I PEN PRO

The I-Pen Pro

The I--Pen Pro

The sleek elegant I--Pen Pro is one peripheral that can certainly turn heads, and improve your work flow. If you are not familiar with it, this is one very price point friendly way to discover the joys of a pen stylus. Not only that, it does double duty as a very effective mouse.

I-Pen Pro

The I pen Pro from Fingersystems 

Wireless Optical mouse and Pen Stylus 

Requirements

Windows 98, Me,2000,XP

CD Rom Drive and/or internet connectivity to download drivers 

Specs:

Frequency 2.4 GHz (40 Channels)

Resolution: 800 DPI

Battery: 3.7 V DC, 400m, Li-Polymer

In time use 5.5 hours

Stand by time 26 hours

Power saver 80 hours 

by: Kurt von Behrmann

If you have ever worked on a PC for prolonged periods, one of  the things you notice is that the standard mouse alone is not enough.  Graphics intensive applications like Photoshop CS and hard core 3 D programs like Maxon’s Cinema 4D virtually demand that you use a pen stylus. In order to fully exploit the true power of windows, a pen is sometimes preferable to a mouse. 

Even if your computing needs are more basic, for example along the lines of word processing or simple email, believe it or not, a pen stylus could come in very handy.  

For many years graphics professionals have found that pen stylus input devices are the way to go. The only draw back has been that most have been either too expensive for most end users, or there is a loss of functionality in the mouse mode. 

The standard pen stylus solution has been the pen stylus coupled with a drawing pad. The only draw back here is that the pen stylus does not perform that well as a mouse and in most cases ships with its own mouse to help round its functionality. Tackling those issues head on, Fingersystems has produced the wireless I—Pen Pro. 

Unlike most pen stylus solutions, this one does not require or demand a special tablet in which to operate. Your drawing space can be as large or as small as you like. The application ships with its own customized mouse pad. However, the I—Pen Pro works just as well on any non reflective dark or neutral colored surface. Freeing itself of the need to depend on a pad for support, the device gains a greater degree of flexibility than its counter parts. 

Another area that is frequently a low point for many tablet mice combos is their functionality as mice. Shifting effortlessly between the mouse mode and the pen mode, the transition is unnoticeable. The ability this wireless device has makes it as strong a mouse as it does a pen stylus. 

Should you be attached to your favorite mouse, do not fear. The I—Pen co-exists with existing mice well. The only conflicts I have encountered, and this is to be expected, is  if you use another wireless mouse pen stylus simultaneously with the I—Pen. Aside from that, the I—Pen has not caused any conflicts or system lock ups in my uses of the application. 

Shipping with a full compliment of drivers and special application that enhance the functionality of the device, Fingersystem’s package is comprehensive enough for most users, and easy enough to comprehend that most would not get lost. The ability to write on screen, integration with Internet Explorer and an assortment of other nice extras complete the possible uses of the application. 

Programs that are designed with pen stylus functionality like Photoshop, Illustrator, Corel Draw, Painter, these and other applications work effectively with the I—Pen Pro.  Having used it with graphics intensive applications, it works seamlessly with windows software.  I have yet to see any problems with any applications. 

For those that have more basic computing needs, the I—Pen Pro comes in handy when editing documents. For editing and making quick changes, your speed and workflow improve with the use of a pen stylus. Literally, once you start to exploit the power and speed of this device, the gains are appreciable in productivity. 

On the fun and handling fronts, it scores high there as well. Feeling like an updated high end magic marker, the stylus/mouse is light weight, feels solid in handling and is very responsive. The wireless I—Pen ships with a stand that also doubles as a recharging base. Coming in sleek black, this is one very handsome contemporary looking peripheral that has a strong, but understated “wow” factor. In plain English, it looks good sitting on your desk top and it will get noticed. 

Summation 

One of the areas that seems to get the least attention, but in so much need of more attention, is the input devices used to place data in a computer.  Keyboards and mice are frequently perceived as the only way data can enter a PC. The I—Pen Pro wireless makes a compelling persuasive argument that a pen stylus mouse combo together could potentially be the best solution, if perhaps the only solution, to some computing needs. 

Potentially, the I—Pen could replace your traditional mouse.  It has all of the functionality and versatility to do the job. In real world situations, you may still want to hang on to your mouse, but the I—Pen Pro does do the job rather well. 

Where it truly excels is that it is so much more price point friendly than other solutions costing many times as much.  With mice costing hundreds of dollars, the I—Pen Pro ships in for well under a hundred.  Minus a pad, you are not limited in your work space, and you are not tethered to any particular surface.  Because of its friendly price points, those that want to experiment to see if a pen stylus is for them, Fingersystem’s solution makes experimenting accessible to more people.  In addition, Fingersystem also has a wired USB pen stylus mouse that has the same functionality as the I—Pen Pro. 

While Fingersystems may not be a well known name, they have produced a sturdy, well conceived product that makes the pen stylus mouse combo not only a viable reality, but an affordable one.

(NOTE)

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