Why doesn't the stylus get much respect?

[bwcaw]

Why doesn\'t the stylus get much respect?

I think that the Streamlight stylus deserves a lot more respect than it gets. It sits unobtrusively in your pocket, untill you need it, then it puts out more
light, for longer than the Arc AAA, plus has a tailcap switch. This was my first led light, and I have yet to find a handier, more usefull, and yes,more durable light. Even the much revered ArcLS is no match for the Stylus in usefullness, sure, it is way brighter, but it is also way more expensive, and at least twice the size and weight.
(this is not an attack on PG's WONDERFULL products, it is merely a comparison) The stylus is a great light in the abuse arena as well. I have dropped mine many times on hard concrete, and
even thrown it at things, but it is still going
strong. I think in our excitement over new lights
blinds us to the already great flashlights that we
have.

 

[Badbeams3]

Re: Why doesn\'t the stylus get much respect?

Are those the one`s that use AAAA bat`s?

Ken

 

[MarcV]

Re: Why doesn\'t the stylus get much respect?

I agree completely with bwcaw except for one thing: the white Stylus is too long. That makes all the difference. The switch is excellent, the (shirt)pocketability is good, brightness is adequate. But I have little use for non-white lights (part of the appeal of leds is the 5,000-6,000 degree color temperature) and so the Arc AAA, because of length alone, wins.

 

[Charles Bradshaw]

Re: Why doesn\'t the stylus get much respect?

I try to stay away from AAA and AAAA. For myself, AA, C, and D are fine. I just threw out a Radio Shack 2AA Metal Mini. I am tossing the useless lights and optimizing my collection to useful white nichia and LS lights.

Since I don't need a penlight, I have not given them any thought, other than a 'that's nice' while browsing.

When I decide something is useless, it due to it being problematic, batts being too expensive, or both. I don't count lithium AA in the too expensive category.

 

[lemlux]

Re: Why doesn\'t the stylus get much respect?

Charles:

My Radio shack 2AA metal light holds a PR bulb.

It puts out a tolerable 20 Lumen with one of the DB4AA 2.8V 0.55 A bulbs plugged into a Carley #912 T-2 1/4 to T2- 1/2 bipin socket adapter when run with lithiums.

I would drill the reflector wider to take a jBechto 4LED PR bulb, except that 2 @ 3.6V Lithium AA's don't drive 4 LED's very brightly. They do drive one or two LEDs brightly.

 

[Brock]

Re: Why doesn\'t the stylus get much respect?

If only they made it with 2 AAA cells and a small step up. even the newer ones are a bit long for me. I really like them none the less.

 

[bwcaw]

Re: Why doesn\'t the stylus get much respect?

I carry mine in my left front pocket in my blue
jeans with no problem, and it rides right next to
my e2. They make a great team!

Just curious, but why do you say it is too long?
I think it fits in my pants pocket perfectly.

 

[MarcV]

Re: Why doesn\'t the stylus get much respect?

I'd be afraid of driving it through my leg if I carried any long thin rod in my pants pocket. I prefer to carry it in my suitcoat inside pocket or shirt pocket.

The only pen I'll carry in my pants pocket is the Fisher Bullet which measures 3 13/16th inches long x 3/8 inches thick (97 x 9 mm). That's about my limit , ratio wise.

 

[alphamaniv]

Re: Why doesn\'t the stylus get much respect?

I like my stylus pretty well. I don't use it a lot but I do keep it close by. If it was shorter, say 2 batts instead of 3 then I would carry it all the time.

 

[Saaby]

Re: Why doesn\'t the stylus get much respect?

I carry an El-cheapo Stanford (But now Papermate?!?) "Clickster Grip" 0.5mm pencil in my pocket all school year long. A black one, should the switching/clicking/advancing mechanism break...I simply take the black lead holder part off the advance mechanism and put on a new advance mechanism--thus I still have a black pencil.

(This is all going somewhere)

I'd be afraid of driving it through my leg if I carried any long thin rod in my pants pocket. I prefer to carry it in my suitcoat inside pocket or shirt pocket.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">The Streamlight is metal, so thats a whole 'nuther ball game, but it has been my experience that my plastic mechanical pencil is much more likely to break than my leg.

 

[MarcV]

Re: Why doesn\'t the stylus get much respect?

A little martial arts training and a chart of arterial flow convinced me. A pencil lead or any object sharp enough to break skin, driven into that artery could lead to death in less than 120 seconds.

I'd rather carry pointy things closer to my ribs than my arteries.

YMMV

ps Maybe I spent too much time in the knifeforums and reading those Paladin books.

ps2 Red Cross training did little to change my mind.

 

[The_LED_Museum]

Re: Why doesn\'t the stylus get much respect?

The Stylus is a good little light, but it's those darned batteries. "AAAA" cells simply aren't available in all areas, so you have to risk explosion and a face full of manganese hydroxide while disembowelling a 9V transistor radio battery for its stash of internal AAAA cells.

 

[PlayboyJoeShmoe]

Re: Why doesn\'t the stylus get much respect?

I know Radio Shack carries aaaa batteries, but aaa and aa are sure cheaper!

I look forward to having an ARC aaa when I get back from South Dakota (which I have decided isn't SUCH a loser state as there are Casinos in Sioux Falls! Yippee!!!).

 

[Roy]

Re: Why doesn\'t the stylus get much respect?

Based on the runtime plot that I did on the Stylus, the half-brightness (time it takes a flashlight to dim by 50%) of the Stylus is 9 1/2 hours!. Unless you use the Stylus alot, the batteries should last quite a while.

 

[steinie]

Re: Why doesn\'t the stylus get much respect?

I respect 'em!! My most used light, in my shirt pocket each and every day. I have 22-25 or so flashlights, both LED and incandescent, and the Stylus 3's are still my most used light because it's always there in the ole pocket.

 

[Roy]

Re: Why doesn\'t the stylus get much respect?

The white Stylus is not as long as it used to be. It's now 6 1/8 inches long. That's only 3/8 inches longer that a Pentel 0.5mm pencil. Battery life is supprisingly long. The handiness factor is great, the shirt pocket is so easy to get to!

 

[MarcV]

Re: Why doesn\'t the stylus get much respect?

Originally posted by Roy:
The white Stylus is not as long as it used to be.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Really? Then I'll be order a couple this afternoon. Thanks for that information.

 

[llvo]

Re: Why doesn\'t the stylus get much respect?

"Stylus a way brighter than Arc AAA"<---Why my Stylus doesn't look that bright and have a obvious blue tint, too

 

[Tesla]

Re: Why doesn\'t the stylus get much respect?

Very simply put?....I can't carry it in my jeans watch pocket like the arc aaa. And aaaa's suck, cost-wise and availability-wise. Not everyone wears a shirt with a pocket (I like polo-style shirts and when not wearing them, t-shirts).

 

[Blades]

Re: Why doesn\'t the stylus get much respect?

I'm happy with mine. I got a good deal on it, and it has been useful a few times. I don't carry it daily(knives in all pockets), but I use it when I need a bright/lightweight light for crawling around in the attic.

Blades