Kev,

The Wacom Graphire II tablets are about $100 USD. The Intuos is the higher quality and higher priced version. You could do like I did and start with a Graphire II to see if it fits your work style. I still prefer to use the mouse for my drawings. The only time I use the tablet is when adding a lot of lines that need to be free flowing like hair.

Zeb,

A Cintiq sounds like something I would like to use, but can't afford on my income Having the screen image on the drawing surface would make using a stylus/tablet easier and more natural feeling.