Hack51.Find a Better Stylus

Hack 51. Find a Better Stylus

The stylus is the most important accessory for your Palm device. It is important to choose the right one.

Choosing between a metal and plastic stylus is not a hack. If you are looking for a simple replacement stylus, this is not the right place to look. A hacker's stylus is multi-functional. It is a PDA stylus, but it is also a flashlight, multi-tool, voice recorder, or laser-powered death ray.

Many of these styluses can be found at different locations. The web sites listed here are not the only sources for themyour local electronics store may have many of the more common ones.

8.3.1. Laser Pointer

The Laser Pointer (http://www.thinkgeek.com; search for stylus) is a combination laser pointer, stylus, and ballpoint pen.

8.3.2. Cross MicroPen

The Cross MicroPen (http://www.stylisource.com) is a true replacement stylus that fits in the stylus slot in most Palm devices. It combines a stylus with a ballpoint pen.

8.3.3. Lighted Stylus

The PDA Light Stylus (http://www.stylisource.com) has a small LED in the tip so that you can use the stylus in the dark.

8.3.4. Comfort Stylus

The Comfort Stylus (http://www.stylisource.com) can wrap around your finger so that your finger itself becomes the stylus, as you can see in Figure 8-1.

Figure 8-1. Comfort Stylus, twisted and straight

8.3.5. Voice Recorder

The Voice Recorder (http://www.styluscentral.com) is a combination stylus and 45-second voice recorder. This is an alternative to recording voice memos on your Palm device [Hack #26].

8.3.6. acura Stylus Tool

The acura Stylus Tool (http://www.styluscentral.com) is a true multifunction stylus. The stylus includes a small knife blade and scissors.

8.3.7. Infiniter XP Stylus Duo

The Infiniter XP Stylus Duo (http://www.styluscentral.com) combines a pen, stylus, laser pointer, and LED torch.

8.3.8. Swiss Army Pen/Stylus

The Swiss Army Pen/Stylus (http://www.styluscentral.com), seen in Figure 8-2, combines multiple tools into one, as you would expect from the name. This tool combines a stylus, Fisher Space Pen cartridge, scissors, small knife blade, file, screwdriver, and LED minilight.

Figure 8-2. Swiss Army Pen

8.3.9. S+ Nitespot

The Nitespot (http://www.stylusplus.com) is an illuminated stylus. Instead of having an illuminated tip like most other choices, however, the Nitespot has an illuminated body.

There are other styluses available, but these are some of the more interesting ones. New products come out constantlyyou can check the referenced web sites to see what's current. Other good sites for reviews include Brighthand (http://www.brighthand.com) and The Gadgeteer (http://www.the-gadgeteer.com).