REVIEW by Scott Andress: The Stylus+ by Autopoint
Most reviews, and reviewers, wait until the end of the article to bottom line their opinion of the subject. Sometimes,
I like to break with tradition. The Stylus+ from Autopoint can be summed up in one word -- handy.
That said, let's take a closer look at this superior writing instrument.
The Stylus+ offers three different writing options in one convenient package -- a ball-point pen, a .5mm pencil,
and a plastic stylus tip. To make your selection, simply rotate the barrel of the pen until the desired tip icon
faces you. Then simply press down the single push-button, like you would any other ball-point pen. Presto! Your
writing point appears and you're ready to write.
The Stylus+ employs an internal mechanism that relies on gravity and the angle at which you hold the pen. When
rotating the pen barrel you can hear the mechanical switch clicking inside. This is a very handy (there, I used
the word again) and quite reliable means of selection. You may have seen this type of system employed in other
pens, but the Stylus+ is the first to include a plastic stylus tip to be used with your PDA or HPC for pointing,
tapping, or writing. Really neat.
Both the ball-point pen cartridge and the pencil leads are easily refillable. The stylus tip is very nice, and
works well with the touch-sensitive screens on PDAs and HPCs, like the HP 620LX.
Is the Stylus+ perfect? Well, almost. It would be cool if the stylus tip were a different color plastic, like the
red plastic that other stylus makers use. This would provide an easy-to-see visual confirmation that you have selected
the stylus tip. This would prevent the potential for accidentally, in haste, selecting the pencil or pen tip and
going at the screen with it. But if you're careful, this won't happen. The pen is made completely of plastic. Using
metal for the barrel would add a little more balance to the pen, but this is not really too big a deal. I'm fine
using the unit the way it is.
The Stylus+ is very useful and convenient, especially if you are in an office situation like I find myself in frequently
and need to quickly switch between a stylus and an ink pen. I highly recommend the Stylus+ and is priced very competitively.
Autopoint has informed me that a four-way Stylus+ is forthcoming. Neat!
The Stylus+ may be purchased from:
updated 2.28.98
email: fred@cegate.com
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