Microsoft's new Surface Pro Pen that comes with the Surface Pro 4 tablet and Surface Book laptop introduced earlier this month can write on the tablet, digitally mark documents and draw.
Just like a pencil with an eraser, it can erase the markings with a digital eraser on its top. It has 1,024 pressure sensitivity levels as well as reduced latency.
The Microsoft Surface Pro Pen has always been with the OEM's Surface Pro and enhanced with many features over time. Both Surface Pro and Pro 2 used a Wacom Pen on EMR tech. Surface Pro 3 came with a N-Trig pen which decreased the display stack thickness, moving the digitizer electronics into the pen but the number of pressure points decreased to to 256.
The new pen is N-Trig tech but moved the pressure levels to 1024, a nice feature for people who do artwork, said AnandTech.
The replaceable tip of the pen also changed, becoming softer and writing with it feels like an ink on paper. Microsoft sells a tip pack with four different sizes - 2H, H, B and B. The kit likewise includes a tool that makes it possible to pull off the pen's tip and swap it out.
Also changed is the pen's shape. It was previously barrel shaped and now it has a flat side attached to the tablet's side for storage. With the strong magnet, the pen does not fall off when the Surface Pro is carried around.
The new Microsoft Surface Pro Pen can also be purchased separately for $59.99. It ships by Oct. 26 with an included Pen Tip Kit. The kit gives options from one of four tips. The best tip is either the medium tip which is similar to the familiar #2 pencil or a low friction tip like the fine point pen.
As a helpful tool, it can do a lot of things for its user; more so with the following Windows Central gave as shortcuts:
Clicking Pen's top button will open OneNote, with a blank page. Handwritten notes are text-convertible and can be shared. Double clicking the top button is to snap a quick photo of what is being worked on and it can be shared with OneNote.
Clicking and holding the top button will activate the personal digital assistant, Cortana. She can be requested to send a quick email, or give location, people and time-based reminders.
Another great thing about the most recent Microsoft Surface Pro Pen is its compatibility with the older Surface 3 and Surface Pro 3, and with the newer Surface Pro 4 and Surface Book, though only the Surface Pro 4 and Book support the 1024 pressure sensitivity levels.
