iPad Stylus Review

Welcome to 2013!  With the new year, I thought I would write about something I typically don't which is a product review.  Actually, this is more of a commentary on what I have found recently using my iPad as a note-taking device in court.  This is by no means an exhaustive list of styluses, but more of some helpful thoughts on what I use, so that you don't experience what I did yesterday.  But if Santa was nice to you this Christmas and you are now in the market for a stylus to go along with your spanking new iPad, this might help.

I have been using Penultimate for taking notes for most of the past year.  I love it's simplicity, and the ability to save my notes into notebooks like a moleskine notebook (which I love and have them scattered all over my office and house).  But just a couple of weeks ago, I downloaded the 2012 app of the year, Paper, and am working with it to see whether I like it better.  Paper is at least far more nice-looking.  The app is not designed specifically for note-taking, but for this review I don't believe the app matters.  While I could do a comparison of these two apps, I will save that for later and focus on the tools instead.

Pogo Sketch Pro:  So, because I am now using Paper for notes (as well as my terrible attempt and drawing when I get bored), I thought I would try the Pogo Sketch Pro since it is one of the styluses that works well with drawing apps.  Thankfully a buddy of mine has one that he doesn't use, so I've been working with it for a couple of weeks.  Off the bat, I like that it has a rubber grip rather than a completely aluminum body.  I drop this far less than the others.  The nib is rubber, which I prefer to the foam ones, but it has tiny holes in the tip and feels lighter than others that I have tried.  More control when drawing, sure, but writing is a problem.  Yesterday, I had a real problem trying to take quick notes, often recording only halves of words.  This could be because I use an anti-glare screen protector on my iPad.  TenOne says this stylus does not support screen protectors.  They mean it.  While I like this stylus for doodling, and it feels great, I'm afraid I can't use it in court like I want to.  Thankfully I had my old stand-by in the briefcase.

Alupen Pro:  I have kept this stylus in my bag for about six months, and it's what I always have used in court.  I like the Alupen line because they are all-aluminum, which feels really cool, and this particular model has a pen on one end which comes in handy in the middle of a hearing.  Having trouble with the Pogo stylus, I switched back to this yesterday and it worked as wonderfully as always.  The nib is a little stiffer, which I think helps make solid contact with my screen protector, and I don't have to think about pressing down in order to write.  The ONLY drawback to this stylus, for me, is the fact that it does not have any rubber grip.  I drop it...a lot.  Aluminum is cool, but this is a slippery stylus.  And I hate dropping things in front of a judge or jury.  The pen end is a screw-up style, so you can't really open the pen with one hand like a click function would, but I have no idea how you would design that feature anyway.

Alupen:  I keep the standard Alupen in my office and at home.  They come in plenty of colors, and also have the all-aluminum construction.  One downside to this stylus is that you cannot get replacement nibs easily.  My bird tore a hole into one, and now I have a perfectly good aluminum stylus with no tip taking space in my bedside table.  This stylus is big and chunky, and also has a very firm nib for writing.  It writes just as good as the Pro above, but it is thicker and heavier (which you may or may not like).  This one is also very slippery.  If you have big hands like I do, however, this might be a great choice.  So many styluses are small enough to fit in your wallet, and I hate hand cramps.

For anyone that has seen my handwriting, you would know that it is terrible, so for me to write a review like this might seem silly.  All three styluses record my handwriting as it really is, unfortunately with no magic spell making my cursive any more beautiful.  After having to go through a motions calendar yesterday, I will no longer take the Pogo Sketch Pro with me.  It's a fine stylus, sure, but it just doesn't work for me when taking notes.  For that, I need a stiff nib that allows me to write quickly so I don't miss any of the judge's order.

Happy Hunting!

JD

John D. Duncan is president of J.D. Duncan, PC, founding partner of Prater, Duncan & Craig, LLC in Newnan, Georgia, and is Esquire by Day.  You can find him at www.jdduncanlaw.com, or follow him on twitter and Facebook.