quicksparks
Well-known member
I'm not talking about a stylus for a tablet, but a pen that captures your writing while using it on paper.
I've spent some time researching the options out there; they're in the $130 - $250 price range so I don't want to be brash and throw my money away on what might be a gimmick. I am looking for BARF feedback on whether the increase in productivity justifies the cost or not.
Here's why I'm interested in smart pens: I carry a paper notebook and a pen with me to meetings, and I write minutes and notes by hand. Then, I want to be able to convert the notes easily into ASCII characters on a computer so I can put them in a document or an email. This is to save me the hassle of typing up the notes manually. I realize I could type the notes in the first place, but I just don't work that way. A pen and notebook are much less of a burden to carry around and use on a moment's notice than a chunky laptop. I like to use diagrams and sketches in my notes. Plus, I heard that people are able to remember things better if they write them by hand.
I do not want to write with a stylus on a tablet. I'm pretty much married to the idea of a seamless transition from a notebook to a text file that is transparent to the user while they are taking notes.
Features I don't want:
Features I do want:
Features that are interesting to me, but I fear they might be executed poorly:
Here are the options I'm considering right now (open to other suggestions):
There are some more variations on the Livescribe, which I didn't bother to enumerate in this list. There are some expected new arrivals that aren't available yet, like the Phree, which lets you write on any surface, but doesn't actually use any ink.
Of the three I listed, I think the Neo N2 fits my needs best. The Livescribe can't take notes without being synced with another device sitting next to it, and one review said it had poor battery life. I like the Equil concept of being able to use whatever paper I want, but I'm afraid the process of changing pages will be cumbersome. With the Neo N2, I would be able to flip back to older pages to edit them, and the pen will have an absolute reference to be able to make the edits with no extra effort on my part.
Thanks in advance for any advice or warnings.
I've spent some time researching the options out there; they're in the $130 - $250 price range so I don't want to be brash and throw my money away on what might be a gimmick. I am looking for BARF feedback on whether the increase in productivity justifies the cost or not.
Here's why I'm interested in smart pens: I carry a paper notebook and a pen with me to meetings, and I write minutes and notes by hand. Then, I want to be able to convert the notes easily into ASCII characters on a computer so I can put them in a document or an email. This is to save me the hassle of typing up the notes manually. I realize I could type the notes in the first place, but I just don't work that way. A pen and notebook are much less of a burden to carry around and use on a moment's notice than a chunky laptop. I like to use diagrams and sketches in my notes. Plus, I heard that people are able to remember things better if they write them by hand.
I do not want to write with a stylus on a tablet. I'm pretty much married to the idea of a seamless transition from a notebook to a text file that is transparent to the user while they are taking notes.
Features I don't want:
- Audio recording.
- Low pressure sensitivity (for capturing artistic sketches).
Features I do want:
- Enough battery life to get through a day or two without recharging.
- Good ergonomics.
- Smooth transcription workflow.
- Ability to capture and convert small handwriting (roughly 11 pt font equivalent).
- Ability to capture and convert cursive handwriting.
Features that are interesting to me, but I fear they might be executed poorly:
- Ability to write on any surface.
- Ability to capture writing without being tethered to a device, allowing for syncing later.
Here are the options I'm considering right now (open to other suggestions):
- Livescribe 3 - requires special paper (it has tiny targets printed all over so the pen can determine its position in the notebook), captures audio, must be synced with device while writing, requires proprietary ink cartridges.
- Neo N2 - requires special paper, captures audio, supports standalone note capture (sync later), uses standard ink cartridges.
- Equil Smart Pen 2 - can write on any paper (uses a separate motion capture device that you clip onto the page), doesn't capture audio, can sync later, uses standard ink cartridges.
There are some more variations on the Livescribe, which I didn't bother to enumerate in this list. There are some expected new arrivals that aren't available yet, like the Phree, which lets you write on any surface, but doesn't actually use any ink.
Of the three I listed, I think the Neo N2 fits my needs best. The Livescribe can't take notes without being synced with another device sitting next to it, and one review said it had poor battery life. I like the Equil concept of being able to use whatever paper I want, but I'm afraid the process of changing pages will be cumbersome. With the Neo N2, I would be able to flip back to older pages to edit them, and the pen will have an absolute reference to be able to make the edits with no extra effort on my part.
Thanks in advance for any advice or warnings.
