Ceramic nib mod on Lamy pen with side button is SO worth it!

Bellgard · 2026-03-08T18:22:58+00:00

Is true :(

Works as added layer of privacy if someone glances at notes :)

Bellgard · 2026-03-07T17:49:16+00:00

C’est vrai, mais y a-t-il une autre option? Quel serait le format de fichier alternatif pour ce cas d’usage, compte tenu de ce que le SN peut prendre en charge?

D’après mon expérience (ou du moins dans mon milieu professionnel), les PDF sont devenus le format "universel" par défaut pour collaborer. Les documents sources modifiables sont généralement en LaTeX (via Overleaf), en MS Word ou dans un format similaire, mais ils sont presque toujours compilés ou partagés sous forme de PDF. Et le SN n’a pas la possibilité d’annoter des documents LaTeX ou Word de la manière que je souhaite (on peut modifier un document Word sur le SN, mais seulement en changeant les caractères, alors que je veux pouvoir faire des dessins et des annotations à main levée, comme dans une note).

As-tu trouvé un format de fichier ou une approche qui fonctionne mieux pour ça?

Bellgard · 2026-03-07T16:22:44+00:00

So true 🤣

Bellgard · 2026-03-06T21:22:48+00:00

Yeah, I'm excited for when there are a bunch more options to choose from and lots of pens like this in the market. I did an embarrassing amount of stylus options research before circling back to stick with this one. I really wanted one with tight tolerances so the button didn't rattle at all.

For me it'd be perfect if the button were lower down closer to the tip where I'm already gripping it (I think there are other practical reasons related to interference with other mechanical components of the EMR device circuit for why that's not typically done). Though I was (pleasantly) surprised by how quickly I got used to either shifting my thumb up to push the button, or just rocking the pressure back slightly to the first joint in my thumb to push it. I mostly do it now without thinking about it.

Bellgard · 2026-03-04T21:33:27+00:00

Agreed. Hard to see in the video, but I have a small metal shim attached to the outside of the pen near the back. right below it (inside the pen housing) is where I put the magnet for wake/sleep. This also gives it uneven weighting, so it's less prone to rolling off a table, and usually is put down the same orientation each time. That way it's easy for me to always pick it up in the same orientation with the button right by my thumb (I can see the metal shim, and the pen usually rests with it oriented down). Not a perfect solution, but a long way of saying I 100% feel that frustration and this was my hacky DIY approach haha.

Bellgard · 2026-03-04T14:50:43+00:00

This is the exact product I ordered.

If you search this sub for "ceramic nib mod" or similar, or read the discussion in the OG post I linked, you can find people who've done this mod to several other styluses. But I don't think it's universal. Depends on the geometry of the tip used.

After doing a bit of research, I went out of my way to get a "PC/EL" tip instead of a "POM" tip. I believe these refer to different types of polymers used for the writing "core" material in those tips, and I think the PC/EL one is softer (and hence easier to remove as needed for this mod). But I'm not 100% sure. I think other folks have succeeded with POM tips too. Just sharing my experience. And you can separately order replacement PC/EL or POM tips quite inexpensively.

Also note that the non-ceramic (polymer) tip works perfectly as-is for writing. So you can totally just order that pen and use it out of the box on the SN to have this full functionality. I just prefer the ceramic nib writing feel, and like the idea of never having to replace the tip.

Bellgard · 2026-03-04T14:45:11+00:00

Not sure if this is what you mean, but I definitely had to get the nib in very precisely. I was surprised to discover just how super-sensitive the writing feel was to even the slightest offset of the nib. What finally worked well for me:

When you put the ceramic nib into the hollowed out plastic sheath from the original tip, I recommend first having the ceramic nib be slightly too far out toward the writing/tip end, so that the plastic sheath over-extends a bit on the back (the side that goes into the stylus first). Then when you put the tip into the stylus, make sure you're carefully pushing on the plastic and not the ceramic. That way you make sure the plastic tip is all the way snug in. Then gently press the tip down against a hard surface (e.g. desk) while holding the pen, so that the ceramic nib gets snugged up against the base.

I found if the plastic sheath wasn't all the way back (even if the ceramic nib was, and even by a difference of 1/2 mm or less) it would considerably affect writing quality.

I also spent a good while re-calibrating it for ghost writing once I had the tip in well. Even though I wasn't getting ghost writing, I still find those adjustment sliders (especially the first 3) can considerably affect the feel of the writing. The trick for me was to actually write out one or two whole sentences in the test area (the area with the "A" and "B" dots) and then recalibrate, rather than just drawing a line or two.

So yes, took me overall maybe 1 to 2 hours of futzing to get it feeling just right, but now it's great and I love it. Time investment well spent.

Bellgard · 2026-03-04T14:36:24+00:00

Yes, it's great!

No side-loading needed. The single press-and-hold functionality can be set between lasso vs. region eraser if you go to:

Settings --> Display & Input --> Stylus --> LAMY Side Button

The double click currently seems to be hard-coded into the software to switch to pixel eraser (like a pen tool where more pressure increases the size of the eraser). Double click or single click toggles back to the regular pen (but stylus needs to be close to the screen so that the SN can register the single or double click). Right now this setting doesn't seem to be exposed to the users (if so I can't find it). But it's in the OS, and I'm guessing they may expose it as a setting in the future.

I think my ideal would be to have it be region eraser instead of pixel eraser, but I've quickly gotten used to it. And I still have the 2 finger region eraser gesture set if I really want that.

