[Wickk]

I really agreed with a lot of this article (but not all) but really couldn't get past the juvenile way in which it was written the entire time I was reading.

I dont't personally understand everyone's need for a stylus. I hear this complaint from time to time, and with how intuitive apple's keyboard is on the iPhone/iPad ( really its the only one I can remotely stand. And yes it's far from perfect) I just don't see much of a need. If I was taking handwritten notes in class id be carrying around a notebook.

[justjimmy]

>If I was taking handwritten notes in class id be carrying around a notebook.

If I wanted to deal with a bunch of loose notes, flipping pages finding what I want, unable to categorize them w/o ripping them out or have a notebook for each project/subject, I'd be carrying around (a) notebook(s).

Stylus will give me the freedom to quickly sketch, make notes, mail/print them on the fly without scanning, make edits, project it on monitors and screens, etc etc. TBH, it's probably more handy for designers than developers in this regard.

Unfortunately there isn't a stylus that's precise and responsive enough for what most people want…the only product that comes close I've seen is iPen, http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ipen/ipen-the-first-acti... unfortunately it is becoming quite a circus due to delays, refunds and complaints.

O well…

[jamesgeck0]

I find that writing with a pen feels more natural and is easier on my hands than using a tablet keyboard (or after spending all day programming, a keyboard, period).

It'd also be nice if I could search my handwritten notes without having to rip them out of a notebook and scan them in and run OCR software.

[bitwize]

Styli are for more than just OneNote, you know.

The difference between doing digital art on a real tablet (of the Wacom kind) with a stylus and doing digital art on an iPad is precisely the difference between drawing with honest-to-God pencils and fingerpainting.

[huggyface]

I don't personally understand everyone's need for a stylus.

I don't understand why it needs to be everyone. How about some people want a stylus, some people don't? (Which is why, for instance, Samsung has a tablet with a stylus, and a tablet without. They have a smartphone with a stylus, and a smartphone without. They didn't go all in on the stylus).

I can certainly see value for me, especially if it's pressure sensitive. Outside of obvious painting and drawing apps, even for something where you need to interact with small objects on the screen, using a big finger, obscuring the entire area you're trying to interact with with a meat sausage is suboptimal. Substituting a little appendage can be very useful.

But it isn't for everyone. Which is why I don't get the utter fearsome defensiveness about the stylus that many in the Apple camp seem to resort to (e.g. Gruber): It isn't for them, and that's great, but trying to mock others who might want it? That's just weird.

[Wickk]

It was a poor choice of words on my part, what I meant was; Everyone who does want one. I can understand under an artist viewpoint ( Ideally I would really like apps in the area to improve ) but you can easily get that in a touchscreen laptop. This just from my own personal use of my tablet but from most things I can see where I could care to use one I just ibstinctevely reach for my laptop.

Not trying to start a debate on stylus use, I'm sure those who use them with a tablet very good reasons for doing so. In my own personal life and opinion, I just don't see the need.

[mmahemoff]

Yeah I can see the value for niche uses/users, but the manufacturers are getting a bit too optimistic when they present it as a must-have killer feature.

Like the Note's Superbowl ad, where really the only noticeable difference (from a mainstream consumer's perspective) is the stylus. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V40oo4kkzHg

[huggyface]

Like the Note's Superbowl ad, where really the only noticeable difference (from a mainstream consumer's perspective) is the stylus.

It was a pitch for a specific product and thus highlighted the attributes of that product. If Samsung is presenting it as a must-have killer feature, why do so many of their products actually lack a stylus?

I also don't care if a vehicle can parallel park itself, yet if a manufacturer makes a model with that feature they're naturally going to highlight it.

[mmahemoff]

It just seems too niche for a Superbowl ad and the whole presentation of the ad makes it apparent the manufacturers believe they've revolutionised the tablet space with, behold...the stylus. Setting themselves up for disappointment.

[huggyface]

They've sold 2 million of them, and all reports are that they've seen great sales: I doubt they're disappointed. And while it is indeed a niche, but a very lucrative one. Further Samsung had no other new releases around the time of the Superbowl -- had the GS III been ready, I have no doubt they would have led with that.

It's a feature of a product. A feature that appeals to some, turns off others. That's how the whole choice thing works.

[mikeash]

People who want a stylus can buy one from a third party. Why does Apple have to provide it?

[aneth]

I don't understand the debate about the stylus. You can buy many models of styli for the iPad. The fact that the thing doesn't ship with a $5 peripheral is hardly a detriment. In fact, it's an advantage - you get to pick your style of stylus - and they are cheap to replace. I bought one for $5 that goes on my keychain - if Apple made that it would be $30.

So, tell me again why there is any debate about why there is no stylus? Because there isn't a form-fitted hole for a proprietary styles? Because apps aren't designed for styli (the ones that need them are)?

[dunham]

They don't really want "a stylus". They say they want one, but as you pointed out, there are dozens of options out there for $5 and up.

What they're really pining for is "a stylus that doesn't suck". Or rather, the experience of pen on paper using an iPad. Apple hasn't figured out how to do this well, so they haven't done it yet.