Which stylus should you use with Notes Plus?
I got asked this question a lot; so I thought I would put up a page to answer in detail.
First of all, it must be a “capacitive” stylus, not the plastic stick you use for your Palm Pilot. This is not only for Notes Plus but also for all apps on an iPad. iPads only work with capacitive styli.
Palm Pilot Stylus - Cannot use it with iPad
Then, which capacitive stylus should you use?
Foam-tip – A big NO-NO:
Pogo Stylus - Don't buy it
There are two reasons these foam-tip styli are not good. First, the foam material not rigid enough to have precise writing. Second, the tip feels like it might fall off. It didn’t fall off on mine but if I use it for a while more, it would.
I only know the Pogo Sketch made by TenOne Design as a foam-tip stylus but if you run into another maker’s foam-tip stylus, avoid it like the plague. The Pogo Sketch actually manages to have another big NO-NO: the stylus is too small to hold comfortably as a pen. All in one, it’s a terrible product.
Rubber-tip – very good and feels almost like pen (except for the big tip):
The BoxWave – this is what I personally use everyday. It really feels like normal pen, very responsive. I like the Styra model which has a real ball-point pen on the other end, just in case I need a pen (to write a check, for example, I hardly use paper).
You can buy this stylus on Amazon; search for “Boxwave capacitive stylus“. I like buying stuff from Amazon because they offer best price and I don’t have to waste time wonder around the store. Amazon currently sells the Styra (with pen) for $22.95 and the regular (without pen) for $15.00.
BoxWave Stylus - $15.00 and $22.95
The Griffin – similar to the BoxWave.
Griffin Stylus - $17.72
It is so similar that when I watch the review (http://appsforipads.net/educational-apps-2/apps-for-ipads-tips-stylus-revies-contest) by our friend, MaggieB at AppsForiPads.net, I couldn’t tell the difference between the two. The Griffin is also sold on Amazon for $17.72.
The Targus – very good reviews:
Many Notes Plus users show their content with the Targus rubber-tip stylus; I suppose it performs similarly to other rubber-tip styli. They usually buy it at Target but (you guessed right) Amazon sells it too: $14.99 for normal (picture) version and $22.81 for with-pen version.
Targus Stylus - $14.99 and $22.81
The AluPen – too big?
AluPen Stylus - $25.97
Notes Plus’s product videographer, Adam Weiss, uses it and he like it very much. It’s just a little too big and too expensive for me. Probably good for those with big hand. Sells on Amazon for $25.97.
There are a lot of other rubber-tip styli being sold on Amazon. Just search for “rubber-tip capacitive stylus“.
Plastic-tip styli – maybe
The DAGI stylus – here is some innovative attempt. Many users told me that the common problem of the current capacitive styli is that the tip is too big. Not only that it prevents precise positioning of the tip, it also hides the writing underneath. The DAGI stylus tried to solve the second problem with a see-through plastic tip (picture). Some users reported that it makes noise because of the plastic tip touching the iPad glass surface. With the DAGI stylus that Jeff Krueger (detail below) sent me to try, I didn’t hear a lot of noise; probably because I’m used to moving pen softer.
My personal opinion: it feels different, it’s not very natural (like pen) but it can be used comfortably after the learning curve. It’s worth a try.
Jeff Krueger, a Notes Plus user, just created a business importing these styli from Taiwan and sell it for $14.99. If you mention Notes Plus, he will give you 10% discount. Please visit his web site: http://dagi-us.com .
Dagi Stylus - $14.99
The Aponyo stylus - worth to try
The Aponyo stylus is just available on Amazon on Oct 2011. The special thing about this stylus : instead of using the rubbery tips as most styli, each stylus has a patented conductive fabric tip which makes them unique among currently available styli – the writing is smooth across the screen. It’s softer than the rubber tip which some people might like it. It slides across an iPad’s surface with less resistance. My opinion about the Aponyo is very simple: it works!
There’re three styli : the Aponyo Flip$20 with a stylus tip at one end and an old school ballpoint at the other. The Aponyo Click ($18), with a tip like a click ballpoint. The last one is the Aponyo Mini ($15) which suitable for use with your iPhone/Android phone.
Aponyo Stylus - $17.95
Our Notes Plus users can use coupon code HGLNYY4G at checkout to receive 10% off their Kosella stylus order. The offer is good through 12/31/2011. You can find out more information about this stylus here : http://kosella.com/products/
The verdict: There is nothing like pen right now but it’s getting there. For now, a rubber-tip stylus is the best.
Please tell us in the comments your own experience of using an iPad stylus and how you would rate it in terms of the categories below. We’ll add your stylus if it’s not already in the chart.
Comparison chart (Source: MacWorld)
| Stylus | Price | Nib | Extras | RES | ERG | PRE | NAV | WRI | LIN | PAI | Overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AluPen | $25 | rubber, 8mm | available in colors | 4 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3 | 3.5 | 4 | 3.5 |  |
| Griffin Stylus | $20 | rubber, 8mm | Clip | 3 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 2.5 | 3 | 3 |  |
| Aponyo Click Stylus | $30 | fabric, 6mm | Click nib, clip | 2 | 3 | 2.5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |  |
| Wacom Bamboo Stylus | $30 | rubber, 6mm | Clip, available in colors | 4.5 | 4.5 | 3.5 | 3 | 4 | 4.5 | 3.5 |  |
| Pogo Sketch Pro (foam nib tested) | $25 | rubber/foam, 6mm | Choice of rubber or foam nib | 4 | 4 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 4 | 3 | |
| Pogo Sketch | $15 | foam, 6mm | Clip | 3 | 3.5 | 3 | 4 | 2.5 | 3.5 | 3 | |
| Pogo Stylus | $15 | foam, 6mm | N/A | 3 | 2 | 3 | 4.5 | 2 | 3 | 3 | |
| Kuel H12 | $20 | rubber, 6mm | Twist nib, clip | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3.5 | 4 | 3 | |
| Kuel H10 | $13 | rubber, 6mm | Telescoping handle, cap with dongle | 3.5 | 3.5 | 2.5 | 4 | 3.5 | 4 | 4 | |
| Architect Stylus | $25 | rubber, 7mm | Capped stylus, lanyard hole | 4 | 2.5 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 4 | 3.5 | 3 | |
| iFaraday Stylus | $10 | fabric, 7mm | adjustable clip, colors | 3 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | |
| iFaraday Artist Firm Dome | $15 | fabric, 8mm | adjustable clip, colors, hard or soft nib | 2.5 | 3 | 3.5 | 2.5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | |
| iFaraday RXII | $26 | fabric, 9mm | capped stylus | 3.5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3.5 | 3 | |
Categories:
RES (resistance: nib movement across the screen and when drawing or writing)
ERG (ergonomics: comfort, length, weight)
PRE (precision: tracing three triangles of varying size at 100% zoom with each stylus)
NAV (navigation: using the stylus in lieu of a finger for tapping, swiping, etc)
WRI (writing: both print and cursive)
LIN (linework: line drawings, sketches)
PAI (painting: coloring, big brushwork, illustrations)
More information:
The current state of styli and the iPad: does the stylus still blow it?
The best stylus for iPad: we review the hits and misses
Thanks,
Viet
Disclaimer: I have no association nor sale commission from any other manufacturer, retailer, or Jeff Krueger.