Registered: Jan 2002
Location:
Posts: 6

Help me decide: Palm Pilot or Visor?

I want a PDA that can take extensive handwritten notes (I thought the Visor PRO could, but I am told it can not). I know all Palm Pilots can take handwritten notes, but when I tried doing it on a friend's unit, the writing came out looking a little curvy and hard to read.

I want to use a PDA for note-taking in class and to make drawings, since I am an architect-in-training. Can someone recommend a really good PDA for jotting down notes with the stylus pen?

Thanks...
DAN

Registered: Sep 2001
Location: Singapore
Posts: 174

Erm... you still have to learn Graffiti if you're gonna get any Palm OS PDA, be it by Palm, Handspring, IBM or SONY.

Unless you get one of those thumb-keyboards, that would make inputting text much easier! Thumb-keyboards are great on the go, but if you want something more comfortable to type on, the Stowaway's your next best bet.

It unfolds to reveal a almost full-size keyboard, and the keys tactile are simply great as well... excellent for typing full-length essays, etc. BUT one drawback is that you need to use it on a flat surface... whereas for the thumb-kb, you dont...

Cheers!
Andre

__________________
my little webby
I still love my Visor Prism

Registered: Jan 2002
Location:
Posts: 6

Thanks for the info, but I don't think I will have the patience to learn "graffiti." I want to save most of my notes in handwritten format....wondering which model is best for that.

Registered: Sep 2001
Location: Singapore
Posts: 174

quote:

---

Originally posted by ProBuyer?
Thanks for the info, but I don't think I will have the patience to learn "graffiti." I want to save most of my notes in handwritten format....wondering which model is best for that.

---

Well, if you dont wish to learn graffiti, you can always get a Palm m125, m500 or m505 as they have the notepad app built-in, and it will be synchronised to Palm Desktop when you HotSync.

But trust me, Graffiti is very easy to use. Practice makes perfect.

When I first got my Visor Deluxe, I simply turned it on, and took a look at the Graffiti Cheat Screen and started writing! Day by day, I dont even have to look at the cheat screen to write Graffiti!

There are very few solutions that offer real handwriting to text, because not everybody's handwriting can fit such a small screen.

Your best option would be to get a thumbboard like I mentioned.
Save everything to a word-editor (WordSmith for eg) and print them out when you Hotsync to your desktop!

__________________
my little webby
I still love my Visor Prism

Registered: Jan 2002
Location:
Posts: 6

Thanks! Very helpful info.

By the way, the Palm's notepad tends to produce fraggy looking text lines, not always nice and straight. Do you know of an app that fixes this or a shareware app that can produce smoother looking handwritten notes?

Thanks again...

Registered: Oct 2001
Location: Macau
Posts: 52

For note taking, I think you would still do best with a keyboard and either the memo pad or a word processor like Wordsmith, but I wonder if something like Diddlebug would allow you to sketch details you want. I have not done much with it, but my brother uses it extensively. He is in real estate development and uses it to draw building details, etc. Diddlebug allows you to link the drawing to a memo (but probably not to other documents). I am not sure how much you can put on a page, so it might not have the capacity you need. I also saw a reference to another program suggested as a replacement to diddlebug in a post here I think, but I have forgotten the name. A search would likely come up with some good alternatives.

Registered: Sep 2001
Location: Singapore
Posts: 174

ProBuyer:

Yeah, traveler is right... these solutions that are available do not work with each other very well.

DiddleBug is free, and it doubles up as an alarm clock or stopwatch as well, which I personally use..

But if you need a word-processor to go, try QuickOffice or WordSmith.. these two are the best options

If you need something more integrated, look at the Teal applications... they have TealWord, TealPaint, etc... and they work together pretty well.

There's also an app from Teal that allows you to configure the graffiti strokes into your normal handwriting, so it might make things much easier.

The only thing is that it's not free.

Cheers.

__________________
my little webby
I still love my Visor Prism

Registered: Jan 2001
Location: Denver
Posts: 46

Have you tried looking at getting a SmartPad to go with your visor (or palm or sony...)? Their ads are usually all over VisorCentral. It may be what you're looking for. You draw or write on a sheet of paper and it gets transferred automatically to your PDA. It's a sweet setup.

