Stylus Review: Hands-On With the $75 Pen-Like Adonit Jot Script 2

[MacRumors]

Adonit recently announced the launch of a new version of its popular Bluetooth-enabled Jot Script stylus, featuring a rechargeable battery, a revamped body, and iPad Air 2 support. When Adonit asked if we'd like to review the new stylus, we jumped at the chance because our last stylus review covering the Adonit Jot Pro and Jot Mini was popular with MacRumors readers.

The Jot Script 2 Evernote Edition is one of Adonit's higher-end styluses, connecting to an iPhone or iPad over Bluetooth. It's a digital stylus, so it's able to offer the accuracy of a regular rubber-tipped stylus with a tip that's only 1.9mm, giving it a pen-like feel.

Adonit's Jot Script 2 improves upon the original Jot Script with a redesigned slimmer body that has a better grip, an upgraded Pixelpoint tip, and longer battery life. It's been launched in partnership with Evernote, so it works with Evernote's Penultimate app, and it comes with six months of Evernote's premium service.

Apple introduced new display technology with the iPad Air 2, breaking a lot of digital styluses, including Adonit's previous Jot Script. Older styluses don't work as well with the iPad Air 2, resulting in a lot of missing contact. The Jot Script 2 is one of the first styluses that works well with Apple's newest tablet.


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Article Link: Stylus Review: Hands-On With the $75 Pen-Like Adonit Jot Script 2

 

[Ledgem]

Can anyone comment on whether or not this works with a thick screen protector? Specifically, the Otterbox Defender case? In my limited experience, these PixelPoint pens are fantastic on "naked" iPads, but the one I tried (from a different company) didn't register at all against an iPad in the Defender casing.

 

[Merackon]

Can anyone comment on whether or not this works with a thick screen protector? Specifically, the Otterbox Defender case? In my limited experience, these PixelPoint pens are fantastic on "naked" iPads, but the one I tried (from a different company) didn't register at all against an iPad in the Defender casing.

I was concerned about this before I purchased my Jot Script 1, and found a person on YouTube who did a great set of videos on the Adonit Jot Script, who said that screen protectors were something that you shouldn't be worried about.

Though if you are still in a quandary on the matter, sending an Email to Adonit support might be a good idea. I had a relatively prompt response from them in 2013, and though granted they have grown significantly since, I would be confident in getting a response from either a rep or the forums.

 

[Pakaku]

No pressure sensitivity, no buy.

 

[sandcastle]

is the offset fixed?

If you look through the Adonit forums, there are lots of very upset users. I'd take them to fair trading for deceptive marketing if I had the time.

I've gone through 3 of the original Script sylus(es?). They have a significant "offset" in that the line does not appear beneath the tip that they advertise as "pixel perfect". What's worse, if you change the angle you hold the pen, the offset shifts - so left handed vs. right handed moves the offset by up to a FULL CENTIMETRE from the actual tip. It doesn't seem like a big deal if you use it for a breif period, but it basically makes it impossible to write neatly unless you use giant lettering. The angle of your pen changes as you write, so the offset changes, so you don't get the shapes your pen is actually making.

Have they fixed it yet? There's an easy way to test, draw a vertical line, then trace that line exactly with the pen on a 45 degree angle to the right, then repeat with a 45 degree angle to the left. The old pens would give you three lines spanning nearly a full centimetre on the page...

 

[rvinny]

I bought one and am using it with an iPad Air 1. "Pen to paper" and "precision" are not words I would use to describe the experience with Penultimate.

I tried their trouble shooting steps and it didn't change a thing. I was ready to send it back and then read some of the support forums. Everyone blamed Penultimate. I tried Noteshelf and GoodNotes today, night and day difference. Great precision and wrist protection works well with those apps. Much more like writing on paper and they kept up taking meeting notes.

So,, the pen itself is pretty good. Its Penultimate that sucks.

 

[Moonlight]

No pressure? No sale.

 

[sandcastle]

rvinny - penultimate certainly wasn't great, but for me, it was absolutely the hardware at fault. I tried every note taking app you mention and more, all had the issue. Some used a built in "offset correction", based on assuming left or right handedness. That meant the drawn lines were closer, but when you changed the angle of the pen it miscorrected in the other direction and made it worse.

 

[LRB55]

The review does not do this stylus justice. This is a GREAT stylus. I have used it daily with Notability. The pen glides quite smoothly and allows me to record handwritten meeting notes in real time. The stylus serves as a phenomenal highlighter with Papers3. Almost all of the limitations noted in the review are largely due to overhyped software. This is the first stylus that truly allows one to write without skips and pauses.

LRB55

 

[jclo]

If you look through the Adonit forums, there are lots of very upset users. I'd take them to fair trading for deceptive marketing if I had the time.

I've gone through 3 of the original Script sylus(es?). They have a significant "offset" in that the line does not appear beneath the tip that they advertise as "pixel perfect". What's worse, if you change the angle you hold the pen, the offset shifts - so left handed vs. right handed moves the offset by up to a FULL CENTIMETRE from the actual tip. It doesn't seem like a big deal if you use it for a breif period, but it basically makes it impossible to write neatly unless you use giant lettering. The angle of your pen changes as you write, so the offset changes, so you don't get the shapes your pen is actually making.

Have they fixed it yet? There's an easy way to test, draw a vertical line, then trace that line exactly with the pen on a 45 degree angle to the right, then repeat with a 45 degree angle to the left. The old pens would give you three lines spanning nearly a full centimetre on the page...

