Thoughts on the Apple Pencil?

[HarryT]

What do people think about the Apple Pencil? I was looking at it last night in my local (-ish) Apple Store. I'm quite tempted by it. Anyone have one?

[JSWolf]

It's not really a pencil. It's a stylus.

[HarryT]

Jon, you really are a very annoying person. "Apple Pencil" is the name of the product.

[jswinden]

LOL, yep penguins can be annoying at times, at least around here!

Harry, I've got the Apple Pencil. I like it a lot. It gives me a lot of control. I've never owned a Wacom tablet and that kind of stylus before, or anything like those, so I cannot compare to them. But I can draw really well with it. I can get minute selection with it. I think it was well worth the $100 I paid. Oh, and it is very good for editing documents.

It does need to be charged each day, but that literally takes 5 minutes or so. Even just plugging it into the lightning port on the iPad will charge it quickly, though I bought an external charging port for mine.

Here is a self portrait I drew with it. I'm not that artistic, but it is a pleasure to use this stylus.

.....

[HarryT]

Thanks, Jack. I think I'll wait and see how my eBay auction turns out, and if I don't make too much of a loss on the new iPad Pro, this will be my next purchase, I think.

[Deskisamess]

I have the Pencil for my iPad Pro 12.9". I've been playing with some of the sketching apps, and I really like it for online crossword puzzles. I send the puzzle to Notability and then use the pencil to solve them. Same for Sudoko etc. It's great that you can rest your hand on the screen and the iPad knows to ignore that touch.

It's a nice stylus too.

I'm not very good with the artistic side, but hope to improve.

[DaleDe]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Jon, you really are a very annoying person. "Apple Pencil" is the name of the product.

The term pencil refers to the experience that that user can expect. The new Sony pen has two different tips available. One provides a pencil experience and the other feels more like a pen.

Dale

[tomsem]

I've used a variety of Bluetooth styluses on my iPad Air 2. These only work optimally with apps that specifically integrate with each vendor's SDK, and the features available (pressure sensitivity, button support, palm rejection, etc) vary from stylus to stylus and from app to app. It's a mess.

Having pen support in the OS was the obvious thing for Apple to do to improve this, and I'm looking forward to getting an iPad Pro and Apple Pencil. Ideally, however, they will some day open things up for third party hardware, including devices with extended function buttons. 'One size' doesn't fit all hands and requirements.

[pwalker8]

Originally Posted by HarryT

What do people think about the Apple Pencil? I was looking at it last night in my local (-ish) Apple Store. I'm quite tempted by it. Anyone have one?

I've got one and like it, but I really don't use it that often. It really depends on what you use it for and what you expect from it. I don't really draw that much, so it doesn't do a lot for me.

[jswinden]

One thing I like to use my Apple Pencil for is to make handwritten notes and add little drawings to Notes in the Note app.

[Keslynn]

I don't draw and only sometimes color (in those coloring book apps). I love the Apple Pencil though. Best stylus I've ever used, and it just plain feels nice in your hand. I wish I could use it on my iPad Mini too.

Nice drawing, Jack! I wish I had some skill beyond stick figures.

[kyteflyer]

I wouldnt hesitate to get one if I had a Pro. As it is, I use an Adonit Jot and its OK, but palm rejection depends on software, not the devices, and thats a bit hit and miss. I just use it for fine work in Adobe Photoshop Fix. An Apple Pencil and a Pro would be much more useful, generally.

[Bookworm_Girl]

Originally Posted by jswinden

One thing I like to use my Apple Pencil for is to make handwritten notes and add little drawings to Notes in the Note app.

I'm looking forward to these new features.

iOS 11 Update For Apple Pencil
The functionality of the Apple Pencil will be improved as part of the iOS 11 update. For example, the Notes app will support searchable handwriting, inline drawing. And tapping on the Lock Screen with the Apple Pencil will open up your most recently opened note.

[macaddicted]

I bought one with my original iPad Pro. I've tried about every stylus there is: adonit, Wacom, cosmonaut, pencil by 53 and about every generic there is. I love the Apple Pencil. The lag time for writing is better than all the battery operated competitors, the palm rejection is much better, and the charge time is much, much better. I prefer the length to any stylus, battery or not, I've used

[The Old Man]

Originally Posted by HarryT

What do people think about the Apple Pencil? I was looking at it last night in my local (-ish) Apple Store. I'm quite tempted by it. Anyone have one?

I bought one with the 12" Pro. I rarely use it. It would be great for drawing, which I do not do, perhaps note taking, but I prefer the keyboard.