Aiptek's MyNote, for Tablet PC-lovers on a budget

In today's modern world of super technology, you can't really show up to a meeting anymore sporting just a plain old pen and notepad (unless you want Peter and Ryan to giggle and mock you behind your back, that is), but not everyone can afford a fancy Tablet PC on their blogger's meager incomes. Enter German manufacturer Aiptek with its MyNote digital "clipboard," a standalone A4-size device that can capture your notes and inevitable doodles on its 1,000-dpi touchscreen, saving your priceless chicken-scratch onto 32MB of internal memory for later uploading onto a real, Windows-powered machine. The MyNote, which costs only 113 euros ($144) -- plus the price of five AAA batteries required to power tablet and pen -- can store up to 135 pages of your brilliant musings, and even more if you slip an SD card into the expansion slot. Sure, you're not getting a full-fledged computer here, but with its 20-hour battery life, you and your MyNote will still be semi-productive long after your colleagues' laptops have crapped out and their Minesweeper jonesing renders them completely useless.

[Via MobileWhack and MobileMag]

[PanAsianBiz @ Aug 29th 2006 9:55PM]

For $144, I think I'd give that thing a try. There are some meetings where I need to copy down drawings or charts, which I obviously can't do on my laptop. This device would certainly do the trick though.

[vectorpen.com @ Sep 15th 2007 10:15AM]

Hello,
please send me a testfile with just a few lines drawn if anybody has this notepad. We are develeoping a file converter to convert .top files to editable .svg files. We would like to support the Aiptek Notepad as well. Thank you very much for your support! Just mail to [e-mail]

[drfish @ Aug 29th 2006 10:04PM]

From the design, price, and description on their site, I'd say that this is NOT a touchscreen tablet. Rather it's a digitizing clipboard. You stick a piece of A4 paper under the clip and write on it with their pen, and it makes a digital copy of your ink work which can be uploaded. It will keep track of different pages, so if you switch *real* paper pages, you select the proper page on the mini lcd screen so the revisions go to the correct digital copy.

Not so exciting as a $144 touchscreen tablet.

[Dan L @ Aug 29th 2006 10:08PM]

it says windows-powered machine....but i want one and am curious what'd be keeping it from working on a mac. if it just saves your notes as images on an sd card, then it shouldn't be a big deal... right?

[chrismalinao @ Aug 29th 2006 10:11PM]

This I think is the real tablet PC - simple to use, ready to go, functional and inexpensive. Go, Aiptek!

[Ivan @ Aug 29th 2006 10:14PM]

I like it.

Anyone have any good software to parse these files?

They don't save pen stroke information, right? That generally greatly helps with handwriting recognition.

If I need to type my notes from reading the images, I may as well just use a laptop. That's why tablets are interesting: they have processing to enable your notes.

[Mike P @ Aug 29th 2006 10:17PM]

Dan L, I may not be right, but it's my guess that this device doesn't have the power to write the image file itself, so it stores the written data in another proprietary format and uses a piece of software to translate that file, once on the computer, into an image. And that software may only be available for Windows.

[thetinguy @ Aug 29th 2006 10:19PM]

This is old tech. Anyone ever heard of the crosspad? Back in 98-99 is when it was manufactured. Apprently it was discontinued in April '01. It was essentially this.

[Michael @ Aug 29th 2006 10:34PM]

Cool. I mean it really isn't much different then just writing something on paper and then scanning that paper later. But I guess if you write alot of notes you don't have to go through the trouble of scanning each page later on. Or if you don't have a scanner already.

[Dan L @ Aug 29th 2006 10:36PM]

Mike, that makes sense, thanks for the reply.

[mediaking @ Aug 29th 2006 10:40PM]

$144? Come on guys. The product title may be misleading and not totally innovative. However, a buck forty-four seems like a decent price for a "digitizing clipboard". I do UI design and tablet PC simply don't work for my purposes. I need a plain old pencil and pad to flesh out the initial ideas. From there I can hop on my laptop. To be able to save all of my sketches without the headache of scanning is pretty compelling. Granted this isn't earth shattering stuff, but I've wasted $150 much more useless stuff. I'm getting one.

