Wacom Tablet Driver fails to load in OSX on startup…

I have a 6×8 Intuos 2 Wacom tablet, a real hand-saver. I use it on my right hand and a Kensington Orbit (the smaller version) trackball on my left, for easy tasks like scrolling and big mouse moves. This has saved me so far from the fate of many of my graphic designer/computer programmer friends who are virtually crippled now by hand problems, like carpal tunnel syndrome.

However, I have had a problem since getting the tablet: it would intermittently fail to load the driver on startup. I’m using Jaguar, and a dual screen setup – and the tablet is plugged into the back of one of the screens.

I finally got around to writing Wacom, and they suggested checking the driver version, or that the tablet is getting enough power: ie. it is NOT plugged into the monitor.

“…The last thing I can think of is that the tablet is not getting enough
power. Make sure its plugged directly into the back of the computer. (Not through the keyboard, monitor, etc.)

If it has to be plugged into a hub, we have found that the Keyspan powered
usb hubs always work with our tablets because they are the only one’s known
to regulate their power correctly.”

I think this is the most likely cause: after starting up from being shut down overnight the monitor doesn’t come to full power right away, and probably starves the poor tablet so it isn’t recognized enough to kick the driver into loading. It usually loads on restarting.