So i was just wondering if anybody is using these? I picked
up one last night to use at home, so far like it. Its nice for
programs like PS where the brushes can be pressure sensitive. I
have not tried to too much with SW yet, besides simple commands
(drawing lines, circles). wireless mouse and pen with no
batteries.
The 5-button mouse works well though, since it can't get dirty and skip. Dirty and sticky, yes. Skipping, no. I took the formerly fuzzy bottom off and put teflon pads ("mouse skates") on instead. Absolute positioning versus relative is nice, but not essential. People who don't get it won't borrow your computer.
I don't want to steer this thread too far off course.....by business partner (Industrial Designer) is using a Wacom Cintiq , and likes using SolidWorks moreso with the actual touchscreen than with the Intuos tablet. It's pricey, but recommend it for those using SolidWorks along with other programs (Sketchbook Pro, Adobe Suite, etc) to to generate concepts / presentation graphics.
We use to use a light sensitve pen on the screen (1986ish), it was very intuitve much more control than a mouse. Would be great to see how the touch screens workout. However I hate all those finger prints on the screen.
To be honest there is little benefit in using a tablet with SolidWorks at the moment except maybe for detailed spline use. To be worthwhile you really need to have an application that responds to the pressure sensitivity and angle of the pen - like Painter or Photoshop. Some polygonal modelling systems do use the tablet and new concept modellers like MOI are designed specifically around it.
I think there was a discussion about this a while back and I suggested then that there are some functions in SW that could be made to work with a tablet - like freeform where increased pressure increases the effect of the deformation, or even variable radius fillets, where you can sketch alon an edge and the more pressure you apply the bigger the radius.
Personally I prefer the tablet to the Cintiq as you can see the whole image you are working on with the tablet, whereas the Cintiq (aside from the bulk and cost) needs a lot of manipulation (like pen and paper).
If we do get small lightweight high resolution touchscreens these would be great, but I've not seen any decent ones yet.
This might interest yiou though:
http://macbooktouch.com/mactouch/
or one you can buy now:
http://www.axiotron.com/index.php?id=152
But I really can't wait to get my hands on this software: www.ilovesketch.com
This is the missing link between freehand sketching and 3D CAD, if only this could be integrated in SolidWorks soon...
I started out using an old Graphire 3 and used it for Solidworks regularly. I now use a Intuos4 with a SpaceNavigator on the left hand. I love the combo. I have always programmed the pen buttons as down button = right click and up button = double click. It has greatly helped me with my RSI.
I have a XP-Pen Star G640S tablet and use the medium size one for Revit - the small one is OK too but I just found the medium size one (XP-Pen DECO 02)more comfortable.
I've used a tablet for CAD since 2015 as mice are horrible for repetitive clicking on points
Tablets are way faster than mice for drawing, obviously. Stop wasting your time, and go buy a cheap XP-Pen G640S ( https://www.xp-pen.com/goods/show/id/371.html ). You'll work twice as fast.
I am more curious about the 16" Wacom mobilestudio pro laptop that's ISV certified and has a Quadro in it. Anyone try this thing out?
https://www.wacom.com/en-us/products/pen-computers/wacom-mobilestudio-pro-13#Specifications