Microsoft Surface Pro 6 - stylus

Ben6899

So if it doesn't need lubing or you don't get dirty hands when fixing it, then I have no clue.

I've just bought a Microsoft Surface Pro 6 and I want a stylus so I can use the tablet for taking notes, drawing up ideas in meetings etc.

The Microsoft Surface Pen costs around £70/80. There are alternatives for around £40.

Are all styluses (plural of stylus, anyone) equal (I'm guessing not) and are all compatible? Do they have batteries, need charging through USB? Do they connect via Bluetooth?

Any information, advice or tips greatly appreciated and I promise not to go all aggro, if someone suggests fabricating a clever solution out of sheet aluminium. ;-)

ddraver

I think you'd lose a lot of the following functionality of the stylus with an off brand one.

That said. I bought one and hardly ever use it. If you don't need it for a specific task you have in mind then I wouldn't bother.

FYI. The text to type thing never works for me

Ben6899

Oh I'd definitely use it - key driver for going for the Surface rather than another laptop.

ddraver

Then I'd say go for the full Microsoft Experience

It's very cool, I just don't have the sort of talent or job type to use it. I tried a demo of Illustrator in pen mode and it's very cool.

Ben6899

ddraver wrote:

Then I'd say go for the full Microsoft Experience

It's very cool, I just don't have the sort of talent or job type to use it. I tried a demo of Illustrator in pen mode and it's very cool.

Thanks for the advice. :-)

mamil314

Surface Pens are active so take a battery. There are, also, an older and newer Surface Pens, get the newer one for full advertised functionality.

Ben6899

mamil314 wrote:

Surface Pens are active so take a battery. There are, also, an older and newer Surface Pens, get the newer one for full advertised functionality.

Thank you! Is there a way of knowing whether I'm buying an old or new one? For example, online, they are simply labeled "Surface Pen".

mamil314

I think the older pen had a clip

navrig2

I had the SFPro4. The stylus stuck to the screen side via a magnet. Always fell off in my bag.

Make sure you will use it as I found it hard to make it work as a functional work tool. It took an AAAA battery.

ddraver

Slightly late now, but I'm pretty sure the 'old' ones are gone now.

You could buy the new ones in several pwetty colours, wheras the old one was just 1

This is the new one - https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/p/surfa ... verviewtab

It also comes with a selection of points to replicate different pencil types - which I v e never noticed any difference with but...I'm not an artist

Ben6899

I should have updated this thread - hypocritical of me because I always complain when "Workshop" threads remain open.

I bought a Microsoft one in the end - the proper Surface Pen. Very happy with it!

Looking for a protective case/sleeve that doesn't make me look like the 1980s Insurance Man.