Even though the whole philosophy of the iPad (and Android tablets) is that you use your finger as the stylus — because your finger is more intuitive tasks — like pointing and tapping, it doesn’t mean there’s no room for a stylus on tablets. So if you’re going to have a stylus, why not have a stylus that’s also a laser pointer and a pen?
The most obvious uses for a stylus are for sketching and writing apps, but there are games and other apps where you want slightly more control than your finger can give. What I mean is, depending on the size of your finger and how much surface area comes into contact with your iPad, the stylus can actually give you a smaller, more precise point in which to tap stuff. For example, I love playing hidden object games on the iPad and I’ve found that using the stylus, I have to tap less (and my finger isn’t in the way) when I’m hitting objects.
While you could easily just pay $US10-20 for an iPad stylus by itself, this Griffin stylus comes with a laser pointer and a pen built-in. The laser pointer is on the back, and the pen is hidden in the middle, so you can substitute the stylus with a pen when the need arises. Like I said, I love playing hidden object games, so when the wife and I play together on the TV, one of us can use the laser pointer to point out to the other where they should click.
The only concern — and it’s actually a constant one — is that the stylus is on one end, and the laser pointer is on the other. I’m always worried that I’m going to accidentally press the laser pointer button while I’m stylusing and shoot myself in the eye. Luckily it’s a red laser and not one of those more powerful green lasers, but it will still damage to your vision if you do it often. I wish there was a cap for the laser end for when it’s not in use.
Obviously you can get a pen, a laser pointer and a stylus separately for less than $US50, but having all three in one device is handy.
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