@bradray: Flawless.

Amit Agarwal

@AndyW: You can see how the above note looks when transferred into OneNote.

Amit Agarwal

I might actually consider this. Usually I'm against anything that makes you use special paper, but I found this on their site:

"Virtually any paper becomes digital paper by imprinting it with a special pattern of almost imperceptible dots called the Anoto® pattern. With any basic PostScript printer, you can print as much Adapx Digital Paper as you require."

I too want to know if anyone has tried this system, especially about how well making your own paper works.

bradray

Anyone actually used one of these?

AndyW

Logitech io2 ???
Livescribe www.livescribe.com ???
Both available for much less than $350.

davistroy

I've been doing some research and apparently this is the same hardware as the Logitech Io pens. You can get those pens on ebay for about $90. Also, it looks like logitech updated the original software to allow the notes to be exported into Onenote similar to how capturx does it. I guess in the past Logitechs software only exported the image and so it wasn't searchable. $350 is a little too much for me, but for less than $100 I'll see if I can get the Logitech Io pen to work. Last time I looked into the Logitech I was scared off by proprietary paper, but if I can print my own…

bradray

I'd love something like this, but I aint spending that much. Besides, I like pencils.

RickS

I've tested the pen (last month from a different vendor) to do redlines and construction designs on maps in the field. When the data is uploaded, the software actually puts the correct style lines and symbols in the right place. The paper maps are printed using their print driver that puts the dots on the page, giving it a very slight tint.

aeronaut

The thing I don't like about these kinds of pens is the "special" paper or pad they require. It's usually marked with very small dots. I want a digital pen that can write on any surface - paper, cardboard, the passed out guy on the couch.

Then again, having a digital reproduction of that giant penis written on Jimmy's forehead might not be what you got the pen for. Or is it?

plinkofrog

Just an FYI for those interested...aside from the Livetscribe I would suggest the following over this Adapx Capturx.....

[www.oxfordeasybook.com]

Much more functionality and usability on the software side. The software is fantastic actually and their digital notepads come in a variety of flavors.

All of these pens work off of the same technology by Anoto...such is the Nokie Pens, Logitech IO's, Capturx, and even the LeapFrog FLY Pentop Computer popular one or two holiday seasons ago.

That being said it should be noted that all of these share the common problem of requiring the "digital paper" in order to work. While the pen can write on any surface as a regular pen, it will only capture if it is used on the digital paper which contains the special dot matrix design.

blacksh33p

This is the pen that I want [www.livescribe.com] If this thing works as well as the video shows, I think it will be a tremendous asset to meetings and note taking.

I like the fact that a) I can print out my own paper to use with the pen and b) it will let you jump ahead to the proper spot in the audio when you click on a part of a note to hear what was said while you were writing.

That's pretty much the clincher for me.

billweh

The video on the linked page must be the most boring thing on the planet. Write 5 lines of words, import to onenote, search it. I DON'T CARE HOW MUCH YOU LIKE THE CHARGING DOCK, @$$HOLE. Can't it just be simple?

mferrari

@davistroy:
I justed checked out LiveScribe and all I can say is WOW! It's like Science fiction becomes reality. I records my lectures and take my notes but I rarely use them together because it's just not convenient. I ALWAYS think to myself, I wish I could just take notes and put it all in my computer with ease.
With Livescribe my prayers have been answered. I don't even mind the price tag, which I would normally scoff at. AND you can print your own paper. Once again...WOW!
I am on the waiting list now. Thank you for telling me about this wonderful piece of scifi goodness.

Sorry if that sounded like an infomercial. I'm just giddy with excitement. Seriously.

EracMan

1. use regular paper and pen; take notes
2. scan into pdf
3. give meaningful file name and use good folder naming conventions
4. won't take that long to search pages containing possible info for retrieval
5. congratulate self on not spending $350
6. use saved cash to buy a wallet so you don't have to make your own [sorry, a Lifehacker pet peeve :)]

SnarfThundercat

My inline YouTube link didn't work.
Here:

+ Watch video

mathmonkey

How do these compare to the pens that work on regular, non-printed paper using sonar? It uses a special pen/thumbdrive combo.

Dane Elec:

mathmonkey

This looks pretty interesting. Does anyone know if there a writing recognition software that comes with it?

RGP

I don't think this has much application to the individual user for all the reasons mentioned above.

However, if you're regularly sending people out into the field to collect information and don't want to spring for a laptop or a pda and appropriate software this could have a quick payback.

