For the money, I'd second the Wacom Bamboo drawing tablets. I've use one, and they are pretty neat. They make a few different versions. If you are buying for someone who is pretty serious about art, I would gravitate towards the bigger versions, like the Create. They may not be the pinnacle of drawing tablets, but they are a solid value and get pretty positive reviews.
Answer
For the money, I'd second the Wacom Bamboo drawing tablets. I've use one, and they are pretty neat. They make a few different versions. If you are buying for someone who is pretty serious about art, I would gravitate towards the bigger versions, like the Create. They may not be the pinnacle of drawing tablets, but they are a solid value and get pretty positive reviews.
http://graphicssoft.about.com/od/hardware/fr/Wacom-Bamboo-2011.htm
http://techie.com/reviews/why-i-want-to-be-a-panda-a-stroll-through-the-...