[Max E. @ Aug 29th 2006 11:11PM]

There is a non google translated version of this page. It's right here:

http://www.aiptek.de/index.php?lan=2&mapid=31&katid1=10&detailid=46

I can't find it in the on-site store though.

[adam s @ Aug 29th 2006 11:13PM]

i don't see what the difference between this product and the (existing) adesso cyberpad. i ordered one, but it hasn't yet arrived. it should come any day now...

http://www.adesso.com/products_detail.asp?productid=294

[Steve K @ Aug 29th 2006 11:13PM]

okay so that link didn't work properly. Please just picture a leather bound 5.5"x8.5" notebook in black.

SK

[blacksh33p @ Aug 29th 2006 11:31PM]

Scratch this crap off your "buy" list guys and go for this...

1: Nokia Digital Pen or Maxell Digital Pen

http://www.nokiausa.com/nokia_accessories/item_details/1,2305,product:SU-1B,00.html
http://www.maxell.co.jp/e/products/industrial/digitalpen/index.html

2: Oxford Easybook M3 System - Pads and Software for personal/business use that really takes advantage of the pen, the software included with the Nokia is fairly limited. Also, has a very nice indexing/search system built in.

http://www.oxfordeasybook.com/en/index.htm

I can not begin to describe how wonderful this technology is, and how simple to use and accurate it is when it comes to converting hard written notes to typed text (no training, 90% accurate off the shelf, no bull)

It cost about twice as much as this pad thing ($150-200 for pen, $75-100 for Easybook)...but worth every last penny. Sadly reading about it does not do it justice, but definitely check out the Oxford EasyBook stuff for a good explanation of use.

[kyle allen @ Aug 29th 2006 11:44PM]

thats prety cool

[unimog @ Aug 29th 2006 11:46PM]

don't forget the Logitech IO digital pen... been around for a few years.

http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/products/features/digitalwriting/US/EN,crid=1545

all these digital pens require special paper...

[rr3 @ Aug 29th 2006 11:51PM]

Not the Adesso. It uses regular paper. It looks sweet. How much Adam S?

[QuachMD @ Aug 29th 2006 11:52PM]

THIS IS LOOKS IDENTICAL TO THE ADESSO CYBERPAD. Exactly down to the button style, layout, and pen. I know, because I own one. If it is the Cyberpad, then it is an awesome piece of technology.

Assuming that it is, a few points addressing the posts above:
1) It will also double as a touchscreen tablet.
2) It does save pen stroke information, and it saves it as a .top file.
3) The .top file can be inserted into Evernote (www.evernote.com - $30 retail price), which will translate the handwriting into text.

Obviously, this isn't even close to having a real tablet pc. But for the price ($140), it works amazingly well, and gives you a way to preserve your handwritten notes. And considering it also does the same thing as a Wacom tablet (which costs about the same), you are getting quite a bargain.

Personally, I ordered one to hold me over until a decent tablet pc comes out :)

[Micheal @ Dec 17th 2006 11:19PM]

QuachMD...I recently purchased a Cyberpad by Adesso.. I'm a visual Notetaker. I hooked it up and it transfers my digital notes to OneNote using a third party software. I'm having problems getting it to recgonize my pen (it's like its defaulted in landscape or something, and then what I write doesn't show up on the page even though it shows the pen in relation with my cyberpad...) But I'm really interested in possibly using it in a greater way...such as filling in reports while it is hooked up in my usb port.

Could you help me? I'm kindof in new territory and don't know anyone who can give me support with this. Drop me a line if you're able to help out. Thanks

[QuachMD @ Aug 29th 2006 11:55PM]

Yes, the "special paper" requirement is what turned me off to the digital pens.

I bought my cyberpad for about $130.

[rr3 @ Aug 29th 2006 11:58PM]

QuachMD, the Adesso doesn't have a pressure sensitive pen does it?

