Dane-elec Zpen

This combination pen device and USB flash drive needs no drivers or applications to be installed.

Dane-elec Zpen
Price: £65

The Dane-elec Zpen comes in two parts, a pen and a receiver in the form of a USB memory stick. The clever idea is that the memory stick offers 1Gbyte of memory which is not only used to store your notes but all of the application software you need to operate the pen and its manuals.

This clever idea causes something of a problem because some users cannot work out how to make use of it all as there is no information on the product packaging. As long as you realise that you have to plug the receiver into a USB port and then access the flash drive for instructions then everything makes sense.

The receiver also has to be charged for six hours before use. The pen itself uses two small mercury cells and these have to be fitted before use. A standard ball point pen refill is inserted into the barrel. The receiver has some LEDs that show when it is charging and when the pen is in use. A battery indicator blinks 10 minutes before the receiver's battery fails. An on/off and pause switch are also provided.

USB use

The USB end of the receiver can be covered by a plastic cap that is bound to be lost by all but the most careful of users. The receiver is on the large size and can be difficult to insert into a USB socket if there is anything else plugged in nearby. It also is heavy enough to sag a little while plugged in and is very easy to knock out of place. To overcome these potential problems, the kit comes with a short USB cable that you can place between the device and your USB port.

However, its over-large size comes in handy when you are trying to clip it to the top of some paper or a clipboard. It has a large spring clip to the rear that makes it easy to fit.

Taking notes

In use there isn't really enough feedback to know that you are capturing very much of what you are drawing. An LED is on when the pen is down on the paper and flashes if there is an error. Apart from this you have to trust that everything is working.

To start a new page you unclip the receiver, flip over the page and clip the receiver back on the pad. This tells the receiver to start a new page.This is easy but some users miss this detail and think that their pen isn't working or wonder how to start a new page.  There is also a pause button which you can press if you want to take a break.

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