Ten pens could equip 10 temporary field staff at the price of one toughbook.

Say you needed to inventory trees in a city park. Print out a few 11x17 maps of the park with the grid and a legend, hand them out and the field person eyeballs or measures the location of the tree and logs descriptive data with check boxes. One could do a couple of hundred trees a day. With a GPS you'd have to buy appropriate Trimble equipment ($3,200), set up the program and then stand under each tree waiting for a position from weak satellite signals filtered through the tree. Repeat the wait for each tree. If you're lucky you can get 5 to 10 trees an hour.

aeronaut

One note yet unmentioned: It needs special paper with tons of tiny dots in the background, a major downside for me because you won't always have that paper with you. It's not a big deal to carry around a pen, but a seperate notebook is. Also, the paper isn't the easiest to find in stores.

Stephen Colon

anyone tried any of these?

z-pen
amazon.com/Multifunctional-Wireless-Download-Handwritten-required/dp/B0

013USYDG/ref=wl_it_dp?ie=UTF8&coliid=I9PNU9VZFP1DS&colid=3SH20358UP58I

dane electric pen
amazon.com/Duracell-DA-DP1-01GC5-R-Dane-Electric-Digital/dp/B0013JHJWE/ref=wl_it_dp?ie=UTF8&coliid=I20WM7OM2TDDWY&colid=3SH20358UP58I

io gear mobile scribe
amazon.com/IOGEAR-Mobile-Digital-Scribe-GPEN200N/dp/B0014BJIFM/ref=wl_it_dp?ie=UTF8&coliid=I289E7266P5QL7&colid=3SH20358UP58I

all are supposed to use any plain paper and cost less then $100

eatrip

"anyone tried any of these?"

Haven't tried but the downside of these seems to be that you need a receiver plugged into you computer while in use so no use for out in the field.

louisd

@louisd ah no there is a receiver clipped to your paper(or pad) but they're not plugged in to use

eatrip

It think the solution should be complemented by caracter recognition so that you could have a type version of your notes.

I see 2 applications

1) taking notes at wine tasting

you have to write down as the smells, and tastes occur to your smell and you palate.
you have your glass in one hand and write with the other, in general you are standing.
It is then difficult to use a computer to type (one hand is not quick enough), may be with a tablet PC but you could be afraid of spilling wine on it.

That solution combines with caracter recognition would be interesting I think.

I would advise sales people to knock on the door of robert Parker, Mr Tanzer etc to have them try and improve the solution and then to other tasters...

Though it is desirable there is no easy solution to transform your wine tasting notes into electronic notes you can archive in a data base and then search into etc.

2) Network engineering, architect and pre sales people

very often a working sketch of the customer problem and solution is beeing drawn on paper, evey body including the customer wants to leave with the drawing on which the customer constraints were exposed and solution principles too, that would be a solution to give an eletronic copy to everybody to take away

Thibault

I'm stunned no one has mentioned Pegasus. I bought one for myself for business and one for my daughter for school off ebay.

You do NOT need 'special' paper with the Pegasus digi pen. I also use it with Evernote. Again, ANY paper that is A4 works.

You just use the clip on which is like the clip of a clipboard really.

Reasonably priced, and even better on ebay. I bought two on ebay for less than the cost of one--brand new.

My only stipulation with digi pens is 'comfort preference.' If they offered varying 'fits,' maybe as clips, it would be excellent. I'd use mine more often if I wasn't so big on how a pen feels in my hand.

The last I saw Pegasus isn't compatible with Office 2007. That is what I use. :o(

Dr. Zoë Bohemian

@RGP: Capturx doesn't have a writing software but it works with OneNote so that has inbuilt handwriting recognition.

Amit Agarwal

I use and sell the Destiny PLC solution (who own the Logitech pen arm) - the Logitech IO 2 is available as either Bluetooth/USB or just USB (be careful if you buy the cheapest - it may not give you everything.

The solution we have is to use the pen in conjunction with your phone via bluetooth to upload immediatey(phone/symbian/pda/blackberry) and I use this with my Blackberry 8310. also bluetooth to pc (for classroom/training etc, or of course dock via USB.