I didn't notice any offset when testing this particular stylus, it seemed pretty precise to me. I just did this line test and I'm also not seeing offset (in Penultimate on an iPad Air 2). For what it's worth, my writing quality with this stylus is about the same as with any other similar small-tipped stylus. I can write the same size I would write if I were writing on a paper.

 

[APlotdevice]

Umm, what if your USB ports are vertical or upside down?

 

[mcintoshi]

If you look through the Adonit forums, there are lots of very upset users. I'd take them to fair trading for deceptive marketing if I had the time...

I revived my macrumors account via the forgotten password link specifically to respond to this. I couldn't agree more. All the reviews of Adonit products on the web seem to talk about all the features (eg the grip - like who gives a ****? Was there a problem holding the last one?)....other than the one aspect that really matters, i.e. does it track well, does the line appear underneath the tip as it would if you were using pencil and paper. Not if you're deliberately moving it slowly like in the promotional videos, we're talking real use, whether that is writing or sketching or whatever.

From a company point of view, I think they must know that their styluses simply do not work, and maybe they know that all iOS styluses seem inaccurate at this point and so they feel safety in numbers ... But *if* Adonit have attempted to raise money for further research into more accurate styluses by launching sub-standard styluses, then that's just a deliberately deceptive ploy and I will vote with my feet and not buy anything from them ever again.

 

[RightMACatU]

Umm, what if your USB ports are vertical or upside down?

... or own a new MacBook LOL!

 

[rvinny]

The review does not do this stylus justice. This is a GREAT stylus. I have used it daily with Notability. The pen glides quite smoothly and allows me to record handwritten meeting notes in real time. The stylus serves as a phenomenal highlighter with Papers3. Almost all of the limitations noted in the review are largely due to overhyped software. This is the first stylus that truly allows one to write without skips and pauses.

LRB55

Agreed. I think Adonit is hurting themselves by saying Penultimate is the preferred app to use. It really isn't.

 

[msandersen]

Umm, what if your USB ports are vertical or upside down?

Seriously, what USB port would be upside-down?

At any rate, whatever the orientation, assuming it is like the Touch Pixelpoint charger which it looks identical to, the magnet is strong enough to hold the pen in any orientation, upside down and sideways inclusive, no problem, without any danger of it falling off by itself.

Besides, I usually charge it with a wall socket charger, which is upright and has more charge than a keyboard USB socket. You obviously wouldn't plug it into the back of you iMac, that just looks weird and blocks the other ports.
That also answers RightMACatU's question, incidentally.

... or own a new MacBook LOL!

 

[Airslide]

Umm, what if your USB ports are vertical or upside down?

I've got a 5-port USB charger I usually have lying on its side (so the ports are vertical) and it had no trouble hanging on. The magnet on the charger is pretty strong (almost to the point of being ridiculous).

Got it last week, I'm pretty happy with it. I'm using it on an iPad Air 2, and as has been said Penultimate really isn't the best for demonstrating it (far more lag than GoodNotes). GoodNote's compatibility when paired is a little iffy at the moment but the developer says an update will be available shortly with Adonit's latest SDK. Works fine as a "dumb" stylus at the expense of some tip precision.

rvinny - penultimate certainly wasn't great, but for me, it was absolutely the hardware at fault. I tried every note taking app you mention and more, all had the issue. Some used a built in "offset correction", based on assuming left or right handedness. That meant the drawn lines were closer, but when you changed the angle of the pen it miscorrected in the other direction and made it worse.

In Penultimate I can trace a line with near perfect precision at multiple angles, as long as I don't go so far as to shift the pen to a left-handed angle (which I would never do while writing anyway). I can go pretty far the other way though. So I'm guessing they improved it quite a bit (though it is still assuming you aren't switching from right-to-left handed on the fly).

I see the effect you describe when it isn't paired though, so the Bluetooth is definitely involved in accommodating for that.

 

[dyn]

The angle of your pen changes as you write, so the offset changes, so you don't get the shapes your pen is actually making.

That's not a problem with the pen but a problem with having a wrong writing technique. If you write the angle of your pen should not change. When you write with a ballpoint pen, rollerball or a digital pen it is very easy to rotate because the pens keep on writing. When you write with a fountain pen you'll notice it because the writing changes or the pen even stops since it can't get the ink on paper.

I also do not agree with digital pens having a similar writing experience as with pen and paper. No digital pen comes anywhere near that writing experience. They only come near to writing on glass and that can be a huge problem since it is too smooth/slippery. That and the delay make writing on tablets not very enjoyable nor recommendable. If you take a lot of notes then stick to pen and paper and digitalise them later on. Nothing comes near that writing experience. If you want to do it all digital then type it and only draw the figures (OneNote is a good application for that combination).

 

[MentalFloss]

Umm, what if your USB ports are vertical or upside down?

Or even worse... what if you got a Mac Mini where the USB ports are vertical, and directly next to them are other ports which make it impossible to place a pen there?

 

[seanspins211]

Notability-like app with palm rejection?

I prefer to use Notability with the Jot Script (1 & 2), but Notability does not connect to the stylus' bluetooth. (I recommended to Notability that they integrate the technology...they said they'd look into it... ) Anyone have a comparable app with recording features that they prefer to use with the Jot Script?

Thanks!

Sean