Wacom is the best brand of tablet to own in my opinion.
I have the Wacom Bamboo Splash, its the medium sized tablet, but I find it's the perfect size for most projects.
A lot of the tablets have multiple functions, so look at each one and see what would fit your needs best. ^_^
As for use, I find them easy to use. Its just like drawing on paper, except you are using a computer. The first couple times, you may have some issues with the transition.
I hope this helps you out!
<3
I do apologize for taking so long to respond, I don't often check out my DA