iBall TakeNote or Wacom Bamboo or something else?

honeybee · 6th December 2012, 09:13

I tried searching but couldn't find anything specifically on this topic, so I decided to post my query in a new thread. Please merge this with an existing thread if it exists.

My requirements:

Being an IT manager, I have to take down notes, annotate documents as well as draw diagrams to explain or illustrate things at almost every stage of the project I am working on. So rather than carry the laptop everywhere I was thinking of getting a device like the iBall TakeNote.

As I understand the TakeNote will allow me to write on a normal paper and transfer it to the PC as a drawing/image. This is good for the illustrations or diagrams. However I am more interested in the handwriting recognition (if any) offered by it. I can write in a decent English handwriting without too many curves, so I would definitely expect a good quality handwriting recognition to work with my input and convert it to a document. Minor errors could be corrected post conversion.

The advantage of the TakeNote device as of now is it allows me to be disconnected, allows me to write on a normal paper.

The disadvantage is the quality of handwriting recognition is as yet unknown, as I have yet to see reviews of the device which highlight this particular aspect.

The question is with many designers on this forum, which device would you recommend? There's one established brand, Wacom, but it's mainly into digitizers. I am not sure if the Bamboo range (or any other) allows me to write on paper and transfer it to a PC later. After going through their website I have yet to get a definite answer on this, so if any Wacom users can advise on this part, that would be great too.

The iBall TakeNote retails at around 10k, give or take 10%, IMO. Are there any other products which are as good and as cheap (or better and cheaper)?

vivekiny2k · 6th December 2012, 09:28

check out livescribe, it also records voice.

I used to scan all pages of my notepad at the end of semester, until I stopped taking notes.

Parthasarathig · 6th December 2012, 10:05

If handwriting recognition is important to you, then you require a 3rd party handwriting recognition app such as microsoft's OneNote.

As for digitisers I trust Wacom. Even for a lower priced Bamboo, it is pretty accurate. The higher end ones may not be of any use to you unless you are into digital drawing and stuff.

If you are interested in paper transfers, then there's Wacom Inkling. I think it retails at 14000 inr or maybe more. But it should definitely be better and more reliable than iBall.

But doing paper transfers would be cumbersome, costly and time consuming. It would be much better with a digitiser tablet. My Bamboo has undergone a lot of abuse but still it maps without any errors. You cant go wrong with a Wacom.

6th December 2012, 09:13	#1
honeybee Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Dombivli Posts: 3,055 Thanked: 2,144 Times View My Garage	iBall TakeNote or Wacom Bamboo or something else? I tried searching but couldn't find anything specifically on this topic, so I decided to post my query in a new thread. Please merge this with an existing thread if it exists. My requirements: Being an IT manager, I have to take down notes, annotate documents as well as draw diagrams to explain or illustrate things at almost every stage of the project I am working on. So rather than carry the laptop everywhere I was thinking of getting a device like the iBall TakeNote. As I understand the TakeNote will allow me to write on a normal paper and transfer it to the PC as a drawing/image. This is good for the illustrations or diagrams. However I am more interested in the handwriting recognition (if any) offered by it. I can write in a decent English handwriting without too many curves, so I would definitely expect a good quality handwriting recognition to work with my input and convert it to a document. Minor errors could be corrected post conversion. The advantage of the TakeNote device as of now is it allows me to be disconnected, allows me to write on a normal paper. The disadvantage is the quality of handwriting recognition is as yet unknown, as I have yet to see reviews of the device which highlight this particular aspect. The question is with many designers on this forum, which device would you recommend? There's one established brand, Wacom, but it's mainly into digitizers. I am not sure if the Bamboo range (or any other) allows me to write on paper and transfer it to a PC later. After going through their website I have yet to get a definite answer on this, so if any Wacom users can advise on this part, that would be great too. The iBall TakeNote retails at around 10k, give or take 10%, IMO. Are there any other products which are as good and as cheap (or better and cheaper)?
	() Thanks

6th December 2012, 09:28	#2
vivekiny2k Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: cincinnati, jabalpur,chennai Posts: 1,264 Thanked: 212 Times View My Garage	Re: iBall TakeNote or Wacom Bamboo or something else? check out livescribe, it also records voice. I used to scan all pages of my notepad at the end of semester, until I stopped taking notes.
	() Thanks

6th December 2012, 10:05	#3
Parthasarathig BHPian Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Pothole-city Posts: 894 Thanked: 555 Times View My Garage	If handwriting recognition is important to you, then you require a 3rd party handwriting recognition app such as microsoft's OneNote. As for digitisers I trust Wacom. Even for a lower priced Bamboo, it is pretty accurate. The higher end ones may not be of any use to you unless you are into digital drawing and stuff. If you are interested in paper transfers, then there's Wacom Inkling. I think it retails at 14000 inr or maybe more. But it should definitely be better and more reliable than iBall. But doing paper transfers would be cumbersome, costly and time consuming. It would be much better with a digitiser tablet. My Bamboo has undergone a lot of abuse but still it maps without any errors. You cant go wrong with a Wacom.
	() Thanks