, it would have cost me about €80 just to replace the failing Grip Pen [1]. So instead, I decided to spend in the region of €300 on upgrading to an Intuos4 M [2].

Being in the EU, I get to download one (1) of the following complimentary packages:
- Autodesk Sketchbook Express 2010
- Corel Painter Sketchpad
- Adobe Photoshop Elements 7

Anyone got/tried any of these?
I'm leaning towards getting Painter Sketchpad. Currently using Manga Studio 4 Debut, and GIMP 2.6.

[1] Only read on the Wacom forums today of a possible fix, ha ha. As it is, it's not really good for drawing with anymore, but still perfectly fine as the World's Most Expensive Mousemat.
[2] For just €40ish more, I could have got an Intuos4 L, but that would have been far too big.