The iPad is the first Apple device I have ever pre-ordered to be able to use it on day one. Even when the iPhone came out, I waited a month or two before jumping into the bandwagon. The iPad has taken over many tasks that my Macbook Pro used to complete for me and I’m happy that it has; the iPad, you see, is so much lighter than my Macbook Pro. I specifically wanted the iPad for its ability to let you draw on it. There are several apps now in the app store that are designed for letting you draw and paint on the iPad, but its expected you use your fingers like all other apps. Using my fingers to paint and draw just didn’t feel very natural to me and I ended up wanting something to feel like a pen or brush when I used the iPad.

Then I discovered the oStylus. While I have used other styli like the Pogo, I was really intrigued by the design that the oStylus took on. The oStylus almost looks like a dental tool, but feels comfortable like a pencil or paint brush. Most importantly, the part that makes contact with the iPad swivels. While that may not sound like much, this allows you to use this tool at any angle you wish when making marks in your program. Professional artists and graphic designers I think will really appreciate this stylus’ ability to allow for multiple angles of approach just like a real instrument of design. The part making direct contact with the screen is protected with vinyl and is shaped like an o, hence oStylus. This shape allows for the user to see where the mark is being made and is fantastic for precision work when you need it.

The oStylus is more expensive than most styli you may have come across in stores but it is more sophisticated than most styli you will find in stores. The price for one is $37.50 and it is made of mostly aluminum and steel. Funny thing is, if Steve Jobs had Apple make a stylus, this design might be what would look like. It looks like it belongs with the Apple keyboard, mouse and trackpad. I have not had any issues with the vinyl that is used to protect this stylus from scratching screens, but it comes with spares just in case.

I’ve been using my oStylus with Sketchbook Pro and most recently Touch Sketch. I’ve found that I am much more productive with this app than I ever was with fingers or Pogo stylus use. Like mentioned earlier before, this stylus does work on other touch capacitive devices such as the iPhone and even the Magic Trackpad. I’m still not sure why you would want to use this on a Magic Trackpad, but I’m sure that might come in handy.