[QuachMD @ Aug 30th 2006 12:02AM]

Unfortunately, I don't think it is pressure sensitive. It just recognizes "writing" or "not writing".

[QuachMD @ Aug 30th 2006 12:04AM]

Unfortunately, I don't think it is pressure sensitive.
It just recognizes "writing" or "not writing".

[rr3 @ Aug 30th 2006 12:10AM]

Still cool. I'll have to get one. The Adesso that is, not this one here. ;)

[supersocialist @ Aug 30th 2006 1:13AM]

I have an older device very similar to this, which I picked up on eBay... same concept, but smaller pad and CF expansion. Let me tell you, that thing was crap. If this does away with the proprietary-format image store it'll be an improvement, but still not worth nearly $150.

[paolo @ Aug 30th 2006 1:33AM]

soo.. where can i buy one??

[Bophojones @ Aug 30th 2006 3:26AM]

After working in electronics at a Target store for half a year and selling aiptek products that were only to be returned days later, my "aiptek stuff is crap" instinct is kicking in....

[Chris @ Jan 14th 2008 2:36PM]

The most common reason for Aiptek stuff being returned (most often the cameras, I'd imagine) is that people are expecting something way more for a relatively low price. Like expecting a sub-$150 digital SD-based camcorder to be just like a much more expensive MiniDV or hard drive-based camcorder. Unrealistic expectations, people. The cameras, in my experience, are fine if you know what to expect and do some research.

[Yesterday's Fish @ Aug 30th 2006 7:23AM]

I'd be surprised if anyone remember the Cross Pad. MyNote is very similar to a product that IBM and Cross came out with about 10 years ago. It failed. I was required to buy one for a college course - more or less field testing it for IBM at my own expense. Handwriting recognition was poor and the pen lacked the precision for those of us who don't write like we are in the first grade. Buying special refill pads also started to drain my meager college student budget. The upside to MyNote is that it costs half as much as the Cross Pad did when new.

http://www.theapplecollection.com/design/pcproto/CrossPadXP.html

[Cam Anstee @ Aug 30th 2006 8:20AM]

Have any of you guys ever seen the Pegasus Mobile notetaker? We ditribute a few of these 'digital pen' type of products in Australia and from what I've seen this one is the best of the lot. No idea who distributes them to other parts of the world though...
http://www.pegatech.com/Articles/Article.asp?ArticleID=81&CategoryID=98

[Nodnetni @ Aug 30th 2006 9:09AM]

One of my fellow employees bought one of these last year he kept it for all of a month because it wouldn't convert the notes to text, it just saved everything as an image. He was not overly pleased with it. I dont know if they have made improvements to it or not but the one he had was really cheap looking.

[tony @ Aug 30th 2006 9:50AM]

Does anyone know if there is a Mac compatable product like this out there? it sure would be a great tool to have....

[vectorpen.com @ Sep 14th 2007 11:38AM]

Yes!
There is a way to use it with a mac! We few students wrote a converter but it only supports dhw files from the ACECAD Digi Memo. Currently we are working on the top file format but we need testfiles! so please send them to us and we will get anyone going with fabulous software for free!
Visit www.vectorpen.com or mail me some testfilesto [e-mail]
Thank you for your support!

[Matt @ Aug 30th 2006 9:56AM]

I have a CrossPad in the desk drawer next to me. It sucked. The resolution was too low, and it was easier to just scan my notes in after I wrote them out.

[Stephen @ Aug 30th 2006 10:40AM]

IBM did this years ago.

http://researchweb.watson.ibm.com/electricInk/

Nice to have an updated version with an LCD that was very lacking in the Crosspad. REally like the idea of editing these pages before uploading to computer.

[Raj @ Aug 30th 2006 10:45AM]

Both the Pegasus and the Adesso CyberPad are available on Amazon:

http://tinyurl.com/hgpb6 (for the Pegasus)
and
http://tinyurl.com/f4bjq (for the Adesso)

So am I correct in saying that the Pegasus does handwriting recognition out of the box, whereas the Adesso requires extra software ?

