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Here's a comparison of my notes with the same settings on Notability: Pencil vs generic stylus

E

erure

macrumors regular
Original poster
Apr 13, 2010
180
16
http://imgur.com/a/BC2U2

One set of notes are taken with the Apple Pencil and the other with a generic microfiber stylus. The Apple Pencil's tip takes a bit of getting used to -- it's harder and smoother than the microfiber stylus that I'm used to. I was surprised that my notes look a little bit better with the microfiber stylus but that's probably because I'm not used to the Pencil yet. Overall writing experience is much better with the Apple Pencil because I don't have to write in zoom mode and my palms can touch the screen. Also I think my writing was a bit faster with the Pencil, and with less "errors."
 
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I think the problem with this comparison is you used a zoom mode I presume? If you're writing big letters and then shrinking it to this size that's going to mask where the Pencil excels, which is small quick print that the capacative stylus literally could not capture. Try writing at a similar size with both and no zoom and see how it looks.
 
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Nausicaa said:
I think the problem with this comparison is you used a zoom mode I presume? If you're writing big letters and then shrinking it to this size that's going to mask where the Pencil excels, which is small quick print that the capacative stylus literally could not capture. Try writing at a similar size with both and no zoom and see how it looks.
Click to expand...
That's a very valid and helpful suggestion. Thank you! I added another page into the same album where you can compare the notes with the Apple Pencil and the microfiber tip stylus WITHOUT zoom mode. The difference is super obvious that the Apple Pencil is much better to work with in that situation. I would have added more lines but writing with the microfiber tip stylus without zoom mode was too painful to bear.

Also, thank you for all the sweet comments about my handwriting. I swear med school trains the good handwriting out of you -- it gets uglier by the day.
 
My writing used to be approximately 75% as good as yours. Now years of Apples splendid keyboards have caused my writing to degenerate alarmingly. How am I supposed to focus on the topic at hand after viewing your stellar example ... HA...HA...:D
 
maxsix said:
My writing used to be approximately 75% as good as yours. Now years of Apples splendid keyboards have caused my writing to degenerate alarmingly. How am I supposed to focus on the topic at hand after viewing your stellar example ... HA...HA...:D
Click to expand...
Aw shucks I'm flattered! Perhaps it's time for you to go back to writing things by hand? :D

On a side note I added another page with notes and drawings done with the Apple Pencil. I am in love!
 
erure said:
Aw shucks I'm flattered! Perhaps it's time for you to go back to writing things by hand? :D

On a side note I added another page with notes and drawings done with the Apple Pencil. I am in love!
Click to expand...
Can you please share what hemopoiesis is please?

Got my brain wondering now...
 
You mention pressure sensitive ink setting in Notability. Can you tell me where that setting is?
 
erure said:
http://imgur.com/a/BC2U2

One set of notes are taken with the Apple Pencil and the other with a generic microfiber stylus. The Apple Pencil's tip takes a bit of getting used to -- it's harder and smoother than the microfiber stylus that I'm used to. I was surprised that my notes look a little bit better with the microfiber stylus but that's probably because I'm not used to the Pencil yet. Overall writing experience is much better with the Apple Pencil because I don't have to write in zoom mode and my palms can touch the screen. Also I think my writing was a bit faster with the Pencil, and with less "errors."
Click to expand...

Holy crap, you have pretty handwriting :)
 
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All of it looks great to me.

Need someone with bad handwriting to do this test :p
 
Yep: zooming is the difference.

For the past 3 semesters I've been annotating slides during class using a normal stylus with an iPad Air. Because of all of the zooming required to write legibly it makes me terribly slow, and sometimes I have trouble keeping up.

The Pencil is completely different. I don't need to zoom at all. I can leave the full slide on the IPP and write as small as I like and it comes out looking just like it does on paper.

I'm super impressed so far!
 
ke-iron said:
Lol I'll be testing this as soon as I get my pencil!
Click to expand...

I realised this morning .... I'm a prime candidate and have the pencil. Though the MR community does not need to be punished with my shocking hand writing
 
Lol I agree, that's the most amazing hand printing I've seen outside an architectural office. How long does it take you to write a page of notes like that? Are you doing that live in a lecture? :-O
 
Forget Med School... Wait until you have finished and you are in practice. After 20 years your handwriting becomes unintelligible.
Worse, become a surgeon and your handwriting looks more like hieroglyphics!!
 
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