Stylus firm N-trig reportedly acquired by Microsoft

Between the different models of Surface Pro, not a great deal changed until the line’s third iteration. The Surface Pro 3 brought with it a host of improvements over its predecessors: an improved screen size, a more useful hinge and more powerful innards, among others.

One of the most drastic changes made however was also one of the most subtle. With the Surface Pro 3, Microsoft opted not to include a stylus from Wacom, as it had done previously, instead choosing to go with one from N-trig. Boasting greater accuracy and a more refined pen-tip than the previous, less-expensive versions, the inclusion of this stylus made the tablet/laptop combo a serious proposition for digital artists looking for a new electronic canvas on which to create.

Indeed, the inclusion was so successful, that Microsoft has reportedly opted to purchase the 190-employee Israel-based firm for a cool $200 million. All staff are to be moved to the company’s development and research center in Israel, and will most likely be working on an updated version of their stylus tech for the upcoming Surface Pro 4.

This is yet another example of the ‘new’ Microsoft that we have seen most strongly in recent months. With the acquisition of firms such as Accompli and Sunrise Redmond is burning through cash in an attempt to display two things.

The first of these is obvious, to show investors that the company as a whole is indeed serious about working with others to boost potential. Though no one was complaining about the quality of either the Outlook email offering, or its calendar functionality, by completing these purchases the firm is boosting both its press coverage and its credentials in these respective fields.

The second, perhaps more pertinent reason is equally simple, security. Having let firms like Dropbox drop (as it were) through its fingers, this is an attempt to strike the iron while it is hot and ensure that its competitors do not benefit in its place.

Do you use the stylus on your Surface Pro 3? Let us know in the comments below.