“Someone tell me it does more than scribble notes and draw pictures”
It’s a pencil for your iPad, not exactly sure what else you expected it to do?
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Apple Pencil, what's the point?
- Thread starter lambertjohn
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
“Someone tell me it does more than scribble notes and draw pictures”
It’s a pencil for your iPad, not exactly sure what else you expected it to do?
I can.
The Apple Pencil is what convinced me that I need an iPad. Drawing, writing, note-taking, pdf mark up.
OP, as many others have said, if you do not have a use for the pencil return it.
If you are an artist or designer, I can understand the value of an Apple Pencil. I am neither. So, the pencil seems like a pretty significant expense at over $100 for something I won’t frequently use. Also, I have been reading about the pencil scratching up iPad screens, so you need to buy and install a screen protector. More $ out of pocket. Then, there is the issue of battery failure if the pencil is not charged regularly. Which I might fail to do if I am not using the pencil often.
Bottom-line: I don’t think it is right for me. YMMV.
Bottom-line: I don’t think it is right for me. YMMV.
Hell, In my case it's the pencil that made the iPad Pro itself worthwhile. Without it an old base model iPad would have been more than enough along with a traditional desktop/notebook with expensive wacom tablet.
I have a new iPP and an unopened Pencil. I asked on here about it scratching the screen and was told that it isn’t an issue ...
For everyone I know and for my wife and I it isn’t. Now if you’re putting all your weight on it and breaking the tip - sure. But it is plastic. My wife has used hers almost daily for school for a year. No problems. I’ve seen iPads that have had years of pencil use - no scratches.
Good to know. I have read some posts about the pencil picking up dirt or grit and then scratching the screen. If the the screen and tip are kept clean, it might not be a problem.
I use mine for adult colouring in. I've had it for almost 2 years and never used it for note taking, only colouring. Then a few weeks ago I needed to sign a new contract for my new job and I was able to use my Apple pencil. So you never know when you might need it.
[doublepost=1557027579][/doublepost]
[doublepost=1557027579][/doublepost]
I don't use my pencil that often and sometimes I don't charge it for weeks. It still works perfectly. I've had it for 2 years.
Getting an Apple Pencil with my new iPad significantly extended my use of the tablet. Before that, my use of the iPad would be mostly passive - read, watch, look, that sort of thing. Now that I have the Pencil, I use it all the time for note-taking, sketching, brainstorming, document annotation and so on. Recently also for adult colouring. The Pencil is a must. You can do so much more with it, than without.
As the great SJ once said, why would you ever need a stylus, you have 5 of them on your hand already.
That may apply for navigating a device such as the iPhone (as opposed to earlier PDAs with styluses), and to navigation overall, but not to the kind of work you'd expect to do on the iPad (write, draw, photo editing...)...
And that is still true, the pencil is not really a stylus.
A stylus was designed to be a substitute for fingers typically for interaction with the UI. Think Palm Pilots circa 2000. The hardware and software were both much different then.So what is the difference ?
The use case--for most people--for the Apple Pencil is much different.
So what is the difference ?
A stylus is used mainly for UI navigation and basic writing, Mainly back when resistive touch screens were a thing and a finger couldn't do the job.
The Pencil is a creative tool that turns the iPad into wacom style tablet. A finger will never offer the artistic control the pressure and tilt sensitive pencil has, A finger does complement it though with the ability to draw with the pencil and smudge/blend with a finger much like working with some physical media.
When jobs made his comment he was clearly referencing PDA like devices and not creative tools. He was right and still is, There was no need for the stylus with the introduction of capacitive screens.
I’ll have to give you that one. As it happens, I have a Pencil waiting to be opened to use with my 11” iPP. I’ll get round to it sometime.
I'll admit to not being a heavy user of the pencil, but I do love it for my digital planning, doing Bible study on my iPad, writing notes, etc. I probably don't pick it up but once every 2-3 days, but when I do, it's perfect for the job!
