Jot and Jot Pro

The Jot Stylus ($19.99 to $29.99), by Adonit, is a precision stylus for touch screens, including iPads, iPhones, MacBook Trackpads, Magic Trackpads, HTC, Samsung, Nokia, Motorola, and Blackberry. It comes in two versions: the Jot ($19.99) and the Jot Pro ($29.99). The Pro version includes a rubber grip for more finger comfort and it can attach magnetically to your tablet for easy access.

Both versions are made of aluminum and steel, both come with a pen cap, and both sport the innovative ball point and disk system that makes the Jot work so precisely on touch screens. The Jot was originally a Kickstarter project and is the brainchild of the same people who brought you the Adonit Writer (see my review here).

The Jot arrives in slick, minimalist packaging. The regular version comes in three color choices: purple, green, and red. The pro version comes in gun metal, silver, or turquoise.

As you probably know, all sorts of styli are available now for touchscreen devices. Choices include TenOne Design’s Pogo Sketch ($14.95) and new Pogo Sketch Pro ($24.95); Targus ($14.99); Griffin ($19.99); Bamboo ($29.95); BoxWave ($24.95); AluPen ($24.95), among others. But what sets Adonit’s Jot apart is its innovative ball point and disk system. All the other styli on the market make use of a rubber-tipped nib that feels somewhat like a squishy pencil eraser. Needless to say, these styli don’t feel like pens as you write. And even though you can set the line width in most applications, the rubber-tipped nibs always feel cumbersome and imprecise. The reason all these styli have such large tips is because capacitive touch screens rely on a size of 6 mm or larger to register intentional touches and strokes. The Jot remedies this problem by combining the 8mm plastic disk (so the touch screen senses the stylus as an input device) and a ball point which gives the user the sensation of writing with a fine-point pen.

I tried out my Jot with Penultimate, one of the popular writing applications for iPad. I was very pleased with the sensation of the Jot. It genuinely feels like I’m writing with a fine-tipped pen on my iPad. Another wonderful aspect of the Jot is that when you’re writing, the stylus does not create any friction. The rubber-nibbed styli tend to stutter a bit as you work on the screen, sort of like a fat tipped magic marker on butcher paper.

I also tried the Jot with one of my favorite art apps, Art Studio. I found that the stylus works great as an art instrument as well.

Don’t worry. I’m not planning to quit my day job to become a famous horse artist.

What’s Macgasmic

The Jot stylus is an ingenious solution for writing and drawing on touch screens. Out of all the styli available, this one offers the user a genuine sensation that you’re using a pen on paper. The level of precision is simply unequaled by other styli. The Jot is made of high quality materials, and it feels substantial (but not heavy) in your hand. I love the attention to detail: the pen cap protects the disk and ball point, and, when you’re using the stylus, the pen cap screws securely onto the back, so you don’t have to worry about losing it. For those of you concerned that the disk might fall off or break, Adonit supplies replacements for a low fee. Also, you can easily snap the disk back on should it somehow get dislodged.

What’s Not

Honestly, I like everything about the Jot. The craftsmanship is extraordinary. The ingenious design makes the stylus feel like a fine-point pen, enabling a sense of precision other styli simply can’t match. My only disappointment is that you can’t get the basic Jot in the turquoise color. While some might complain about the price, the Jot is, in fact, priced competitively with other styli (see above). Considering that the Jot alone offers a unique approach to writing on the iPad, it is definitely worth a look.

If you have been looking for a stylus for your iPad (or other touch screen device), the Jot or Jot Pro should be on your list. Writers and artists, in particular, will find the Jot Stylus to be a wonderful addition to your tool set.