I tested three pens, digital styluses, with the hopes to find one that would work like the rubber tipped styluses. Digital pen technology is lacking in a number of ways. First, there's the dearth of apps that work with the pens. Second, there's the cost- if you are going to pay $89.00-$159.00 you should be able to write anything anywhere! Third, there's the fact that each pen has to use the 30-pin port for the pen’s receiver. If you lose the receiver expect to pay about $45.00 for a replacement.
Another big limitation is the fact that each pen only works with specific software. Although the pens claim they work with other note-taking apps, the calibration is very frustrating.
Studio Pen $159.00 came through kickstarter- This is a simply designed pen. The problem is the top does not fit on the back of the pen, making it easy to lose. It's expesive to work with only one app- Studio Basic Lite. If you are patient and can wait for more apps to align with the pen then start with the one app, which works beautifully.
Apen- $129.00- Apen technology has been around for a while. The A5 pen is extremely limited with apps. It works best with Studio Basic Lite. This is a clean note taking application but personally I did not find it intuitive. This is a lot of money for a limited item.
iPen $89.00 also from kickstarter. This is the best digital pen of all. It claims to work with certain apps such as Noteshelf Notes Plus, iWriteWords, , Goodnotes, Doc As . The apps that work are Ghostwriter, Notebinder, Explain Everything,, Writepad.
Vicki Windman is a special education teacher at Clarkstown High School South.
