What stylus will work well with Spectre Pro X360 G1 on Windows 10

[ScareKro]

Hello.  I have been having a rather frustrating experience finding a stylus that will work with my notebook.  The device is a Spectre Pro x360 G1 and I'm running a fully updated version of Windows 10 on it.  I would like to know what styluses would be compatible.

I use the device for business and quite often take notes on it or ask for client signatures (via OneNote, primarily).

Any passive stylus seems to be insufficient as the lines that I draw are full of 'gaps' (eg, not continuous lines) and that is not acceptable for signatures.  So, I thought an active stylus would fix the issue.  I have tried as many as I can get my hands on  (ones I can remember include Bamboo Ink and the new Surface Pen) and none seem to work well.  Most, when paired correctly, will enable the 'click' functions of the pen (eg, opening a new document or opening Cortana), but will not write on the screen.  I've tried all settings I can find (on the pen and on Windows) and can not  even make a single line.

I did find one (the Dell stylus) which would make lines on the device and seemed to work okay for a while.  Thought my problem was sorted.  However, when I was using the device in meetings, I quite often needed to 'wake up' the pen and the only way seemed to be to unscrew the device (removing contact with the battery for a moment) and then screwing it back together.  Sometimes this would work, sometimes not.  Tried changing batteries, but also not always successful outcomes.  Plus the batteries had very little use in them (eg, less than a week of intermittent use, no more than 2 hours total use) and so battery did not seem to be a likely problem.  Then, in an accident, the Dell pen was snapped in half.  I didn't want to buy another one with such hit and miss success, but I'm not able to get anything else working.

Can someone please offer a thought?  I'm not sure if it comes back to a hardware issue (like digitizer on my  device) or what.  

Many thanks for any help you can offer,

Kevin

[EddyK]

Hi ScareKro,

I'm pretty sure this pen will work with your device:

HP Pro Tablet Active Pen (K8P73AA)

It doesn't seem like HP has it in stock. However, I'm looking at some of the reseller prices on these, and well... their price isn't exactly the best. You may be able to call up HP and ask for a stock check. But in terms of Active Pens, I do feel like this is your best bet. If you don't feel like it works well, you could always opt for a refund.

There may be Surface Pens that work on your device - they usually work the best.

Others may have better suggestions.

Regards,

kem579

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[CherylG]

Your model isn't listed on the Stylus compatibility list:

http://support.hp.com/in-en/document/c05166879

[EddyK]

Yeah unfortunately the computer isn't listed but I've read a lot of reviews on this particular stylus (HP Pro Tablet Active Pen K8P73AA) and apparently it works on several different models - including many pertaining to the convertible Spectre series.

And this is probably a reason why you wouldn't want to buy this pen but I was messing around and did find that this advisory document listed both the HP Pro Tablet Active Pen (K8P73AA) and the Spectre Pro X360 G1 Convertible PC, so besides the battery draining issue, apparently they are compatible.

Of course though, I don't have any concrete proof. 

Regards,

kem579

[CherylG]

 @EddyK

According to the Advisory the pen is associated with the Spectre Pro X360 G1 Convertible. Keeping the Stylus compatibilty list updated has been an ongoing project but normally it is new models that are slow to be added. The Spectre X360 G1 was released in 2016 I believe so it is rather confusing why it is not on the list.

@ScareKro

To be clear- there are 2 models of Spectre Pro X360 G1. One is listed as Convertible and has firmware updates for screen on Support page-which may help. The other non-convertible does not have display firmware. Can you confirm which you have? Your Product Number would help determine it if you aren't sure.> https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c00033108

[EddyK]

Hi CherylG,

Thank you for the clarification.

I do wonder though, doesn't x360 imply that the computer is convertible? If not, I am absolutely confused by HP's naming schemes.

Regards,
kem579

[CherylG]

@EddyK

That one confused me also- since X360 should indeed imply convertible. But there were two models coming up earlier. Now I can't locate them- more confused.:smileyfrustrated:

I have put in a request internally for clarification on the pen and the model in Advisory while nothing on the Stylus Compatibility chart mentions it. Sometimes I get an answer fairly quickly-other times it may be a couple weeks.

[ScareKro]

Thanks to everyone for your help and attention.  I THINK my computer would be defined as a convertible.  The screen pivots all the way around so that the keys are underneath and I can use it as a tablet in that mode.  If it helps to shore up the issue, the Product Number is N0B82PA#ABG.

I'll have a look around to see if I can find that pen to try it out.  

Have a great day,

Kevin

[EddyK]

Hi ScareKro,

Well I think I have good news. Yes, your laptop is the HP Spectre Pro x360 G1 Convertible PC (ENERGY STAR) and when you look under your Software and Drivers page here, you can find an HP F-HD Touchscreen Controller Firmware Update so I guess your laptop should support active pens and may support the HP Pro Tablet Active Pen K8P73AA.

I think CherylG's reply to whether your laptop will fully support the HP Pro Tablet Active Pen K8P73AA will help.

Regards,

kem579

[CherylG]

@EddyK

I also feel like the  HP Pro Tablet Active Pen K8P73AA will work with it.. especially with the firmware posted. That is mainly why I wanted a Product Number- always much more reliable in finding correct firmware/drivers using it.

I haven't heard anything from my internal request so no way to say definitively that it will work.