I just got the new mini without a pencil. The pencil seems very cool but I can't imagine making practical use of it. It would be like a novelty for me. But I wonder if I'm missing out on something. What does everyone use it, how extensively and any other thoughts. Thanks.
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iPad Who uses the pencil and for what
- Thread starter gsusser
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I got a Mini 5 with a Pencil on launch a few weeks ago. It’s my first iPad with Pencil support. Having Pencil support means I can finally kind of retire my bulky, old Surface Pro 1 which had been my writing/drawing tablet until now.
I’ve been using my Pencil daily, primarily for Japanese writing practice, but a good amount for drawing and general note taking as well. Granted, I had a specific purpose for buying the Pencil, otherwise I might have passed on it. $100 would be a lot for a novelty purchase.
It’s nice, although I don’t like the slippery, round design of the Pencil 1 nearly as much as the matte Pencil 2 with a flat edge.
I’ve been using my Pencil daily, primarily for Japanese writing practice, but a good amount for drawing and general note taking as well. Granted, I had a specific purpose for buying the Pencil, otherwise I might have passed on it. $100 would be a lot for a novelty purchase.
It’s nice, although I don’t like the slippery, round design of the Pencil 1 nearly as much as the matte Pencil 2 with a flat edge.
Try getting into drawing. Then you’ll have a reason to buy it.
I use mine for my digital planner, and for writing lists and notes on my iPP. I am certainly in the camp that could likely live without it - don’t use it daily or anything - but when I want to use it, I’m glad I have it.
If I drew anything other than stick figures, I’m sure I could do way more with it. ;-p
If I drew anything other than stick figures, I’m sure I could do way more with it. ;-p
Going paperless. Here's an example of what I did.
I was performing a dialysis treatment several days ago and was playing with my iPad. Got a phone call about my house insurance and decided to switch to auto wihdrawal from a chequing account. I had them send me a PDF consent form via email. Received it, signed the PDF with the pencil and re emailed my insurance adjustment form back. All done while receiving medical treatment.
Period - If you write at all for any reason, I'd buy the pencil. I literally have not used pen/paper at my house since December, 2018.
I don't draw at all, am not interested in drawing - but I am interested in decluttering.
It's also used as an extension of your hands/fingers to tap on the screen.
Tom
I was performing a dialysis treatment several days ago and was playing with my iPad. Got a phone call about my house insurance and decided to switch to auto wihdrawal from a chequing account. I had them send me a PDF consent form via email. Received it, signed the PDF with the pencil and re emailed my insurance adjustment form back. All done while receiving medical treatment.
Period - If you write at all for any reason, I'd buy the pencil. I literally have not used pen/paper at my house since December, 2018.
I don't draw at all, am not interested in drawing - but I am interested in decluttering.
It's also used as an extension of your hands/fingers to tap on the screen.
Tom
I use the Apple Pencil with my 2018 iPad (and Mini 5 when I get one) primarily for taking notes. My 2018 iPad has replaced all of my paper planners, project notebooks, and journals. For long text entry, I'll type, but for quick notes, diagramming, or want better memory retention of something, I'll use the Pencil.
I like that I can search my digital notebooks and find text that was typed or handwritten. This is very handy. At the end of a project, I save the digital notebook to .pdf and store it for the historical record.
I do occasional sketching and that is enjoyable with the Pencil.
It's interesting. Before getting the Pencil, I was content with occasionally using a powered capacitive stylus but never relied on them day-to-day. Since getting the Pencil, it has been an invaluable tool so much so that I've lost interest in any other tablet or 2-in-1 that doesn't provide a similar stylus experience.
The only downside is the Pencil isn’t always in reach for sudden, spontaneous note taking.
I know there probably isn’t a lot of unused space internally in the iPad lineup, particularly the Mini, but it would have been really interesting if there were a small stylus that was stored and charged within the iPad itself, akin to the Galaxy Note.
I know there are cases that have a Pencil slot, and the Pencil 2 attaches magnetically, but neither of those options seem a fraction as neat-and-tidy as having a stylus sitting flush within the tablet frame itself.
I know there probably isn’t a lot of unused space internally in the iPad lineup, particularly the Mini, but it would have been really interesting if there were a small stylus that was stored and charged within the iPad itself, akin to the Galaxy Note.
I know there are cases that have a Pencil slot, and the Pencil 2 attaches magnetically, but neither of those options seem a fraction as neat-and-tidy as having a stylus sitting flush within the tablet frame itself.
I use it for different stages of art (painting, sketching, etc) as well as quick note taking.
Just a reminder to all, it's okay if there's a tool, or piece of tech that's just not for you. I mean, I drool over the iMac Pro and Mac Pros, but they're definitely something I really wouldn't take advantage of.
Just a reminder to all, it's okay if there's a tool, or piece of tech that's just not for you. I mean, I drool over the iMac Pro and Mac Pros, but they're definitely something I really wouldn't take advantage of.
I use the Pencil for taking notes (Notes app or GoodNotes app), for annotation of PDF files (highlighting, taking notes etc) and a bit of coloring in ProCreate.
Most of my brainstorming sessions at work include some sketching, doodling or just writing it down stuff and I use the 2018 iPad with Pencil for this. This way I can have all of my scribbles in one device and can easily access them. Going through lots of papers to find something is quite the hassle. I definitely saved time the moment I started using the pencil when it comes to this.
Most of my brainstorming sessions at work include some sketching, doodling or just writing it down stuff and I use the 2018 iPad with Pencil for this. This way I can have all of my scribbles in one device and can easily access them. Going through lots of papers to find something is quite the hassle. I definitely saved time the moment I started using the pencil when it comes to this.
I use it for colouring on my iPad Pro. Just ordered an iPad mini 5 for pick up on Monday and I’ll use it to colour on there too.
Drawing, pdf mark up, note taking, coloring.
Very useful and fun. My favorite Apple product launched in the last few years.
Very useful and fun. My favorite Apple product launched in the last few years.
I use my iPad Pro and pencil for school. Since I’m completely online it’s been incredible. I can have the videos play in the corner while I’m taking notes in the notes app. I keep all my notes in one place and color code them too. Just this week I was waiting at the airport for boarding and was able to get through three lessons before boarding and start homework on the plane. It was easier to transport than a laptop and notebook and textbook.
I wish tablets had been around when I did my first degree and masters. It would have been so easy to carry around and read all the scientific journals I had to read and annotating and making highlights in them. It would have made life so much easier.
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I use a screen protector on my ipads but I can see how using the pencil would make things cleaner.
I wish Apple installed iPad screen protectors. I haven’t found a good one yet, that came with a guide and didn’t produce bubbles.
I went back and forth between this combo and a laptop and absolutely love this setup. The only thing I don’t do is tests on it. There are too many gestures that could accidentally get me locked out of the test to risk it. I use my Mac mini for that.
The next time you're in a position to apply another screen protector, I recommend giving iCarez brand a try. I could never apply a protector without getting bubble or dust, but I've had 100% perfect applications with the iCarez protectors I've applied to my Mini 4, 2018 iPad, 12.9 iPad Pro, and Google Pixelbook.
I use the JETech glass screen protectors on all my stuff. They are easy to apply.
I was using iPad Mini 2 for 4 years and that was the best form factor for me.
I bought the Adonit Switch, and use this with the Goodnotes app to take notes. But that was not enough for me.
And this year I bought the iPad 6th gen 2018 with the Apple Pencil, this is the best experience in taking notes for me. But not the fan of big form factor.
If I can turn back time, I would wait a bit longer to buy the new iPad Mini.
For now i would say that it's worth it to buy the Apple Pencil as well, and don't forget to buy case for the Apple Pencil
I bought the Adonit Switch, and use this with the Goodnotes app to take notes. But that was not enough for me.
And this year I bought the iPad 6th gen 2018 with the Apple Pencil, this is the best experience in taking notes for me. But not the fan of big form factor.
If I can turn back time, I would wait a bit longer to buy the new iPad Mini.
For now i would say that it's worth it to buy the Apple Pencil as well, and don't forget to buy case for the Apple Pencil
I use my pencil for writing on pdfs, handwritten notes, drawing and practicing my second language.
I love the pencil! It's what I had been waiting years for as I could never get on with any other stylus (I bought, tried and gave away a few). I love the precision and lack of lag (at least to my eyes and those of people I let have a go of my pencil). I'm not aware of the tapping on glass noise when I'm writing as I don't write aggressively, but sometimes when I playback a note in Notability with an audio recording, I can hear the tapping noise and am quite surprised.
Just opening the Notes app and doing some writing and doodling and erasing and messing around can be very therapeutic. Putting the pencil on an angle and 'shading' and seeing it actually look like the real thing on screen, can be a real pleasure. Running the highlighters over each other and seeing the colours blend like real life is incredible. You can make a mess, experiment with oil paints and acrylics, even finger paint and smudge everything in Procreate, and your hands don't get dirty. You can save a fortune on art supplies as you discover whether you're really cut out for oils/ pastels/water colours etc. It's also much quicker as you don't have to wait for the layers to dry. It brings a more level playing field to art. People who couldn't produce anything on an actual canvas before are given the confidence to try anything, mix media, learn and improve. Time lapse videos of your creations are fascinating to watch.
Your piles of notes can be stored neatly in the ether (poetic licence rather than a technical term). You can write in the margins, highlight, put sticky notes on them and then magically erase them back to a clean document if you want too.
Your pencil lets you doodle all over important documents in meetings and then erase them before any damage is done...
The pencil is amazing!
I love the pencil! It's what I had been waiting years for as I could never get on with any other stylus (I bought, tried and gave away a few). I love the precision and lack of lag (at least to my eyes and those of people I let have a go of my pencil). I'm not aware of the tapping on glass noise when I'm writing as I don't write aggressively, but sometimes when I playback a note in Notability with an audio recording, I can hear the tapping noise and am quite surprised.
Just opening the Notes app and doing some writing and doodling and erasing and messing around can be very therapeutic. Putting the pencil on an angle and 'shading' and seeing it actually look like the real thing on screen, can be a real pleasure. Running the highlighters over each other and seeing the colours blend like real life is incredible. You can make a mess, experiment with oil paints and acrylics, even finger paint and smudge everything in Procreate, and your hands don't get dirty. You can save a fortune on art supplies as you discover whether you're really cut out for oils/ pastels/water colours etc. It's also much quicker as you don't have to wait for the layers to dry. It brings a more level playing field to art. People who couldn't produce anything on an actual canvas before are given the confidence to try anything, mix media, learn and improve. Time lapse videos of your creations are fascinating to watch.
Your piles of notes can be stored neatly in the ether (poetic licence rather than a technical term). You can write in the margins, highlight, put sticky notes on them and then magically erase them back to a clean document if you want too.
Your pencil lets you doodle all over important documents in meetings and then erase them before any damage is done...
The pencil is amazing!