Made my GF one not long ago: http://forums.d2jsp.org/topic.php?t=77256391&f=189
the 1800$ was with 4k monitor. If you go regular size/form factor you will get down to 1000$

Someone else told me to get a "surface pro desktop" it's some prebuilt pc.. and it costs 3 grand and it had i5 with 8gb ram.. what makes those so good?

this? https://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-Surface-Studio-Intel-Core/dp/B01M8PBGUW

It's a canvas basically, a drawing tablet built around a computer, and it's quite large at that, hence the price. Artists like it but IMO just get an Intuos tablet peripheral instead, it'll take some time to get used to your hand not being where you're drawing but once you make the connection I feel it's even better because you always only see your art.

Prices on wacom tablets vary a lot depending on the size you get.

This post was edited by DCSS on Nov 28 2017 03:14am

Pretty much what DCSS wrote above this post.
But if you don't draw much in hand with would be an ridiculous buy!

My GF use an wacom intuos art for drawing on the PC.