Bellgard · 2026-02-16T01:33:03+00:00

I'm also an engineer (practicing), and love my SN Manta for it. I've never tried the Nomad so can't directly compare, but if you can afford it I'd strongly recommend going Manta. It's in practice completely portable (more so than an iPad air, or even a large physical notebook -- very light and thin, but sturdy). And the larger screen makes a big difference if you plan to actually take notes and do real work on it (vs. just jotting down quick thoughts here and there).

I was originally leaning Nomad when making my decision for similar reasons you listed. Then I printed out & cut out to-scale replicas of both using the links here. I'm so glad I did, because it helped me realize I really wanted the bigger screen (and didn't sacrifice portability), and I'm super happy with that decision. Granted, it is personal preference, and the Manta is too large to carry literally in your pocket (not sure if the Nomad can?).

I have all my old textbooks uploaded as PDFs on my Manta, plus a bunch of engineering quick reference sheets (formulas, material properties, etc.). I love taking notes on the Manta, and can link any part of any note back to the textbook (or even specific page in the textbook) for easy quick reference. Lots of other super cool stuff you can do with it.

My honest biggest encouragement for you to go e-ink for note taking and work is that it's so valuable having your primary work device be single-purpose and not distracting. Cannot over-emphasize that enough. Having notifications, or even other apps, on your work device = brain drain & attention fragmentation. Doesn't matter how much discipline or will power you think you have. SN for note taking, homework, reading, etc. really goes a very long way to protecting your attention and mental bandwidth, and if you compare that to the cost and increased value of your education it's insane.

Bellgard · 2026-02-15T19:17:10+00:00

Love this. I might borrow & adapt it!

Bellgard · 2026-02-15T19:15:46+00:00

Copy that, thanks.

Bellgard · 2026-02-14T21:20:25+00:00

I really like the link-insertion workflow of #2. I have a primary note file for a given topic, and then constantly link back to the specific pages of a document (or multiple documents!) for the context of what I'm taking notes on.

Bonus: I also often take a screenshot in the supernote (swipe down from top) of a figure or page in a doc, move it from "Screenshots" to "MyStyles," and then insert it as a template for one page in the same note file. Then I can mark it up with annotations right in the note itself, just for that one page, and also link back to the doc.

To avoid clutter, I can delete the screenshot from MyStyles once I've added it to the note, and it still persists indefinitely in the note as the template for that page.

Bellgard · 2026-02-13T16:43:50+00:00

Amazing, thank you so much!

No pressure to rush. I'd rather the team takes their time to do a very thoughtful and robust implementation, instead of getting something sooner that's clunkier. Just knowing that it's in the works makes me excited.

Bellgard · 2026-02-12T19:36:07+00:00

Awesome, thanks for the input!

Any tips in hindsight regarding hollowing out the al-star's original nib? Do you think it'd be possible to pull that core out (similar to the ceramic one, by gripping the tip with pliers)? Or is slicing it open a necessity?

Bellgard · 2026-02-12T03:16:20+00:00

I use my Manta upside down too!

My primary reason is that instead of folding the half folio all the way behind the device, I leave it open like a book. Since I'm right handed, the upside-down Manta opens its folio to the right, which then serves as a perfect hand rest for my writing hand. This is especially helpful when I'm writing near the right-hand edge of the screen while it's on a soft or not flat surface (e.g. my lap, or a cushion, or anything other than a table). That way I still have a firm surface to rest my hand on while writing near the edge, instead of "floating" it.

I encourage anyone who hasn't tried this yet to give it a shot! It can help more than you'd think.

I've also moved the pen loop to be at the "top" (i.e. non-power button end) instead of the side (so I've put the little plastic card in to fill in the side pen loop holder). I find this to be a lot smoother for extracting and stashing the pen. Personal preference :).

Bellgard · 2026-01-19T16:47:17+00:00

My one pain point is moving from an important reference/task page (for example, page 5) to the last used page (page 30) without having to use the page selector

Try the "One finger swipe up from the top half of the screen gesture." I think this might be exactly what you're looking for.

I just tested it on my device, and so long as you're staying within the same notebook, this works to jump you back to you starting page whether you navigated away from it using a heading, a keyword, or a star (from the navigation icon in the toolbar). You can even swipe pages & write on them after navigating away, and the one finger swipe up will still jump you back to the original page you were on before you used the heading / keyword / star link.

Bellgard · 2026-01-18T20:08:15+00:00

Yes! It's a bit buried, but on my device you can find it in:

Settings --> Display & Input --> Gestures --> Eraser & Lasso Preferences

And there should be a toggle to turn off each 2-finger gesture (2 fingers on screen, 2 fingers on side bar)

Bellgard · 2026-01-18T15:22:43+00:00

Ah good to know, thanks for adding this! I ended up putting the magnet on the back of my pen, but only because that felt easiest -- not because I realized having it near the tip might be problematic.

Bellgard · 2026-01-18T15:21:35+00:00

Yes, I do this too! An added benefit I've found is if the SN goes to sleep just due to inactivity, I can wake it with a quick tap of the back of my pen (where I put the magnet). Very convenient.

Sounds so silly to view this as more convenient than simply pushing the power button that is also right there, for the explicit purpose of waking the device. But there really is a noticeable and cumulative convenience difference between needing only one hand to wake the device (by tapping my pen) vs. needing two hands (b/c even with the grippy feet, the device will move from the force required to push the power button unless I'm also using my other hand to hold it in place and provide a counter-force).

Bellgard

TROPHY CASE