8 out of 10 stylus
taps.Autopoint Stylus+
Review by George Rosenberg, posted 9/28/01:
TOTAL SCORE:
8 out of 10 stylus
taps.
Link: For more information, visit the Autopoint
Discussion:
A key benefit of a hand held computer is its small size. The burden of extra paraphernalia tends to defeat this. Before preparing this review, I did not bother with using an external stylus. I normally carry a pencil or pen with me. Substituting a combination stylus and pencil, pen, or both for that pencil or pen could overcome the objection of an extra item.
The Autopoint Stylus+â 4-Way Cross Hatch Stylus is a stylish four way pen with stylus. This model has an all brushed metal (possibly aluminum) body. The grip is a coarse cross hatched grooved metal that reminds me of a file. It took about a day before it felt comfortable. Although it is a four way pen, the body is a relatively slim 3/8 inch. The same company makes other combination pens and styli including similar four way pens with different grips.
Photos are available at "www.autopointinc.com/autopoint/mulpen.html".
The standard stylus tip is a bright orange. This helps prevent accidentally using another tip on your screen. The full size stylus is more comfortable than a short stylus from the silo. It has a nice feel including weight and balance. Subjectively, drawn objects and letters seem more well formed with this stylus than the short stock stylus, but this may just be due to my focus on them for this review.
Like some four way pens, there is a slight rattle when all points are retracted. To avoid this, one can leave the stylus point selected when not in use. The rattle seems to be eliminated with the pencil selected.
Although this review is primarily focused on the stylus, the other tips may also be of interest. The pen has two buttons. The one on the top end is pressed to select a point when the pen is oriented with a corresponding mark facing upward. The other button on the pocket clip is pressed to retract a point.
The selection of tips can be customized at "www.stylusplus.com". The reviewed pen included a stylus, a pencil, and two ball point pen tips. Those pen tips contained black and red ink. Other color inks are available in ball point and highlighting style tips, none of which I have tried. Some dealers have this pen with a different configuration of tips.
The mechanical pencil uses standard .5 mm "leads". There is an eraser hidden under a cap on the top button. Unfortunately I can not recommend using the eraser. The pen seems to jam when I remove it. Once it jams it is a nuisance to repair. The eraser s very small and has poor support. Since I like to use a pencil his was a disadvantage. If I carry another pencil or eraser then in effect the stylus is an extra item to carry.
As I stated earlier, before preparing this review, I did not bother with using an external stylus. Now on many occasions I carry one. On many other occasions I choose to not carry one. Owning such a stylus gives one that option.
specifications:
four way combination stylus, pen, and pencil
length: 5 3/4 inches
width: 3/8 inch
weight: .9 oz
price: US$14.95 (23 Aug 2001)
pros: stylish, thin, 4 way, nice feel
cons: useless eraser, coarse grip, slight rattle
similar pens:
Autopoint Stylus+â
4-Way Original and 4-Way Wood (different bodies)
Styluscentral.com Foursome 4 Point (different points)
links:
Autopoint (www.autopointinc.com)
STYLUS+â (www.stylusplus.com)
other reviews:
www.the-gadgeteer.com/stylus-central-foursome-multi-pens-review.html
www.the-gadgeteer.com/stylusplus4way-review.html
www.geekvortex.f2s.com/reviews/stylus/f4p.html
www.spug.org/reviews/r4in1.html
www.spug.org/reviews/rautopoint.htm
ã 2001 George Rosenberg