Graphics Tablet?

[Wa10]

Afternoon folks,

Hoping to pick your brains a little, if you don't mind, please?

My younger sister is currently planning a career in graphic design (although we all know how quickly that can change for a teenager!) and has asked for a graphics tablet for her birthday/Christmas gift this year.

Hands up, I struggle with stick men, and haven't a clue when it comes to graphic design! No idea what I'm looking for really, and neither has she. I know there are a couple of different options in terms of a dedicated PC graphics tablet, a slate/pad type that can be synced and also of course something like the iPad Pro/Surface which can be used standalone or connected to the PC/Mac.

She's a PC user, so I guess that probably steers us away from the iPad idea (and my wallet is breathing an audible sigh of relief!), but I'm really not sure which would be the best way to go.

Any graphic designers/tablet users amongst us who may be able to point me in the right direction please? Hoping to avoid breaking the bank, but at the same time don't mind investing a little more if it's going to last and help her to develop her talent.

Any help greatly appreciated! 

[viridis]

Truth hurts, but it's ipad pro or the top range surface.
As much as I'd love to point out an android alternative, the fact is ipad has more top end developer support for creativity apps, and can only be rivalled by the full fledge apps on surface.
At college/Uni all the computers and work stations will be Mac and sadly it's the byproduct of apple giving educational gifts and massive discounts over the years while windows was busy confusing itself with vista/7/8.
So.
Standalone product, ipad pro
Additional product to use with existing pc, wacom tablets are the semi-professional choice.
Get on Adobe forums for a much more educated answer mate.

[Wa10]

Thanks Viridis, much appreciated.

I'll pop over to the Adobe forums and have a read around.

She's still in high school at the moment (big age gap, haha!), so I'm quiote conscious that something like an iPad Pro may be a few generations behind by the time she gets to College/Uni, and need another costly upgrade. I'm also acutely aware that at the moment she's perhaps not careful enough with her possessions to look after something as valuable as an iPad Pro properly.

I'll have a good read around, and also have a proper chat with her too. It may be that one of the Wacom tablets is something she could make use of now with her existing PC and apps, and with a view to upgrading to the iPad Pro (and probably a Mac, as their PC will be a little long in the tooth by then) if she does continue down this career path.

[Cleoriff]

Could I just mention openly that I don't think this is an off topic post? So many students off to University in September, it will be so helpful to others (including my grandson who has just got his results)

I read it with so much interest. I couldn't answer and was waiting for someone who could. It's a technical post in my opinion....:smileywink:

[Wa10]

Thanks to whoever moved the thread for me.

I wasn't really sure where to put it, and whilst I know that O2 sell the iPad Pro I was conscious that I was also asking about other devices not on offer, so thought it best to play it safe and stick it in off topic. Good shout though @Cleoriff.

Quite impressed by the new Wacom tablets from reading through the reviews, they seem to have come a long way in terms of features and functionality since I last came into contact with one a few years back. 

[MI5]

Surface pro for sure mate.

[MercedesS]

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@Wa10 wrote:

Thanks to whoever moved the thread for me.  

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Pease, just pick a solution now that it is a help topic 

And thanks everyone for sharing your ideas and thoughts! I really like to learn