Artist's PC Tablet?? (in Off-topic)

Thing?

My gf is really into the arts, she's taken several college art classes, and a few months back she was looking at a pc tablet drawing thing. I'm clueless when it comes to this stuff... but she seemed to want one.

In conjunction with a few family members, I want to get her one for Christmas... but I don't know where to start. Her mom told me to figure it out, and well like I said I'm clueless...

Budget is at or below about $500... really trying to get the most bang for the buck.

Help?

http://www.newegg.com/Store/SubCategory.aspx?SubCategory=296&name=Tablets

Did some digging and it seems Wacom is the preferred drawing tablet (NS nailed the brand :) Ituos and Bamboo lines are in your budget.

http://www.wacom.com/intuos/

http://www.wacom.com/bamboo/bamboo_craft.php

The thing I guess you need to know is if she is looking for the set up where you draw on the pad and look at the monitor or if she wants more of something to draw and see it at the same time on the same pad, like a graphic pad PC or the one NS linked (which are $pricey$.