Device for Taking NOTES?

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  illusionarybreeze on 23/10/2011 - 12:25

  +5

  I think the cheapest option would be to simply scan the pages at the library. Then, if you have ok handwriting, OCR software can recognise your writing as well.

  A more fancier option would be something like Livescribe, which involves a pen that tracks everything you write down, which you can then upload onto your computer at home. However, this solution requires their proprietary paper which contains microdots that allow the pen to do its work. Another function of Livescribe is sound recording, so if your lectures are not recorded, the pen can do that for you. I believe the Livescribe software also has OCR written in, so you can search for particular words in your notes.

  Another option would be a device like the Wacom Inkling that is soon to be released. Youtube link here You don't have to use any special paper for this as it uses a scanner that is clipped to the top of the page to track the pen. Preliminary hands-on tests suggest that as you get to the bottom of the page, words get stretched out and is not as accurate, but it might be sufficient for your needs. If you want OCR, I think you will need separate software for this option.

  I have only ever used the first option though =) The others I have read about in passing. Good luck with your search!

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    ThePensioner on 23/10/2011 - 22:47

    wow, that's a long thread.

    i'm just after something the size of the kindle, but that'll allow to write using a stylus or something. i don't want to be printing out paper. it's just for me to send it to the PC.

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      illusionarybreeze on 24/10/2011 - 02:13

      +1

      1. The Wacom Inkling is a pen and clip-on scanner. It uses any normal paper.

      2. The Livescribe is just a pen. You don't print the paper - you have to buy it. The pen stores an image of what you have written, which you can send to the PC.

      3. A tablet gives you many more functions if you want them. Also consider whether you like writing on glass.

      Options 1 and 2 are more portable than a tablet and you automatically have a hard copy, but a tablet does many more things.

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        ThePensioner on 24/10/2011 - 06:03

        ok, thanks bro. i spent some time looking at the information on the Livescribe site and it seems great. after reading your reply i now realise i'll have to buy their own special paper, which is a bit of a drawback, but not a big issue.

        overall, it's appealing. the 2GB starter looks good for $140, but it doesn't include a notebook. i'm guessing battery time will last a few hours?

        the only drawback is that it doesn't have bluetooth or any type of wireless connection. i really like the idea of being able to upload my written notes via wirelessly to my PC. do you know if it's possible to buy a bluetooth/wireless accessory, not necessarily from this company, but from place else? i'm not up to date with wireless stuff so i have no clue.

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        ThePensioner on 24/10/2011 - 06:58

        one other thing i just noticed is that there are two different pen versions. one is the 'echo' and the other is the 'pulse'. they seem identical, here are the links:

        http://www.smartpen.com.au/content/2gb-livescribe-pulse-smar…

        http://www.smartpen.com.au/content/echo-2gb-smartpen-starter…

        officeworks has the pulse here: http://www.officeworks.com.au/retail/landing/livescribe_puls…

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        illusionarybreeze on 24/10/2011 - 07:24

        I don't think there is a product that will do that. Is wireless essential? You will need to connect the pen to the PC to charge the battery anyway.

        I've never used Livescribe before, so it's best to do a bit more research before you go and purchase it. llama's link to whirlpool further down the page is a good place to start.

        Check if the battery life is sufficient for your needs and if possible, find a pen that is the roughly the same diameter to see if you're ok with it. Also check overall longevity of the battery, and whether it is replaceable if it does lose its charge too quickly in a year or two.

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        illusionarybreeze on 24/10/2011 - 12:03

        They explain the differences here

        Scotty's solution down the bottom is probably the best if you already have a smartphone with a decent camera. It means you don't have to worry about carrying around an extra piece of equipment, or running out of battery during a lecture.

        Evernote is good for organising notes, but unless you need OCR, you could do without it.

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  bendertiger on 23/10/2011 - 12:48

  Above beat me to it:

  Cheapest solution seems to be, get a scanner (often included in cheap arse printers now).

  Scan and archive notes
  Get OCR software

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  rack on 23/10/2011 - 13:10

  The above suggestions are all good. The OCR technology is not always easy to use. You have to put in a lot of effort for it the recognise your writing. I think what u are doing currently is much better. Re typing out everything allows you to go through your materials and study at the same time. You also can rewrite everything in your own words and make more meaning of things as you go.

  On the other hand what i wrong with keeping notes on paper. Simply file them properly and you don't really need backups do you.

