Review: ConfortStylus and Invisi-Shield for the DS Lite
by at July 24, 2007 7:58 pm
Sections: DS & DSi & DSi XL, Gaming News, Gear, Gear-Other, Genres, Handhelds, Puzzle, Reviews
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Nintendo recently sent me the licensed ConfortStylus & Invisi-Shield kit to try with the new Picross DS game. I’ve been pretty happy with my regular ol’ stick stylus sent with my DS. On the rare occasions when I’m too lazy to tug it out or know I’ll not need it for more than a few seconds, I’ll even use the fingernail on my index finger.
For me, it’s pretty hard to mess with something as simple as a pen or pencil especially since all those Catholic school nuns had us do so much writing.
Design & Features – The ConformtStylus is not a new invention, but is being packaged as an official Nintendo licensed product. It is a bendable stylus intended to be used with the DS Lite’s touchscreen. It is black, rubbery with a plastic end cap and plastic pen-shaped tip. Uncoiled, it measures 5 in. long but is intended to be twisted around your finger for more comfortable playing. The set is available for $9.98 and licensed by Performance Design Products. It is offered in four colors (which are really only the ends of the ComfortStylus): white, red, pink and blue.
Performance – My initial reaction to the ComfortStylus was, “That’s friggin’ genius,” since a bendable stylus would seem to make for an ideal, ergonomic gaming experience as it would conform to any shape. Wraping it around your finger takes only a few seconds though you’ll likely spend a few minutes fiddling with the exact bends and angles.
The problem is that, to get the right bend so the tip is extended properly from your finger, you need bit of room between the plastic tip and the bend, making the tip further from your finger than naturally comfortable. Also, the bendable stylus does not fit in the DS stylus slot, meaning you need to have another way to carry it around if you go mobile.
After about 20 minutes using the stylus on Picross, however, I started to experience a weird pain in my index finger. I tried readjusting the ComfortStylus a few times but could never seem to find the perfect position. I suspect this is just my hand getting used to a new control scheme since the stylus is actually pretty comfortable to wear and easy to use. Again, this is a quick review. I also noticed that the ComfortStylus site shows people using it on their thumb, which I think is odd, but might possibly be a better, long-term way to use it.
As a stylus, though, it works. Heck, my fingernail or a small twig works as as stylus, so you cannot lose any points there.
BTW: It’s nearly impossible to take a picture – at least a good picture – with a digital camera using your left hand. Try it, I dare you.
As for the Invisi-Shield, it took only a few seconds to apply to the touchscreen and goes on much like any other screen shield. It’s about 1-2 mm too narrow, so if you line it up against one edge of the screen case, you’ll have a bit of space on the other side. The height is just right. A shield is not included for the top screen.
Overall – I guess I can recommend this to younger gamers who, with smaller fingers and the ability to adapt well, might not experience the soreness I did. Also, when you apply the shield to the touchscreen, give it just a hair of space when you lay it down so it’ll be centered. Don’t make it flush against the left or right side of the casing around the screen. I also know a few gamers who are uber anal about screen shields, so having only one for the touchreen and not one for the top screen will not suffice for them. They want to protect both screens from any cosmic particles that might intrude on their gaming experience.
Product Site [ComfortStylus] Read [IGN]
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