Tablet Accessory Review: Adonit Jot and Jot Pro Stylus

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When Steve Jobs introduced the iPad the tagline might well have been, “Stylus? Stylus? We don’t need no stink in’ stylus.” Yes, Apple’s goal with the iPad was a truly touch-friendly tablet. For the most part, they have succeeded. Still, there ARE times when you want to use a stylus and, thankfully, there are a host of options these days. I just got a close, hands on look at one of the newest options and it awesome. More accurately, THEY are since there are two versions. The Jot and the Jot Pro from Adonit are an unusual take on the tablet stylus. Let’s take a quick look.

Like the company’s first product, Writer for iPad, the Jot got its start over on KickStarter.

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Adonit’s goal was $2500 but they raised over $165,000 in “Backer pre-orders”. Not bad although it does raise the question of whether this was truly a search for funding (as is the mission of KickStarter) or just a really smart marketing tool.

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Here’s what the company has say:

Touch screens have simplified technology, but there has yet to be a way to capture the precision of a calligrapher or the stroke of an artist. Not only should it meet your needs, but a stylus should have style. We would like to fix that. Introducing Jot, the stylus the world’s been looking for.

PRECISION DISK: Your stylus should be as sharp as your ideas. The thin and clear disc gives you the accuracy you want in a digital pen.

BALL POINT: Hold your stylus at the angle you’re most comfortable with. Jot gives you the freedom to write or sketch like you’re used to.

HEAVY METAL: Once Jot is in your grip, the quality is unmistakable. The durable aluminum and steel gives Jot superior conductivity and craftsmanship comparable to any luxury pen.

PROTECTIVE CAP: Protects the precision disc when Jot is taking a break. Sits on the back of the stylus when Jot is in the game.

Compatible with all capacitive touch screens: iPads, iPhones, MacBook Trackpads, Magic Trackpads, HTC, Samsung, Nokia, Motorola, Blackberry.

The Jot Pro adds a “magnetic cling” so the Jot Pro can attach magnetically to the tablet. As the company explains, “Pen clips are so yesterday.” It also has a rubber grip for comfort.

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As you can see, the Jot Pro looks great. It has a nice heft to it and it is super comfortable to hold.

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What sets the Jot and the Jot Pro apart from the crowd is the disk at the top. Rather than having a relatively wide rubber tip for darting or writing the Jot and Jot Pro have a ballpoint tip that then attaches to a clear disk. The ball-point tip gives you accuracy while the disk protects the screen from scratches. It looks rather odd and does take a few minutes of adjustment but, after that, it REALLY WORKS!!

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It is an impressive combination from a company that clearly pays attention to how people use their tablet and what details, like the threaded back so you don’t lose the cap, are important.

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In all my initial experience with the Jot and Jot Pro is entirely positive. We’ll see how it stands up to daily use but, for now, I highly recommend this tablet accessory.

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The Jot is $19.99 and the Jot Pro is $29.99. Sorry but they are not yet available but you can pre-order. New orders should be available in four weeks. For now, however, the company is focussed on getting the styli out to Kickstarter backers like me.

MSRP: $19.99 and $29.99

What I Like: Well made; Gorgeous colors; Comfortable to hold; Unusual tip design really works; Pro has a nice rubber grip and a magnetic “cling” feature

What Needs Improvement: New orders won’t ship for at least a month

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About the Author

Dan Cohen
Having a father who was heavily involved in early laser and fiber-optical research, Dan grew up surrounded by technology and gadgets. Dan’s father brought home one of the very first video games when he was young and Dan remembers seeing a “pre-release” touchtone phone. (When he asked his father what the “#” and “*” buttons were his dad said, “Some day, far in the future, we’ll have some use for them.”) Technology seemed to be in Dan’s blood but at some point he took a different path and ended up in the clergy. His passion for technology and gadgets never left him. Dan is married to Raina Goldberg who is also an avid user of Apple products. They live in New Jersey with their golden doodle Nava.

1 Comment on "Tablet Accessory Review: Adonit Jot and Jot Pro Stylus"

  1. Chris Magnusson | September 2, 2011 at 12:22 pm |

    My receipt says four-week pre-order from August 15. So, hopefully it’ll ship soon. 🙂

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