Member Avatar for LIMS2LIMS

Hi All,
I stumbled onto a quizzical phenomenon. I have a NEC tablet PC (Versalite) and a PDA. Both use stylus technology, both stylus look pretty much the same. Yet the tablet will not recognize the stylus from the PDA and visa-versa. Why? Anyone know? I'd like the education at least.:rolleyes:

The issue is this, the tablet pen costs $69.95:eek: and the PDA is around $5.00. I need a new tablet pen. :( See the problem. :cry:

Thanks much for your help and/or comments ahead of time.

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  • Latest Post Latest Post by alc6379

Dani AI

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A common compatibility situation is at work here: many early Tablet PCs used an active digitizer that expects a very specific kind of pen, while PDAs typically used simple passive tips. That explains why the PDA stylus behaves like a cheap plastic pencil on the tablet and why replacement nibs taken by themselves don’t trigger the tablet. and were on the right track pointing out that the two pens are different technologies.

How the major systems differ (briefly):

  • Active/EMR (Wacom-style): the screen creates an electromagnetic field and the pen contains a tuned coil/resonator. The tablet senses the pen’s field, so hover, pressure levels and button/eraser functions are available even without a battery in many designs.
  • Resistive/capacitive PDA styli: simple conductive or pressure tips that rely on touch/contact. No coil/resonator; no hover or high-resolution pressure sensing.
  • Some active pens (later designs) use batteries or digital signaling; those also require the matching digitizer.

Practical checks and diagnostics (quick checklist):

  1. Hover test — hold the pen a few millimetres above the screen: a moving cursor or pointer without contact points to an active digitizer.
  2. Look for pen features — buttons, eraser end, or a heavier feel usually indicate an active pen.
  3. Check the tablet manual/label for the digitizer vendor or part number (Wacom, N-trig, etc.). That part number is what replacement pens/nibs must match.

Replacement options and operational tips:

  • A true replacement pen (OEM or a confirmed-compatible third‑party “Wacom-compatible” pen) is needed for full functionality; cheap PDA styli will not substitute.
  • Replacement nibs only work when fitted into the correct pen body because the body contains the sensing element.
  • For multiple lab tablets it’s worth buying spares (and tagging/tethering them) and ordering by the tablet’s pen part number to avoid repeated expense.

This explains the observed behavior and points to a practical path: identify the tablet’s digitizer type, then obtain a matching pen or compatible aftermarket replacement rather than trying to reuse PDA styli.

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Member Avatar for MikeAR

It's wierd that the PDA won't accept it, my Tungsten C will accept any styluses. You can even use you finger. What kind of device are you using?

Member Avatar for alc6379

It's very possible that the stylus from the tablet is not just a mere "stick" that you poke to a digitizer-- it might be something pressure-sensitive, or have some kind of electronics in it that allows for different features within the tablet PC.

BTW, how do you like your tablet PC? I mean, do you actually find yourself using the tablet feature often?

Member Avatar for LIMS2LIMS

BTW, how do you like your tablet PC? I mean, do you actually find yourself using the tablet feature often?

Actually, I'm a LIMS Administrator for a Corporate laboratory. We have 6 NEC VersaliteTablets on a WLAN. There's a stylus missing so I went back to the vender and learned about the high priced plastic pencil. I have been looking for a cheaper work around.

I tried the replacement tips by themselves and they dont work unless they are in the designated pen. Up front the tip and pen appear to be nothing more then plastic. I'm baffled.

Member Avatar for alc6379

Actually, I'm a LIMS Administrator for a Corporate laboratory. We have 6 NEC VersaliteTablets on a WLAN. There's a stylus missing so I went back to the vender and learned about the high priced plastic pencil. I have been looking for a cheaper work around.

I tried the replacement tips by themselves and they dont work unless they are in the designated pen. Up front the tip and pen appear to be nothing more then plastic. I'm baffled.

It's very possible that the pen itself has some type of RFID-type something or other, or some type of sensor in the pen that detects pressure, relative position to the tablet, etc. There's probably some kind of electronics built into that stylus, as it seems like the type of digitizer (gel/liquid type) that's used in PDAs wouldn't scale very well to a Tablet PC.

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