Hey guys... i'm new to 3D and would like to ask you seniors how important is a graphic tablet in this department?
I work mostly in ZBrush and sometimes i can't get things done properly with the mouse...
Also can u tell me witch tablet would b good to start with?
thanks
my 2 cents...
a wacom tablet beats modeling with a block of cheese any day... i could not even imagine zbrush without a tablet. the intuos models are the bomb, but even a graphire is better than nothing
if you plan on seriously doing anything creative graphically with a computer, do yourself a favor and buy one. i will not touch a machine that does not have a tablet 
Yeah, same from me. The cool thing about the tablets is, that they are pressure sensitive (The Wacom even more than the Graphire), which can be used for just about anything in Maya and Zbrush (opacity, plant growth factor, push/pull for modelling, brush size...).
If you have the money get yourself a 9x12 Intuos for 450 $, if your budget is tight, check out the 6x8 Graphire for 200 $.
I bought a 6x8 intuos3 about 5 months ago. I have a 4x5 graphire coming in the mail for my notebook. It is impossible to describe how cool/wonderful/extraordinary they are. I would go so far as to say that (how to say gently?) without one you will 1) Never get any serious artwork done on a computer, and 2) Never, never be competitive in that world, and 3)Reread #'s 1 and 2. If you are serious, go buy one!!!
You sound like a sales person from Wacon 
, but hell yeah, I have to agree with you!
I always thought tablets were cool, but was good with my Intellimouse for the longest time. I had a job with a lot of masking so I bought a tablet. Man what a difference! I must admit that it takes a little getting used to, but now I use my tablet for almost everything. I'm primarily a Shake artist and never use Shake without it!
Intuos2 9"x12"
This is one of those things you don't miss until you get one... When you do you wonder how you ever managed. I mean while i use mouse a lot, i couldn't even think of doing zbrush/masking/texturing/sketching work without one. Its like using computers without undo, but hey shake artists would know all about that
However the cintix is a killer application on this accord if youve never used one go and try it... You cant bear leave it in the shop all alone without you nurturing it into great artwork.
joojaa is right on.
btw, i picked up a 3dconnexion space pilot after demoing one and while expensive ($499), it has joined the ranks of my tablet as an interfacing tool i cannot live without. rotating, panning, tiliting and zooming simultaneously while making a multiple selections in maya is like having freaking superpowers. i feel so handicapped when i use the intuos 4d mouse now. it does not work on zrush though 
I have to agree. Although I have never tried the space pilot/wacom combination it sounds intriguing. The space pilot alone is a lot fun, though. I always felt as if I was flying a helicopter through my 3D scene: