Do iPads Have Styluses?
- A stylus is a pencil-shaped instrument, typically made of plastic, that you use for tapping on the screen on a device such as an iPad. Styluses were a key part of the navigation for devices such as the Palm Pilot, which had an early version of a touch screen but required the stylus. A stylus often has a soft tip, making it more ideal to use than a pencil or pen, which can scratch the device's screen.
- One of the benefits to the touch screen on an iPad is it is large enough so that you don't need to use a stylus for precision navigation. Because it is made with the assumption that people will use their fingers for navigation, the buttons on the iPad are large enough to use successfully. One of the chief reasons smaller devices such as Palm Pilots required styluses was the small size of their on-screen buttons.
- You may use a stylus with your iPad simply because it feels more natural, which is likely to be the case if you've used a stylus with your electronic organizer for a lengthy period of time. If you have art applications on your iPad, such as those that allow you to "sketch" on the device, a stylus is preferable because it offers more precision than the tip of your finger.
- Computer accessory companies such as Griffin, Targus and Kensington all make styluses specifically for the iPad. Apple itself also offers styluses. These devices typically cost between $20 and $25, as of 2011, and are available in different shapes and sizes, making it easy to find one that is comfortable in your hand. These styluses share a similar size and weight to a pen or pencil, making them slightly larger than the styluses for Palm Pilots.