[gigabull @ Aug 30th 2006 12:35PM]

awesome

[Jezlyn @ Aug 30th 2006 12:45PM]

Personally, I find there is little value for converting my handwritten notes into text, unless I need to share them with someone else. And even then, people have accepted my written notes with no problem. I have a Tablet PC and I take tons of notes in OneNote for work and for personal use. I feel they have more meaning and "jog my memory"-ability when kept as handwritten files.

Of course, this is especially useful when you have any diagrams interspersed with your handwriting. Unless you have absolutely horrible handwriting, you could probably still share your handwritten notes with others just fine. Being able to quickly e-mail a copy of your notes to someone is a benefit with this device.

And while I haven't personally used the Adesso Cyberpad, I have heard good things about it.

[Jezlyn @ Aug 30th 2006 1:04PM]

I forgot to mention that even if your handwriting isn't correctly interpreted in OneNote, it's still possible to search your notes and get relatively accurate results. Another reason why I don't convert my written content.

[Mark G @ Aug 30th 2006 2:26PM]

This product, the DigiMemo has been around for ages that seems to do much the same thing...
http://www.fentek-ind.com/digimemo.htm

[BostonMD @ Aug 30th 2006 10:32PM]

QuachMD,
.top files...are these these the same as the Io pen files? Everyone gripes about handwriting recognition, I don't find it that useful---however, what I DO find useful is the ability to 'playback' my notes. The IO pen does this, but I never got one because a. The notepads are two expensive b. Feels like writing with a crayon But the ability to PLAY BACK notes is great, especially in school when you are solving equations and such...because you can review your work to know things evolve...

Anyways, I think i'm getting this..

[QuachMD @ Aug 31st 2006 5:16PM]

BostonMD,
Not sure about the IO pen, because I've never used it But regarding the Cyberpad, it doesn't require special notepads (you can just get a regular notepad from OfficeMax). The handwriting recognition isn't built in, but is present in conjunction with Evernote (www.evernote.com), which is a great product in it's own right.

The handwriting recognition in Evernote isn't perfect, but it does a decent job. But like you, I prefer to just keep it as a handwritten note. The bonus is that once you import it into Evernote, you can move portions of handwriting around via click-and-drag if want to reorganize your note. You can even then use the Cyberpad as a touchscreen tablet and add new handwriting.

The downside with this is that you're writing on the Cyberpad, and watching it come up on your computer screen, which doesn't make for very accurate handwriting. But then again, it is just a tad over $100, and works pretty well as a Tablet PC stand in.

[MalignantKid @ Sep 1st 2006 1:58AM]

I bought the Adesso cyberpad shortly after seeing this and with just a few hours of use I'm in love.. This is a awesome tool for any student! A tool like this offers unlimited possibilities for notetaking/sharing/editing.. As I wait for the Asus R1 to come out in the States I'll be taking digital notes and using them to create study guides for quizzes, tests, etc... This is the perfect option for getting most of the functions of a Tablet PC for a fraction of the price, these puppies can be found for as little as $150! Plus if you use it in combination with a tablet you get the perfection solution, paper notes in digital form on one pad, and a searchable index/editor on the other! Did I mention it has a can take notes for 20 hours straight? And comes with rechargeable AAA batteries? I've been having this ginormous geek high ever since getting mine in the mail. Spread the word!

[BostonMD @ Sep 1st 2006 10:23AM]

Can anyone post up some screenshots of actual files of that typical note would look like?

[GradStudent @ Sep 1st 2006 12:21PM]

For those that want to use this to work with Microsoft's OneNote. A third party develope Blue Euclid Software http://www.blueeuclid.com , has a little application that exports .top files into OneNote. It works for Adesso's product, so it almost certainly works with this thing too.

[QuachMD @ Sep 2nd 2006 11:02PM]

If no one posts any screenshots by next weekend, then I'll post some at that time (currently away from home).

[Jeff @ Sep 20th 2006 4:11PM]

Anyone with experience with BOTH the Pegasus and Cyberpad?? WOuld love to hear the pros and cons of each.