iPad & iPhone User - USA (2019-11)

A few pointers before we begin. First, as a rule of

thumb, if you’ve never found yourself thinking that

some iPad activity would be easier if you only had a

pen, you probably don’t need an Apple Pencil. Second,

there’s a whole range of cheap styluses you can use

with an iPad instead of an Apple Pencil for these tasks,

but keep in mind that they won’t have Apple’s pressure

technology or the Pencil’s sleek design. Many feel like

you’re writing with a stubby crayon.

Handwritten notes and drafts

Some of us are still nuts enough to write the occasional

first draft by hand – I’m one – and no other combination

of electronic devices really captures the experience of

writing with paper and pencil quite like the iPad and

Apple Pencil. Paper and ink still have the edge – even

with its admirable precision, the Apple Pencil still feels

a bit like a marker – but the Pencil and iPad nudge us a

Here’s a simple mind map I made for

this story with the 2018 iPad Pro

Afewpointersbeforewebegin.First,asaruleof
thumb,ifyou’veneverfoundyourselfthinkingthat
someiPadactivitywouldbeeasierifyouonlyhada
pen,youprobablydon’tneedanApplePencil.Second,
there’sawholerangeofcheapstylusesyoucanuse
withaniPadinsteadofanApplePencilforthesetasks,
butkeepinmindthattheywon’thaveApple’spressure
technologyorthePencil’ssleekdesign.Manyfeellike
you’rewritingwithastubbycrayon.

Handwrittennotesanddrafts
Someofusarestillnutsenoughtowritetheoccasional
firstdraftbyhand–I’mone–andnoothercombination
ofelectronicdevicesreallycapturestheexperienceof
writingwithpaperandpencilquiteliketheiPadand
ApplePencil.Paperandinkstillhavetheedge–even
withitsadmirableprecision,theApplePencilstillfeels
abitlikeamarker–butthePencilandiPadnudgeusa

Here’s a simple mind map I made for

this story with the 2018 iPad Pro