Pen+Paper = 19th century. Wacom tablets = FUTURE
- Thread starter MRoss
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Andy's post inspired me to necro this thread.
If anyone is interested in a very cheap tablet compute to take notes on in school I strongly recommend the Motion LE1600. The View Anywhere model is optimal but will run you $100 extra. The standard version has a pretty dim screen but the note taking experience is excellent.
If you keep an eye on ebay every once in a while the LE1600 sells for around $100 - which is amazing.
example: http://www.ebay.com/itm/LE1600-TABL...10357553?pt=Laptops_Nov05&hash=item3cc56dfd31
...and this is the ViewAnywhere model! Let's see what it goes for.
I currently use the Asus EEE Tablet which I am very happy with, but that costs $700+. The writing experience on the LE1600 is on par with the Asus.
*edit* the battery life on these units is usually between bad and awful, so expect to carry around an adapter.
If anyone is interested in a very cheap tablet compute to take notes on in school I strongly recommend the Motion LE1600. The View Anywhere model is optimal but will run you $100 extra. The standard version has a pretty dim screen but the note taking experience is excellent.
If you keep an eye on ebay every once in a while the LE1600 sells for around $100 - which is amazing.
example: http://www.ebay.com/itm/LE1600-TABL...10357553?pt=Laptops_Nov05&hash=item3cc56dfd31
...and this is the ViewAnywhere model! Let's see what it goes for.
I currently use the Asus EEE Tablet which I am very happy with, but that costs $700+. The writing experience on the LE1600 is on par with the Asus.
*edit* the battery life on these units is usually between bad and awful, so expect to carry around an adapter.
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You people? 
But seriously I don't know your tech background but the iPad is a mess when taking notes. You can get the best pen in the world to work with it. The fact is the screen itself is a touch screen; not a Wacom screen. That means that the accuracy will pale in comparison to true Wacom tablets.
Side note: minimize cost? Last I saw the iPad (+ pen) was slightly more than $100. Unless you kow something you are not sharing with us...
But seriously I don't know your tech background but the iPad is a mess when taking notes. You can get the best pen in the world to work with it. The fact is the screen itself is a touch screen; not a Wacom screen. That means that the accuracy will pale in comparison to true Wacom tablets.
Side note: minimize cost? Last I saw the iPad (+ pen) was slightly more than $100. Unless you kow something you are not sharing with us...
You people?
But seriously I don't know your tech background but the iPad is a mess when taking notes. You can get the best pen in the world to work with it. The fact is the screen itself is a touch screen; not a Wacom screen. That means that the accuracy will pale in comparison to true Wacom tablets.
Side note: minimize cost? Last I saw the iPad (+ pen) was slightly more than $100. Unless you kow something you are not sharing with us...
Hold on. When you say wacom tablet you mean the black pad + pen? (Wacom bamboo or whatever it's called - I have one). If so, then they're pretty decent, but if you want portability you have to carry your laptop + the tablet. Where as with the iPad - you just carry the pad + the pen.
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No. If you take a Motion Computing, Samsung Series 7, or Asus EEE Tablet and unscrew it you will see a chip about 3"X2" directly behind the monitor (centered and plugged into the LCD). This directs the magnetic output of the wacom pen very accurately to where you place the pen. The pen doesn't even have to touch the screen for the tablet to realize where you are holding it.
alain
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Capacitance screens are light years away from a resistance screens when it comes to precision. I love the Apple products (you can search around here and you will see it right away) but nothing compares to a Wacom pen/digitizer combo that MRoss is talking about.
I tried the iPad with multiple pens (including the Wacom one) and the experience doesn't come close to the precision of a Thinkpad Tablet PC. I did most of my last grad degree writting on a tablet PC. You can say the iPad is lighter but taking notes on it is not as good as taking notes on a tablet PC with a Wacom digitizer.
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MRoss
Do you have more suggestions?
