Nokia SU-1B digital pen
Nokia SU-1B digital pen
Kent German Former senior managing editor / features
Kent was a senior managing editor at CNET News. A veteran of CNET since 2003, he reviewed the first iPhone and worked in both the London and San Francisco offices. When not working, he's planning his next vacation, walking his dog or watching planes land at the airport (yes, really).
Quick Take: Used for much more than just jotting down deep thoughts, the Nokia SU-1B digital pen also transfers your notes and drawings to a Bluetooth-enabled PC, handheld, or cell phone. Colored in gray with silver touches and sleek lines, the SU-1B looks larger than most pens, but it's comfortable to hold while writing. Removing and replacing the cap turns the pen on and off, and a short vibrating effect lets you know it's powered up. We had some trouble pairing the device to our Motorola A630 and our Nokia 6820 in an initial test run; the pen could locate the handsets but not vice versa, and the connections cut out intermittently. But when the SU-1B is properly paired, it's a cinch to write with, and transferring data to the phone took a few seconds. A word of caution, though: You must use the provided digital paper notebooks, as they contain a series of commands that enable the SU-1B to work properly. You get a choice of two sizes; a replacement pack of five is $39.99 for the large size and $38.99 for the small. Memory size is 1MB--equivalent to about 100 pages of text--and Nokia promises 2 hours of battery life for writing time and up to 10 hours of standby time. Be warned; the price is high ($249), so even the truest gadget geeks should give it a whirl before buying.