I got myself a small Wacom Graphire, purely for ZBrush and photoShop, but i can't stand using it in maya..... or for general navigation.
I guess you'll just have to buy one (or borrow a friends) and see what you think.
www.stevenegan-cgi.com
"Your weapons are no match for ours! People of Mars, surrender!"
"Um, this isn't Mars. This is Earth."
"Earth? Earth-with-nuclear-weapons Earth?"
"Yes."
[long pause] "Friend!!"