Originally Posted by Milhouse

Nokia _really_ need to get the US and UK online stores "on programme" sooner rather than later - their lack of support for the 770, N800 (and probably N810 given enough time) is ridiculous and really undermines the efforts of the guys slogging their guts out over at maemo.org.

The inability to buy replacements parts for basic in-box and easily lost Internet Tablet accessories is breathtaking.

Ultimately though we're wasting our breath/electrons complaining here - complain via Nokia Care, it's the only way Nokia will listen.

Originally Posted by Benson

Well, only had it for a month, but the N800 stylus seems to snap in securely. I haven't lost one yet, but just for the comfort of something larger, I sometimes use a mechanical pencil. The cheap bics that come in 5-packs, with a plastic tip, and of course the lead is retracted. You could get one of these and discard all the lead, I suppose, but I just make sure to retract it before I use it. (I use these cheap pencils, because I am always losing them, so I just keep a fistful in my pocket.)

Originally Posted by Tony Thomas

Be careful using anything that is not a stylus. I certainly wouldn't recommend it because you can do permanent damage to your screen.

Read this information about styli. It is very helpful:

http://www.stylisource.com/pda-stylu...lus-design.asp

Originally Posted by Benson

I am indeed being careful. The particular pencils I use have a smooth radius on the outside, and are made of smooth, soft plastic. I'm aware of the possibility of damage to the screen; however, I feel that using these pencils poses no increased risk.

I suppose it depends on one's definition of helpful.
It doesn't help me at all, as it only points out obvious concerns that anyone considering any implement for poking at an expensive touchscreen has already thought of.

But maybe I'm the only one who doesn't think of infomercials as very helpful. I suppose it must be "very helpful" to stylisource, after all, as it apparently scares some people into buying a stylus from them.

Originally Posted by Tony Thomas

I understand your skepticism.

The best solution would be to do an objective test.

Get a couple of pieces of transparent plastic sheeting (screen protectors would be ideal) and spend fifteen minutes writing, dragging and poking one of them with your pencil or other chosen implement. Repeat the test using a Pilot or other quality stylus and then inspect the two sheets using a magnifer. Better yet, photograph the results and post them here.