Tablet computers such as the iPad have been a nifty tool to use, for a number of reasons. In particular, digital artists have enjoyed sketching and painting on tablets for quite some time. Thanks to the wide propagation of the iPad, more and more artists have a new toy to play with. However, while finger-painting may seem fun and work fine for some artists, others—like myself—still prefer using a more traditional drawing utensil: the stylus.
There have been several styli released thus far for the iPad. The first to deliver a capacitive stylus that worked with the iOS touch-screen was the Pogo Stylus by Ten One Design. However, it has received a mixed reception from consumers. During my own search for an iPad stylus, I personally found it to be a little too thin and cheap-feeling, and gave it a pass in favor of the Boxwave Stylus, of which I now have three.
Introducing the Pogo Sketch Pro.
To my delight, Ten One Design has stepped up their game by launching the Pogo Sketch Pro. Rather than the cheap-looking skinny design of the Pogo, the new design has a rather sexy unibody aluminum handle, complemented with a rubberized grip. Overall, it has an almost paintbrush-styled profile, which undoubtedly will give it a much more natural feel to artists over other current styli.
The one feature that really caught my eye, though, was the interchangeable stylus tips. My main issue with current iPad styli (including my Boxwaves) is the fact that they usually have a large rounded tip that is “mushy”, somewhere between soft rubber and firm foam. While it’s better than a fingertip, I’ve been desiring something more precise with less give. The Pogo Sketch Pro promises to deliver, with “Pro Tip technology” that has patterned structures in the tip itself, which we’re told yields greater sensitivity and smaller tip diameters for better precision than competing styli.
At a price of $24.95, the tool may seem a little on the high side, considering it appears to be little more than shaped metal and rubber. However, with replaceable tips available starting in October, it’s geared to be a professional art tool that will offer service over several years. And at that point, I consider it an investment. Therefore, I highly suggest anyone serious about using their iPad as an art tool to give the Pogo Sketch Pro a look.
Exploded view of the Pogo Sketch Pro shows the body, rubber grip, and two different tips.
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