REPLACEMENT PEN FOR ZAURUS FROM PDA PANACHE User review By R.J. (George) Czajkowski CIS: 74131,2121 Internet: georgec@cyberus.ca I am always VERY careful with the screen of my Zaurus. I absolutely NEVER touch it with my finger (or, God forbid, my nails). I clean it frequently with a special cleaning solution and gentle cloth for plastic glasses. I am also very careful when touching the screen with the pen. Never too much pressure, as it could scratch the screen or leave other undesirable mark. I also do not use Notes or Scrapbook very frequently, so you may say that the stylus is primarily used for navigation and editing (highlighting text, inserting insertion point, etc.). And yet, after five months of use, I can definitively see a very thin line or two and a dot or two when looking at my screen. It is true, that I have to look very very closely and keep the screen close to a strong light source and tilt it just so to see the lines and marks (they are practically invisible under normal use). Yet, I started to be concerned that unless I do something to increase protection of my screen, I will only see more and more hairlines, scratches and marks. And this would drive me nuts. So, I looked at two options: WrightRight protective film from The Concept Kitchen and screen-safe pen from PDA Panache. After comparing the prices and reading Jude's review of Wright Right protectors (available on Almighty Zaurus Discussion Forum on the Web), I decided to try the pen. I order the top of the line black anodized aluminum stylus with injection molded screen-safe plastic tip (catalogue number BZ95) from PDA Panache. I got it on the thrid day since placing the order (via Global Priority Mail) and started using it right away. Here are my observations: The pen looks infinitely more elegant that the cheap plastic one supplied with Zaurus. It is heavier (aluminum, not plastic) and extremely well balanced. This, combined with a good fingertip grip allows for much more comfortable handling and writing control. It has an injection molded plastic tip at the end. The tip feels much softer that the one in original Zaurus pen (almost as if it was made of some sort of rubber, yet it is firm enough and does not bend, even if you press hard). It shows especially when you touch the screen or write/draw on it. The tip's material provides for better contact with the screen surface which translates into improved writing/drawing experience. It does not slide like the original pen, so it feels more like writing on paper. I can say that it really feels much more friendly to the screen's surface than the original pen. I can agree with the manufacturer's claim that the tip is "screen-safe". The tip has a bright orange colour intended to improve visibility (called EasyView). I did not assign much value to this claim until I actually started to use it. It truly is easier to see, especially in less than perfect lighting conditions. The entire stylus fits nicely into the pen slot of my Zaurus. In summary, I can stop worrying about the screen getting more hairlines, scratches or dent marks. The pen is not only a pure pleasure to use but the tip is no doubt significantly safer than the original one. This particular pen costs $12,95 US (plus shipping and handling). If you want to order one, here is the info: PDA Panache P.O. Box 49 Lake Grove, NY 11755 tel. 800-270-7196 (or 516-467-4042) fax. 516-467-6329 WWW: http://www.pdapanache.com BTW, I am in no way affiliated with PDA Panache. Just a VERY satisfied customer. Copyrights by R.J. (George) Czajkowski, 1996. No part of this article can be reproduced or retransmitted in any form or by any means without the author's written permission.