I’m a person of many interests. One of my longest-lasting joys is drawing, both digitally and on the page. When apps like Draw Something were released, I was so excited, I thought I might pop. Finally, an excuse to send silly drawings to people for fun! Then my huge, dude-sized fingers got in the way. The solution for me has been to use tools like a true Homo sapiens sapiens. Styluses (or styli if you like the Latin plural better) have come to play a huge role in my digital needs, providing a better interface for my needs. Styluses will have a permanent place in my life, but not all styluses are equal. With help from Wacom, I’ve upgraded to a better model of drawing.
The two products on my desk today are the Bamboo Solo and the Bamboo Duo from Wacom. The Duo has a pen on one end, and both units have a carbon fiber tip, and a cap for the end(s). The tips are also replaceable, making these styli a long-term investment.
The precision of the tips is wonderful. The stylus doesn’t require the high pressure that other styluses might. The pen casing is comfortable in my hand, with a satin aluminum finish. It’s sturdy and compact, but not short. The styli even come in a variety of colors, including blue, green, pink, and yellow.
I love the ink pen on the other end of the Duo. It makes things easier when I switch back and forth between media (which I do a lot). It feels intuitive for me to make that transition. I place a high value on things that just plain work the way I expect them to, which is exactly what the Duo does.
While considering downsides for these products, I have to admit that the Solo is a unitasker, and I don’t like having too many of those. I was also disappointed when I received the Duo and found that it only has one cap. This means that the Duo always has one tip exposed. I say boo to that, but it’s no deal breaker, for sure.
The Duo lives in my cup of pens and art tools, I don’t travel with it because of the one-cap disadvantage. The Solo made the “travel” cut, and lives in my messenger bag with my tablet. Neither of these styluses are game changers, but they are the best I’ve ever used. Most importantly to me? They meet the high standards that Wacom has held itself to for years. I totally recommend trying the stylus that fits your needs.
Disclaimer: The author received units for review purposes.
