And in some cases, it might represent the better bargain. The Crayon uses the same palm- and tilt-aware technology as the Pencil, but drops pressure sensitivity. It should be fine for handwritten notes and basic sketches -- you just won't want to produce elaborate artwork. Its shorter seven-hour battery life also rules it out for prolonged drawing sessions. The aluminum-and-rubber design is rugged enough to survive four-foot drops, however, and you might prefer its female Lightning port for charging if you don't like the thought of sticking Apple's pen into the iPad itself.