I have a question for the community here: I have an older iPad Air 2 which fits my needs perfectly well as I use my MacBook Air for most of my work-related tasks. I’m an elementary school teacher and in Los Angeles we are delivering instruction remotely. As for distance learning, we will have the option of using either Zoom or Google Meets. I prefer Zoom and like its virtual whiteboard. I’d like to use my iPad to write on the virtual whiteboard as using a trackpad on the MacBook Air or even a mouse simply is too cumbersome. Are there digital pens that can be used with my older iPad, and will I be able to write effectively for students to take notes. Or do I need to upgrade to a newer model to get the benefits? I also looked at the Surface Go, but as a longtime Mac user, I prefer to stick with Apple.
The Air 2 is quite old by iPad standards. But if you are committed to keeping it, there are a few options that will work. The non-powered capacitive styli generally have a fat rubber or mesh tip. Not so good for use on a digital whiteboard.
There are others, like the Adonit Jot that have a fine tip with a clear disc. That's a bit better for finer control, but it is a bit disconcerting to use as it isn't natural to have that clear disc, and it is pretty noisy as the plastic taps on the screen.
There are powered bluetooth styli that have fine pointed tip. These work well, but they are usually only supported by some apps (they aren't universally supported by all apps on the iPad).
Last, there are powered capacitive styli. These are essentially like the rubber tipped styli in that they are recognized by any and all apps and usable wherever a finger tap/touch is recognized. But these have a traditional fine tipped point.
The Adonit Dash 3 is the one that I have and use... and it is extremely good given the limitations of the technology. I use it on my iPad Mini 4 (that doesn't support the Apple Pencil) and use it with documents that I share on my 6th gen iPad (that DOES support the Apple Pencil).
Powered capacitive styli don't support pressure sensitivity or palm rejection, but some note-taking apps have their own palm-rejection logic in them that really help. I am delighted that I can use the Adonit Dash 3 on my iPad Mini 4 for handwritten notes in a nearly identical way that I use the Apple Pencil on my 6th gen iPad.
With a simple click - dash 3 is ready to write sketch and highlight making it our quickest most intuitive stylus to date There's no need to connect to apps letting you capture inspiration when it strikes The improved 1 9mm tip creates a paper-like drag that's more precise and responsive than ever...
www.amazon.com