I am quite interested in finding a good notetaking tablet. The LE1600 is too old and chunky tho.
Thanks in advance!
Do you have more suggestions?
I am quite interested in finding a good notetaking tablet. The LE1600 is too old and chunky tho.
Thanks in advance!
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If you can, I would wait until Windows 8 launches, as many new tablets will come out then, including new models from Lenovo and Samsung that are rumored to be upgraded versions of the Thinkpad and Series 7 tablets. I think the majority of manufacturers will have one released by the end of 2012, so if you can make it through fall with what you have now, there might be some good options available for you later.
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I had the Samsung Series 7. Though I have only good news to report the screen was way too narrow for my liking. It felt like I was writing on a ruler.
I now use the Asus EP121. I found one on ebay with a little bend on the side and as such got it for $560
It is very solid.
I now use the Asus EP121. I found one on ebay with a little bend on the side and as such got it for $560
It is very solid.
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Since notetaking will be my primary concern, I would prefer products with Wacom tech.
I can't seem to find any new ones with explicit support for it tho. Any suggestions?
I can't seem to find any new ones with explicit support for it tho. Any suggestions?
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Both of the products you recommended are tablet PCs.
Hence, they are really overkills for me and out of my price range.
I am looking for something less functional, maybe runs on Android that also have a very good handwriting experience.
Hence, they are really overkills for me and out of my price range.
I am looking for something less functional, maybe runs on Android that also have a very good handwriting experience.
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What you want does not exist.
You can buy a Wacom slate that plugs USB into the computer. However, it is a black slate and when you write it appears on the screen. I find it very difficult to write this way. The versions that have screen cost $1,000+ and weigh a ton.
You can buy a Wacom slate that plugs USB into the computer. However, it is a black slate and when you write it appears on the screen. I find it very difficult to write this way. The versions that have screen cost $1,000+ and weigh a ton.
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It is starting to look that way after some search online..
It is hard to imagine that there is not one tablets that support Wacom tech....
It is hard to imagine that there is not one tablets that support Wacom tech....
alain
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Back to my post. Most of the tablets nowadays use capacitance screens. They are meant to be used with your fingers not with a stylus. Even Steve Jobs criticized the stylus to no end. The resistance screens need a special stylus but they are the best thing to take notes and write. Samsung has some sort of phone that comes with a stylus. Hopefully, they make a tablet with the same thing.
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Here's a little update:
Asus Eee Note EA800 apparently is designed for note taking and drawing. It does use Wacom tech.
However, it's incredibly hard to come by and it's not a color screen and does little other than writing....
Asus Eee Note EA800 apparently is designed for note taking and drawing. It does use Wacom tech.
However, it's incredibly hard to come by and it's not a color screen and does little other than writing....
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Thank you for pointing this out to me!
I would buy that no matter what the cost... problem is it is not eInk... so I'm out. I've been dying for a Wacom eInk tablet but I don't see that happening anytime soon. Samsung's new electrowetting looks super cool, but still not it.
http://www.pcworld.com/article/228295/samsungs_ereader_screens_boast_167_million_colors.html
I would buy that no matter what the cost... problem is it is not eInk... so I'm out. I've been dying for a Wacom eInk tablet but I don't see that happening anytime soon. Samsung's new electrowetting looks super cool, but still not it.
http://www.pcworld.com/article/228295/samsungs_ereader_screens_boast_167_million_colors.html
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The Galaxy Note 10.1" should be out soon. It is the tablet followup to the phone Alain referenced. It will run Android 4.0 and use the same Wacom tech found in the 5.3" Galaxy Note. I currently use the Series 7 Slate and sync all my notes/homework to Skydrive using OneNote 2010. It gets about 5 hours of note taking on a charge. Prior to the S7S, I used a Fujitsu Q550 which gets about 7 hours of note taking on a charge, but uses an Atom CPU and NTrig digitizer. If you live in OneNote, you won't notice either shortcoming on the Q550 very often.
