If you regularly use a stylus on your iPad, Wacom's (http://www.wacom.com) Bamboo Stylus duo can save you some pocket space. It's an US$39.95 dual-purpose stylus for the iPad (and Android) tablets.

The Bamboo Stylus duo combines a capacitive pen tip for on-screen input at one end of the Stylus with a premium ball-point ink pen at the opposite end for use on traditional paper. I use the ink pen more than I do the stylus, but it's nice to have both options in one slim gadget.

The duo is especially useful with Wacom's Bamboo Paper, a nifty (and free) digital notebook app available at the Apple App Store. You can use it to create and share handwritten notes, doodles and sketches.

The Wacom stylus supports the native resolution of your input device touch sensor, which makes it a great complement to the new iPad's Retina display. You should note that if you're using a protective screen on your tablet, it may interfere with the stylus input.

Wacom has done a great job with the Bamboo Stylus design. For example, the pen cap can be attached to either end of the accessory, protecting the end that's not in use -- and preventing folks like me from losing the pen cap.
If you use the Wacom solution a lot, you may wear down your stylus nub or use up all your ink. No problem. Both can be replaced. The Bamboo Stylus duo is the ideal tool for writing, drawing or doodling in both a digital and analog world.

Rating: 10 out of 10

-- Dennis Sellers