Astropad Launches Updated Rock Paper Pencil Kit for Realistic Writing Experience on iPad

[MacRumors]

Astropad is launching a new version of the Rock Paper Pencil kit that it came out with last summer, bringing some notable improvements that will allow for a better paper-like writing experience on the iPad.

Rock Paper Pencil combines a screen protector and a unique Apple Pencil tip so that writing on the iPad feels like writing on a piece of paper. The new version of Rock Paper Pencil has a NanoCling Screen Protector that attaches to an iPad using static cling rather than a magnetic edge like the prior version.

Astropad says that NanoCling is stronger than magnets, and it provides a thinner bezel and a flatter surface on the iPad. The NanoCling Screen Protector is 40 percent thinner than the magnetic version, so there are no gaps or ridges to contend with. The screen protector continues to be easily removable and reusable so you can take it off when you're not writing, and it is not adhesive so it leaves no residue.

The Pencil tip has also been redesigned to withstand heavy daily use. It has a wear-resistant copper alloy core and palladium coating, and it is able to hold up to more pressure. The Pencil tip has been slimmed down too, so it's equivalent to a standard 0.7mm ballpoint pen. The Rock Paper Pencil ships with two of the pencil tips and a protective storage sleeve for the screen protector.

Rock Paper Pencil can be purchased from the Astropad website for $40. It is compatible with the 11-inch iPad Pro and iPad Air, the third-generation 12.9-inch iPad Pro and later, the seventh-generation 10.2-inch iPad and later, the 10.9-inch iPad, and the sixth-generation iPad mini.

Article Link: Astropad Launches Updated Rock Paper Pencil Kit for Realistic Writing Experience on iPad

 

[LeeW]

Maybe it's just me, but I have found the best experience is the Apple Pencil and no screen cover at all. Every cover I have used that claims better writing experience doesn't seem to be as good as just going naked.

 

[CraigJDuffy]

Maybe it's just me, but I have found the best experience is the Apple Pencil and no screen cover at all. Every cover I have used that claims better writing experience doesn't seem to be as good as just going naked.

Nah, it’s wayyyy too slippery.

 

[LeeW]

Nah, it’s wayyyy too slippery.

I don't find that. I tried a few and always found it worse. I used nothing and took out AC+ on it just in case I drop it (again), but I'm happy to do without it.

Of course, maybe I just tried the wrong ones.

 

[JanoschR]

Bought v1 in December and now I feel like an idiot 😑

 

[vegetassj4]

Bomb still wins though

🪨🗞️✂️✏️💣

 

[GermanSuplex]

No clue how it works, I don't do this kind of productivity, but the branding is clever as hell.

 

[bierdybard]

I wonder how this compares to the Paperlike screen cover. I like it, but not having to have a cover on 100% of the time would be really awesome.

Folks that have used this — do you have issues with dust under the screen cover when you’re using it?

 

[Putzi360]

Skimming over the first comments, I wasn’t sure anymore what the conversation was about.
Naked, slippery, do without, tried the wrong ones.

I prefer using my iPad with the ‚final protection‘. Keeps us save since we came together in 2017.

 

[sw1tcher]

Bomb still wins though

🪨🗞️✂️✏️💣

🪨
🗞️
✂️
🦎
🖖

 

[m.x]

Interesting timing... the new iPad (Pro) will be revealed soon, why didn't they wait a bit longer?

 

[coolfactor]

Absolutely brilliant name!

 

[jlc1978]

Bought v1 in December and now I feel like an idiot 😑

I did as well and like it. have you emailed them? i'v found them to be customer friendly.

 

[coolfactor]

I've never been able to hold a pencil or pen between my index finger and thumb like most people do. I always default to the second finger in, but find that extensive writing leads to fatigue. Thank goodness for keyboards! I'm a super-fast blind typer! haha

 

[coolfactor]

Bought v1 in December and now I feel like an idiot 😑

Bah! Life is too short to feel that way. Have you gotten good use out of it? Then money well spent! Keep using it, or upgrade if you have the budget. Can you sell your current one?