The downside, of course, is cost. The new SmartPad2 runs about $200. You might still find the original smartpad in stores. I've seen them in Best Buys on clearance for under $100.

__________________
___________________________
To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is
research.

Registered: Dec 2001
Location: Birmingham, Alabama
Posts: 73

What about Jot?

Isnt' there a program called "Jot" that allows you to enter text by writing on the screen?

Registered: Jan 2001
Location:
Posts: 118

Jot

Yup. I've used it in the past, but went back to Graffiti. Jot was causing a problem with the control character, so I couldn't use some sortcuts - notably the change battery type shortcut. So I removed it, and didn't find a reason to go back.

It does work as it promises, but its still not perfect. If you want to take notes, either use the notepad application from a newer palm unit, or get a keyboard. I got a keyboard for my VDX, and I will never own a PDA that doesn't have the option.

Cheers!

Tucson Sailors

Registered: Feb 2001
Location: Not so sunny, San Diego, CA
Posts: 51

Customized handwriting, pictures

I've used two apps with great success that might be of use to you.

The first is TealPoint's TealScript. It's a replacement for Graffiti that allows you to customize/add/etc the text entry system, allowing you to train it to your handwriting, instead of you training to graffitti. There is a learning curve still, but it is FAR more flexible than Graffiti or Jot.. Add on TealPoint's digital ink extension, TealEcho, and you get an onscreen visual of what you're writing.. Feedback improves entry.

Second, I've been using ThoughtManager by HandsHigh software to take all my in-class notes. It will work well enough with just handwriting, but coupling it with a keyboard makes it 1 step from a laptop in terms of ease of use and speed of data entry (I was usually only 1 word behind the prof, instead of still writing trying to catch up..) Anyways, ThoughtManager is actually an outliner program, designed for multi-level organizing of ideas. Every line entry can have an attached note and picture, and the built-in drawing app is fairly decent. (not as robust as full-fledged drawing apps, but serviceable for visual note-taking). The bonus to this is HandsHigh has just released their desktop companion to ThoughtManager, allowing you to synch your outlines to the PC, edit them or create new outlines, and easily bring your notes into your desktop wordprocessor (Word, WP, etc)

I've tried some of the Palm Wordprocessors, and while these are great for writing essays on the go, drafting letters, etc.. They really aren't geared for class note taking, especially if you want to have individual notes/ideas with attached architectural sketches.

Another option for handwritten notes is MemoPlus, also by HandsHigh.. this is a replacement for the built-in Memo app, but allows addition of pictures/hand notes to memos.

__________________
"It's hard to find my guiding light with this lantern in the way..." Diogenes

Registered: Sep 2001
Location: Singapore
Posts: 174

Alternate Graffiti Apps

Seriously, I've tried all those Graffiti replacements: Jot, TealScript, etc.. and they are rather difficult to use than just plain simple Graffiti!

Graffiti is E-A-S-Y to use. And like I mentioned earlier, once you learn how to use it, practice makes perfect!

Cheeers.

__________________
my little webby
I still love my Visor Prism

Registered: Dec 1999
Location:
Posts: 251

I was the first on my block to get a PalmOs product. Whenever one of my friends was ready to make the leap, they would always indicate that they could get rid of their whole planner: calendar, todos, address book, and note pad. I always tell them they will be able to get rid of everything BUT the pad of paper.

The PalmOS screen is too small to take adequate notes. You can't even write a paragraph in Diddlebug or the M1xx series Notepad.

Graffiti input is too slow and inaccurate for the speed required for taking notes.

Keyboards work well, but you need a large one (Stowaway or GoType) in order to type really fast. Most people in my field (High-End Printer/Publishing Sales) wouldn't be comfortable pulling out a keyboard to take notes with a potential or existing customer.

Write it on a piece of paper and then transcribe it soon after. I do this either on my PC (into Memo Pad) or directly into Memo Pad using my Stowaway Keyboard.

Even with Diddlebug or Notepad, you would still need to transcribe later. So, you might as well just put in on the faster, larger, more accurate medium, paper, to begin with.

Your original question was about which brand model you should buy... Sony Clie. Get one of the entry-level b/w models if you like, but they all look, feel, and work great. That JogDial on the side just seals the deal for me.

Rolando