To demonstrate: as I sit writing this blog, I glance at a ball point pen on my desk.

FORBES: The Outline Trap

Different from Wacom's capacitive Bamboo Styluses available for iPad, iPhone and other touchscreens, the Bamboo Stylus feel delivers a powerful combination of "active" pen and sensor technology for a digital pen experience that emulates the feel of a traditional ball-point pen or pencil.

ENGADGET: Wacom outs the Bamboo Stylus Feel for adequately equipped devices, ships January 7th from $40

As he was saying goodbye, Derga gave the president a pen, a cheap roller ball he had used to write letter to his son in Iraq.

NPR: Behind Bush's Veto: A Father's Loss, a Humble Pen

If you give up on tablet writing, you can replace the tip to convert the pen to an old-fashioned roller ball.

WSJ: Putting Pen to Tablet: Using a Stylus With an iPad or iPhone

He's going round the changing room with a pen in his hand telling all the lads to sign his match ball.

BBC: Harrogate Town 3-0 Gloucester City

Not only did LG drop the ball in not providing a slot for the stylus, but even the manner in which LG buried the pen settings within the software presents an obstacle to wide user adoption.

ENGADGET: LG Optimus Vu review: a 5-inch, pen-enabled phone to take on the Galaxy Note