I dont mean tablet(ipad, android tablet, etc.) more like a wacom or some other make?

I have a base line wacom from years ago, Im sure for what I paid for it I could get something with better options and larger drawing surface for less now, but im wondering if anyone uses a pad or what?

I can see advantages to both so maybe a combination is in order?

If I had my pc built and wasnt working off this laptop with limited USB ports Id have them both up and running.

I never totally liked the pad though. It was OK in Flash and photoshop(what I use more so now) but its still awkward. I guess Im too used to drawing for real with pen and paper.

I guess it could speed up blocking in and then switch over to mouse for precision.

the other thing I hated was once I was used to drawing with it it was a pain to navigate menus and do normal selecting of stuff.

I use the tablet all the way through most of the time. sometimes I'll switch to mouse for details but not often. tablet is much more efficient for sketching out a piece though.

I love Wacom and have several (cheapest to high-end models. I can't live without them and have use them for years almost exclusively. They do everything a mouse can do and more and your hands don't ever hurt.
There is a slight learning curve, which is small. Imo, a cheap pen beats the best mouse. The common opinion that using a pen to rough and mouse to detail is and will always be confusing to me. Especially for pixel pushing.