This solution uses Handwriting recognition (not OCR) and transfers a .doc file as well as a scan (png) [www.notobook.com] by email to you and up to 10 other recipients (just tick a small box 1-10 on the page before ticking send) see [www.flickr.com]

Use a4 or a5 books for notetaking or we provide custom forms (or simply transfer existing forms - data comes back as xml/csv ready to be integrated in your back end)

I also use the Oxford books as mentioned above as the form factor is almost Moleskine see [www.flickr.com]

ps the Nokia Digital Pen is the Logitech IO2 rebadged

davidebrady

Special Paper? Reminds me of the flytop pen computer... Do I see a firmware hack potential?

Anywayz, I personally think this is useless. I would prefer one of those portable page scanners like [www.amazon.com] the docupen. Write on anything then scan it. Great for scanning one or two pages out of a book without killing the spine...

cde

Can the digipen and software works with Macs? I didn't see anything about it on any of sellers website.

RGP

Sorry, forgot to mention, there's a nice review about the digital notepad to be found here:- [eddie.niese.net]

FizzyPopMan

I recently bought one of these:- [www.waltop.com] Mine is branded 'Medion' (purchased in the UK) but it is also sold under the Aiptek brand in the US:- [www.aiptek.com]

The downside is that you do have to carry around the notepad base as well as the pen, but the upside is that you do not need any special paper. I primarily use it for scanning thumbnail sketches/notes, and it does this job really well.

The software's UI is a bit crappy, but it works pretty well, converting to bitmaps, jpegs, or PDFs. Someone has also written a plug in that will convert to SVG (handy for illustrators/graphic artists).

@RGP - I don't know about the Capturx pen, but I do know that the digital notepad will work on the Mac. It requires additional software (which costs 15 euros):- [vectorpen.com]

FizzyPopMan

@RGP: Capturx works with OneNote and therefore available only for Win.

Amit Agarwal

it will be interesting to try this... but the post also reminded me to note that evernote for win installs and functions just fine with codeweaver's product under linux (mandriva 2008 and kubuntu).

just save the evernote-xxx.exe to a folder and install in a winxp bottle with codeweavers. it also syncs perfectly with the online database.

it will probably work under wine as well; i just find this a bit more convenient...

gfb1

I look forward to competition in this field heating up and prices coming down - the US350 for the Capturx sounds *too expensive* to me, especially next to the LiveScribe. A US$50 pen that could write on plain paper and later have 100s pages worth of notes downloaded into a computer shouldn't be too far away.

What particularly excites me is taking familiar paradigms and adding value by enhancing them through digital interfaces: just about everyone knows what a pen is, ;) and I have to wonder if the rise of these digital pens with text recognition and other niceties will encourage some people who're otherwise adverse to computers to dig in more.

Torley

I use an Adesso Cyberpad. [www.adesso.com] The entire set (leather binder, digital pen and pad) cost <$150.00 and it truly uses normal 8 1/2 X 11 notepads. For an additional $6.00 you could purchase Blue Euclid's Cyberconvert software [www.blueeuclid.com] converts the file into many formats for Onenote 2007 or Evernote.

tyagar

Does anyone know if any of these Digital Pen solutions work with the Mac OS-X? I know Pegasus and LiveScribe are Win only. Which is odd since they are pitching at the academic market. Are there other Apple friendly options out there somewhere?

rdav

I'm a college student and I've personally met the CEO of Livescribe and he showed me the functionality of the pen. A couple friends of mine actually own the pen and the only minor flaw is the startup time, but essentially works as well as advertised. Check out the demo vids on the website. The audio feedback works rather well when you tap your corresponding text. $350 is way too much for Capturx to charge college students for these simple functionalities. Livescribe's pen looks a lot slimmer and sexier than Capturx's model.

-335

ededsu

If they ever make one that's Mac compatible, I'm right there. I'd love to be able to write something on paper then have the pen upload it.

MorgaineSwann

I think some of the statements being made here based solely on price comparisons between CapturX and LiveScribe's PULSE aren't fair...you have to really look at what each can do, and they are aimed at two very different sets of usage patterns:

One of CapturX's big deals is how well it works with OneNote. It also has bluetooth for dockless synching. And the way it works with blueprints/GIS maps is really well thought out. Their notebooks are rugged and have waterproofed paper - good for field work.

The LiveScribe seems aimed more at student note-takers, a similar but clearly different set of usage scenarios.

CapturX's charge lasts about a week. I'm sure the LiveScribe can't possibly do that well with the addition of audio recording and playback...

If the LiveScribe can integrate with OneNote with the same robustness (CapturX even keeps track of multiple paper notebooks and what page you're on in each, etc!), then I would consider myself 100% sold.

I need a smart digital pen in the field - I'm not a student.

leMel