Wacom Intuos 4 Small is what I use and I love it to death.
Also the Vistablet White (large) but their customer service is complete bullshit.

sorry to hear bout yer experience with the bamboo series. the ones I've used worked perfectly fine! as for other tablets, intuos intuos intuos. yeah intuos. got an intuos5 (small, active area is 6.2" x 3.9") myself and it's seriously the best thing ever. The surface isn't this plasticy smooth crap you find on the bamboo ones, they have a more rough feel to them so your pen doesn't slide everywhere like holyshit what is this space. the pressure sensitivity and overall feel of the pen is great too. I snagged mine for about 200 including tax (was on sale for about 180). If you look around you can probably find em for around the 200 mark or cheaper if you decide to buy it used.

Axtually, the texture of the paper grain really freaks me out when I draw so I actually prefer the smooth plastic! its weird!;V; Idk why it bothers me so much it just does!

A lot of people seems to agree with you on the IV so I'll check that out! Thanks <333

intuos' are pretty good haaha

I have an Intous4 and a Cintiq...Best thing ever <3
I tried that Bamboo before when my friend had it -_-

Intuos, man. Intuos. D:

I hate the Bamboo that I have. It's 4 years old and terribly small. The pen doesn't have en eraser either, but since it's my first and only tablet, I don't know any different. My lines are wobbly cause it's so worn down, so I have to take extra time to clean them up.
The wire points toward the keyboard on mine as well, I switched it to left-handed orientation just so it points away.
Can't wait to get an upgrade >.<

Drawing with the eraser? You can't do that >:O I'm calling the art police and they're gonna take you to jail.

seriously. i know everyone has said it. but get an intuous. ive had mine for like.. 6 years and it still works pretty damn good even though its falling apart. ive never had to replace the pen or nib, they're a little warn but they work okay. when i first bought it was magical. i am getting another one soon though. xD

I have that kind, it works just fine for me. I've gotten used to not having an eraser at the end, only one of the tablets I've had actually had one.
My brother's tablet pen has an eraser and it works with my tablet.

The worst tablet I had was this floppy vistablet. It looked like it had an eraser on the end, but didn't the thing at the end didn't even have a purpose.
The tablet didn't last that long either.

Anything from Monoprice.

But only if your heart desires it.

Yeah told me that she got a bamboo splash and it was the worst thing she ever bough, I'm sorry I forgot to warn you about them !! I trust and 100% reccomend a regular wacom bamboo. I'm borrowing it from a friend, and I'm seriously about to just buy my own. It's beautiful, sleek, small but not too small, and waaaay durable. It's simple enough to get you by comfortably, and yet not simple enough to be boring or meak.

http://www.electronicwhiteboardswar.....FUqnPAodhWgA1A

*bought

oops wow *meek

no hooks with long handles here.

If you're going cheap I'd say just get the old bamboo or a bamboo fun, I HAVE NEVER HAD SUCH A TRUSTED COMPANION *kisses*
not as fancy as the intuos of course, but even though people have had good times with them I'm wary to recommend it because mine got busted up pretty fast (the usb port failed on me and it started within 3 months WAH. Then again, I do travel a lot? But I've had cheaper tablets last much longer.) NOT TO MENTION I've heard of other people having similar issues too.
THAT was intuos 4. I think 3 is supposed to be pretty sturdy and I would assume they fixed the usb issues with the 5 (also it's available wireless I think?)
SO JUST DON'T GET INTUOS 4 AAA
or do, because they've probably fixed it's problems
but just to be safe

DUDE. THE OLD BAMBOOS ARE THE BEST.

That what i;ve been using but now I feel like I need to actually upgrade??? ;;

but seriously. This piece of shit has been sturdy and wonderful up until 2 days ago after several years. SOB.

I ordered a pen and touch and Amazon shipped me a splash instead.
fucking.
awful.

I feel your pain.

luckily we could return it... I recently got a bamboo capture and I am VERY satisfied with it. It's $100 but I am quite satisfied with the quality of it. I had no trouble adjusting to it.

Man that tablet sounds horrible! I've been using a regular ol Bamboo myself, a Bamboo Pen one. It's worked for about three years now.

I had the same problems with Wacom Pen & Touch.
THE COORD. IT IS NOT ENOUGH. AND IT'S POKING MY LEFT HAND AND BLOCKS MY KEYBOARD.
Plus, my computer is on my right side.
Then I have/have problems with the lines being fiddly or even blocky when trying to do a smooth curve.

http://www.amazon.com/Wacom-Intuos5.....uctDescription

The software with it is F$%^&ing powerhouse, the 20 pen tips feel awesome, and has more dpi than my gaming mouse :|

I know you already returned it, but what do you mean by inwards towards your keyboard? If you have it placed below your keyboard like is typical, then it will just point leftward, presumably off of your desk. Also, all of the Wacoms are designed this way.