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    BuyoTheCat on 24/10/2011 - 08:43

    When I was in Uni, rewriting my notes was a good way for me to revise when I have studied. and also allows me to trace some of my thought. I tend to do that within a few days of the classg. More than once I have had WHAT THE F WAS I WRITING. I had to look and think hard at what I have written and retrace my thoughts.

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  scrimshaw on 23/10/2011 - 13:51

  I just use a laptop, which is fine for taking notes in Law and Business related classes. Don't take notes word for word — you are not going to pick up what the lecturer says. Just take down in dot points and use shorthand whenever possible.

  Always keep a printout of the the lecture slides so that you can annotate on them.

  For math's you're going to want to have a pen+paper or a tablet like device so you can understand and keep track of formulas and rules.

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  issh on 23/10/2011 - 14:12

  Sometimes a flip camera(or any other small video recorder) will work if your lecturer talks fast. The advantage of this is that you can 'refer' to the lesson again if needed

  ---

  Livescribe is also good, you'll only need 2gb

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  llama on 23/10/2011 - 15:06

  A Livescribe is what you need

  read this - massive thread but all the info is there… http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum-replies.cfm?t=752364

  They work well,

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  nubzy on 23/10/2011 - 19:15

  Looking for someting to take notes here too. I have got by with just notepad and pen for a while, and in some way I prefer it but an ipad or similar device will help with storing a bit more information as I get tired of writing after a while. not too keen to spend $500+ on one of those though.

  I dont like taking my laptop in because it is over 16" and quite heavy.

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    scrimshaw on 23/10/2011 - 19:24

    http://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/55523

    The Acer Iconia tab goes for $381, and it supports USB devices too, so you can tote around a portable USB keyboard and it should do for an ersatz laptop.

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  Feepitee on 23/10/2011 - 20:15

  Maybe a netvertible? I currently have this:
  http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&p…
  $399 is fairly cheap for the specs and a touchscreen, + it's resistive so you can use a stylus on it. You can use it for taking down notes in tablet mode, and typing stuff in netbook mode.

  I get 5-6 hours on it with Power Saver Plan and Granola installed in Windows 8 Developer Preview (Windows 8 increased the Battery Life by half an hour).

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  Deebs on 23/10/2011 - 22:03

  I use my Nook Colour tablet for note taking at school, was slightly difficult because it's only 7" but still managed to get it done in my chemistry/english/biology classes using the on screen keyboard, if you want the handwriting thing there are a couple on the android market that will do this think it was called handrite. There are some that will recognise writing and convert it to typed writing and some that will just take it as it is written, can't say which ones cause I had to reformat my tablet and forgot their names but google should help.

  So basically in short for a tablet, if you are going to use an on-screen keyboard get something bigger than 7" and if it's for handwritten notes get something like the HTC flyer.

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  ThePensioner on 23/10/2011 - 22:43

  yah, i don't want to use a laptop or attach a keyboard. i really like the idea of handwriting. maybe i should have emphasised that a bit more.

  what are my options? the computer doesn't need to have OCR, even if it just stores the notes as pictures on the pc.

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  issh on 24/10/2011 - 00:44

  If you do have the budget.

  i don't want anything fancy. i thought an iPad type device would work, but apparently these can only recognise the human finger and i need to use a pen; maybe a stylus type thing would be ideal here?

  Yes, if you do use a stylus it will work

  There's the targus one or the Griffin Stylus(which seems similar to the targus one)

  Whirlpool link to iPad Stylus

  or you can opt to get a cheap one and try it out
  http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Stylus-Touch-Pen-Apple-iPhone-3-G…

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  bob_wangkar on 24/10/2011 - 01:45

  Not a cheap idea, but a lenovo x200t would come in very handy.

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  ThePensioner on 24/10/2011 - 07:16

  the digital pen stuff seems great. are there any wireless options out there?

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  ThePensioner on 24/10/2011 - 07:18

  i still can't see the difference between the livescribe pulse and echo - both are 2GB.

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  scotty on 24/10/2011 - 11:12

  +2

  What I usually do:

  • Still use the old pen & paper solution, especially in some cases I'm already given outlines on a piece of paper.
  • Take photos of the notes at the end. I use an Android phone, and there are some free apps that will let you find the 4 corners of the paper, stretch out and then merge multiple pages into one single PDF.
  • Upload the notes to Evernote straight from my phone, and it's then in a searchable format from all my devices. The free tier only has 60MB/month upload limit though. Alternatively use Dropbox with 2GB free to store/share your notes.