 

[I_Sheep]

Bought v1 in December and now I feel like an idiot 😑

Ha same here.

 

[victorvictoria]

Astropad is trying to emulate writing on a piece of paper with a pen(cil)? Why not just use the real thing? Or learn to type. Doesn't everyone type with their thumbs at least?

 

[DaveCummings]

Astropad is trying to emulate writing on a piece of paper with a pen(cil)? Why not just use the real thing? Or learn to type. Doesn't everyone type with their thumbs at least?

A lot of artists want the pencil on paper feel as it allows for more control of the line and ultimately less strain on the wrists. It's why I love the etched glass surface of Wacon tablets, especially coupled with their felt nibs. THAT's what I'd love to see on the next iPads. I don't care about OLED displays, I want displays that have a bit of texture to them, and pencil tips that creates some friction to the tip

 

[Sevendaymelee]

Man uses pencil and paper. Man gets rid of pencil and paper in favor of digital screen and digital pencil, then spends eternity trying to make them feel like original pencil and paper.

Sigh.

 

[DaveCummings]

Man uses pencil and paper. Man gets rid of pencil and paper in favor of digital screen and digital pencil, then spends eternity trying to make them feel like original pencil and paper.

Sigh.

If you don't use the pencil heavily, you don't understand. The apple pencil tip slipping around on glass takes away some of the line control and after awhile, you feel the strain in your hand, in your wrists. You need that friction that a paper like surface provides. Just as I think that something the Apple Pencil and iPad needs that I see in other tablets is the ability to adjust the pressure curve. You only see it locally in apps like Procreate, but I think it's needed, because that's another thing that creates strain. I'm an artist who uses tablets to draw for hours at a time and things like tennis elbow and wrist and hand pain are a real issue

 

[maxoakland]

This looks cool. I want to try it

 

[maxoakland]

If you don't use the pencil heavily, you don't understand. The apple pencil tip slipping around on glass takes away some of the line control and after awhile, you feel the strain in your hand, in your wrists. You need that friction that a paper like surface provides. Just as I think that something the Apple Pencil and iPad needs that I see in other tablets is the ability to adjust the pressure curve. You only see it locally in apps like Procreate, but I think it's needed, because that's another thing that creates strain. I'm an artist who uses tablets to draw for hours at a time and things like tennis elbow and wrist and hand pain are a real issue

This 100% it’s one of the most important features for drawing and it’s missing most of the apps on iPad

 

[legacyb4]

Sounds like it won't grind down the pencil tip either?

 

[Kobra]

I use my 12” iPad Pro and iPad Mini 6 heavily as a notebook. I’ve tested Paperlike before but didn’t like it as it worked fine in the beginning but after some use the paperfeel vanished and it affected the screen resolution to much. I bought the Astropad for both my iPads last year and haven’t taken them off since then. It’s really good, especially in combination with the pen tip. The Astropad is particularly good on the iPad Mini as I read a lot of ebooks on it and the Astropad makes it much more comfortable for longer reading times. This new version of the Astropad seems interesting 🤔

 

[gadgetfreak98]

I wonder how this compares to the Paperlike screen cover. I like it, but not having to have a cover on 100% of the time would be really awesome.

Folks that have used this — do you have issues with dust under the screen cover when you’re using it?

I have been using v1 of this for some time and I like it. The magnetic attachment is super easy, but it does allow dust under the surface. I don’t mind it too much as this is a 2018 iPad and the screen is already kind of dull anyway. But if you want absolute visual fidelity this is not for you. It sounds like v2 does away with the magnets for a static cling variation, so there will probably be a trade off of no dust vs harder application.

Back to your question, I much prefer this to Paperlike. I find Paperlike too frictiony and in my experience the surface was prone to noticeable wear.

The other I tried was the Moshi variation which I liked quite a bit. I’m sticking with the Astropad — and in fact ordered v2 today — but Moshi was a close second. Paperlike a distant third.

By way of background I do a ton of marking up of PDFs on my iPad so these get a real workout from me.

Hope that helps.