Dell Active Pen PN350M Compatibility

Question

The active pen compatibility brochure lists the Dell Inspiron 14 5400 2-n-1 model as being compatible with the PN350M model active pen. However, the pen does not work with my laptop, even though it was recommended in the compatibility brochure and as an accessory on the Inspiron 14 5400 page. The touchscreen works fine, but the pen doesn't seem to be compatible, despite the list saying it is. Is there a solution to this, or will I just have to return the pen? A bit irritated by the misleading info. Are there any *digital* pens from Dell or anywhere else that could work for my specific model of laptop?

ejn63 · Answer

If the system is active pen compatible (historically, the model number of the system alone doesn't determine pen compatibility; it's SKU-specific) it will have a "pen compatible" sticker on the palmrest. If that sticker isn't there, the system has only a touchscreen - not an active-digitizer screen. This system appears to have many price points, from under $500 to $750 or more -- if you have one of the former, it's almost certainly not active pen compatible.

It's also sold at retail - meaning the systems are built to the specs of the buyer: Staples, Best Buy, etc. --- so features can and do vary.

If what you have is a touchscreen only (as it sounds) - you can use a pen such as the one below, but don't expect precision drawing or handwriting.

https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-Capacitive-Touchscreen-Devices-Including/dp/B008HJGPVO

amahtin · Answer

The laptop was purchased directly from the Dell website. While I see that there is no 'Active Pen Compatible' sticker on the device, this model laptop (Inspiron 14' 5400) was explicitly advertised on its specific Dell store page and in the pen compatibility brochure that the Active Pen was a supported and recommended accessory. This device was purchased for school and with the intent for digital art, but it appears that won't be the case. If this laptop does not support digital stylus input, I'm likely to return it for false advertising.

Lindsagna · Answer

I am having this issue too! I just got my Inspiron 7506, which suggested the same stylus (pn350m), but the pen does not work effectively. While my pen does work, it is glitching with almost every stroke. The pen works a little bit better with light pressure, but is still very inconsistent. I am unable to use the stylus as anything more than a mouse--unless I want everything to be a dotted line--and have even attempted to use the "write to type" feature in Microsoft Edge, but every stroke I make registers as a colon, exclamation mark, or a completely different letter than I am attempting to write. I have relatively neat handwriting, and even slowed it down further to rule that out as the issue.

Is this the problem that you are having, or is the pen not working altogether?

Inspiron

Dell Active Pen PN350M Compatibility

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