This device is designed to work in much the same way as a graphics tablet but without the need for a large sensor pad cluttering up your workspace. The E-pens works by attaching a sensor to the top of a sheet of plain A4 paper and then writing or drawing on the paper as normal; the results then appear on screen. The software does not claim the pin-point accuracy of imaging graphics tabs – it’s far more suited to making quick sketches, or notes that can then be translated into real text using Microsoft Office or Windows Vista tablet software. However, for what is a very simple piece of kit, it works very well and is actually more accurate than some budget tablets, and far better at handling real text.

One huge benefit the E-pens has is that, within its choice of stylus nibs, it has a regular biro cartridge. This means you can actually see what you are writing, or drawing, on the pad in front of you as it is also being translated onto the screen. For this reason it is obviously more suited to text but not exclusively. The device has two modes from its PC only software: Pen and Mouse; the Pen mode brings up a note pad for your writing and sketches, while the Mouse mode allows you to control the pointer as you would with a tablet and allows sufficient control for basic drawing and editing functions – though no pressure sensitivity.