Ultimate pen allows you to draw anything on top of any application. It is most useful when working with presentation software allowing you to add notes, make comments, and add illustrations on the screen. It can also be used with a group when brain storming or working out the kinks in that new project.
This review was originally posted on VersionTracker.com.<br />We use Ultimate Pen on our classroom computers that are attached to TV monitors. It is a GREAT way for teachers to demonstate various lessons to kids, such as editing.
It's a good idea.
aprillovesmacs
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This review was originally posted on VersionTracker.com.<br />I've found it useful as a scratch pad for reminders that I need to have visible on screen but without obstructing my normal view. I've found it pretty useful there. The interface and shortcuts weren't that intuitive and I had to go back and reread the instructions before I could get it to work OK. It seems stable (no crashes in five days and 23 starts); and in comparison to Desktastic I think it IS more useable; the click-thru short-cut is probably the biggest thing that differentiates the two, that makes a real difference to me. One complaint is that the tool box ought to be visible by default each time the app starts, currently it's not. But all in all I like the program, I'll play with it until the evaluation period (which is very fair) expires and maybe I'll buy it; the only thing stopping me doing so now is that the $20 price seems pretty steep for what I will use it for. When I checked on the web site i couldn't find the Anniversary $5 off sale that Lex Luthor mentioned - maybe it's expired. Ignoring the price issue though, I'll still give it five stars because i do think it's a good app.
hmm
MacG5
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This review was originally posted on VersionTracker.com.<br />Well its not really for having fun and drawing, its more for on-screen drawing work, I like it for guides and for teaching work.
Perfect! It crashed my Mac OS 10.3
loshooligun
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This review was originally posted on VersionTracker.com.<br />I had to de-install it in order for my Mac to be able to boot again
Handy application for lectures and reviews
Danny Ngan
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This review was originally posted on VersionTracker.com.<br />I think Ultimate Pen is a solid and incredibly useful application. I really enjoy being able to press a hotkey and then start drawing anywhere on the screen. I teach animation for a living, and when I'm doing lectures and reviewing student work on screen, it is incredibly handy to be able to markup the drawings and animations as I go. If a student wants a copy of the notes, I just save off the images and then email them the files.
Sure, Desktastic has been out for a year, but there have been no updates for quite some time (I've owned and used it since it was released). I think Desktastic is a great application, but Ultimate Pen has those extra few refinements that make it a better application right now. Customizable system-wide hotkey to activate and deactivate drawing mode, keyboard shortcuts for tools, hiding/showing the tool palette as needed, and user-adjustable tablet settings. Small things, but when you're using it almost everyday, these things do add up.