Lately it seems like another Surface Pro replacement pen option turns up for me to test at least once a week.
I thought I'd exhausted all the compatible stylus options until a poster on the TabletPCReview forums suggested I check out the Fujitsu Digitizer Pen T-5000.
Designed for the Wacom-equipped Fujitsu Lifebook series, it's not clear whether the T-5000 is widely available. The links on Amazon are all for third party vendors and the Fujitsu site doesn't reference the T-5000 directly. They list three Lifebook models with pen input, but the replacement pen sets listed as accessories don't have a model number. It's likely these pens are compatible with the Surface Pro as well, but proceed with caution unless you find someone who can verify this.
At first glance, the Fujitsu Digitizer Pen appears to be the smallest replacement pen we've reviewed yet. At 5.2 inches long, it's a full .3 inches shorter than the Surface Pro pen. However, it turns out the pen is actually the same length as the premium Wacom Bamboo feel pens. What makes those pens seem longer in practice are their large caps, which the Fujitsu lacks. But the T-5000's solid construction and textured finish almost compensate for that. The barrel is about the same diameter, so the pen doesn't really feel small in the hand.
More importantly, the pen features an eraser tip and two buttons: a rarity in the world of replacement stylii.
Although there's no way to store it or attach it to the Surface Pro, the pen has an eyelet located just under the eraser for attaching to a lanyard. The Digitizer Pen ships with a generous five replacement hard plastic nibs and an extractor ring.
Like most tablet pc pens, the performance of the T-5000 is fairly equivalent to the standard Surface Pro stylus. Whenever you get a new pen you may wish to rerun the Wacom feel calibration tool to be absolutely accurate, but I didn't have any problem drawing without re-calibrating.
The button rocker height is a bit closer to the pen barrel than I prefer, but the buttons are very firm and unlikely to be clicked accidentally. And despite the pen's short length, the button is located .1 inches further from the tip than the Modbook Pro pen (the other two button replacement option). This small difference makes it easier for fingertips to steer clear of the buttons while gripping the pen close to the tip.
Compared to other lower cost pen replacements, the build quality of the T-5000 is excellent. If you're in the market for a two-button option, have smaller hands or don't mind a shorter instrument, the Fujitsu Digitizer Pen T-5000 is definitely worth a look (if you can find it).
If any of you can confirm the model number and compatibility of the pens available directly from Fujitsu, please leave a comment below.
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