Ask Engadget: best note-taking tablet / laptop for under $200?
By Darren Murph 
posted July 15th 2010 11:01PM
posted July 15th 2010 11:01PM
Max isn't even opposed to buying second-hand, but we just know someone out there has a delightful option on the new market as well. Don't bother putting off your answer in comments below -- that Fall semester is just about the bend, you know?"I am a student looking for a second portable computer for taking notes in lectures, as I am ridiculously unorganized at the moment. The thing is, I only have a very small budget, and I need a tablet / touchscreen computer. I have at most £150 ($228) to spend."
hmm, the best would be an ipad hands down, but for under 200, i guess an asus EEE pc netbook would do the job
@Zeroexe43
Knowing that Apple's iPad is no where near US 200.00, There Was No Need To Even Mention It.
@DaHarder -- ACECAD Digimemo L2 == AWESOME
@Zeroexe43
For note taking? The iPad has a great touchscreen, but have you ever tried typing on it? Terrible experience. It's not the iPad's fault, flat, glass touch screen keyboards just aren't nice to type on.
I'd recommend a Microsoft Couri-...
Just go with a pen and paper for now...
@Spaceshipped again as stated above can it be had for under $200... No.
@Zeroexe43
No, an iPad is not good for note taking.
A second-hand HP tablet (or whatever else you can find cheap on craigslit) with Microsoft Onenote would be the way I would go.
@Zeroexe43
iPad not only is a lot more expensive than $200, but it's also a horrible device for making notes. iPad's virtual KB sucks compared to even crappy netbook ones and the handwriting experience on it is also crap compared to even the most primitive resistive screens, let alone to tablets with wacom layer.
Anyway to answer the original question, if you look hard enoigh you can find Thinkpads X41 for that price on ebay and that would propably be the best choice for notetaking. The best keyboard in laptop business, plus very good tablet mode with wacom layer screen (and just wacom layer, so no need to wear those silly gloves like on iPad)
Pen/Pencil and paper. Don't even bother trying to serious take notes on a tablet. Take that $200 and put it towards something else. Why do you need a tablet for taking notes?
@Spaceshipped
Okay honestly wtf? are some people so against apple that they dont read a comment they just find keyword ipad? i was in the exact situation as him since my laptop didnt survive all my classes, the ipad battery life is great for it, i love typing on it, just because you cant doesnt mean no one can. plus blue tooth keyboard, and he wanted a tablet so what tablet has a keyboard, i said it wasnt 200 so try asus, but if can get a used one for 200 try to do that like everyone else replied saying get a slate or something used, and he said, god damn people this mindless trolling hate has to stop
@DaHarder read my comment next time you troll
Don't feed the trolls.
@Zeroexe43
An iPad? I hope your joking. Taking notes in a class with a touch screen keyboard? If a decent stylus worked on the iPad you may have a point, but no way. (if there is a stylus and good writing app for iPad please prove me wrong, that would be great for taking notes)
@Zeroexe43
Wrong again. I like the iPad, and a blue tooth keyboard is a fix I that is all you have, but again I have to agree with it's not a good idea.
Max isn't apposed to buying second hand?
For that price he'd be lucky to get third hand.
@Zeroexe43
iPad is a great device (I have one), but it just does not work for taking notes on the go.
Since he is looking for a *second* computer, why not consider a LiveScribe pen? It is within budget and there is no better way to take notes and draw sketches. Everything can then be downloaded to his primary computer after the class.
http://www.livescribe.com/
@1 Infinite Loop Cupertino CA
Paper is kludgy and inefficient to me. Can't easily edit or duplicate it.
OneNote + Tablet PC = student's best friend. It works like paper, but it's more dynamic. Need to move something to make way for something else? Lasso and drag it. Need more space in a particular direction? Just scroll over and write. Need to search your handwriting? OneNote indexes it all in the background.
Too bad there's no focused device for that sort of thing-not now that the Courier's just a concept. Maybe the Kno will deliver, but dual 14" screens makes for a HUGE device-probably too much to handle.
Anyway, to answer the question: Toshiba Portege M200 or HP TC1100. A little luck on eBay and you can get either one for under $200 shipped, fully-functional and with all the key accessories.
@DaHarder Wait for the Eee tablet. It is supposed to come out in September, for $199.
@Zeroexe43 Eee tablet. $199 in September. Just in time for notetaking season.
@Zeroexe43
zeroexe43 has zero chance
@Gooch818
well you guys done goof'd im back tracking you and calling the cyber police
@Spaceshipped I actually don't mind typing on my iPad. I put 4 small rubber feet on the back of mine which gives it grip and keeps it from wobbling on the curved back. I've been bringing it with me to meetings and training at work for note taking.
@bob1000 this is exactly what I'm waiting for :D
@Spaceshipped The hardware and software for good note taking has been around for years.
I bought a Fujitsu P1510 which seems to run Windows 7/Office 2007 perfectly well. Adding either Evernote or OneNote to that and it's brilliant for taking written notes while in lectures etc. Does get a bit hot so wouldn't be great for carrying around often.
Max, I've not been a fan of the cheap looking fujitsu's but they do make the best tablets by far. Very well thought out in hardware and software/drivers etc. The P1510, P1610 ans P1620's are good little laptops. Mine feels more powerful than a netbook even with a Pentium M 1.3GHz CPU. And the keyboard is good too. RESISTIVE sreen though (not a Wacom Digitizer with special pen like the Toshiba M400) but fine for notes and you can even use your finger for scrolling etc in IE8. Just reply if you need more advice/details.
@aamp Thanks, that was the kind of thing I was looking for. The 1610 looks good, but what is the resistive screen like? Does resting your palm on the screen cause any problems?
I was looking at the TC1100 before asking engadget, they seem to go for about £100 on ebay, but the Toshiba's seem good too.
@1 Infinite Loop Cupertino CA
Seconded. Better options on how to spend $228...
$5 for a pen, pencil, paper for taking notes in class.
$60 for a Sandisk sansa clip+ 8GB for rocking some tunes on the way to class.
$3 for a pack of gum to offer to that smokin' chick you just sat next to.
$5 for some Axe deodorant so you can stretch your arms during class and get the chick to notice your almost ripped biceps (but not really because you're still working on lifting those 10 lb free weights).
$40 for roses to bring on your date with the hot chick after she gave you her number in class after your repeated attempts at flirting... or was it floundering?
$80 for dinner & a pitcher of sangria at this tapas place you found on yelp that everyone says is super tasty but the pork tenderloin tastes really rubbery for some reason.
$18 for dessert at that joint where all they serve is dessert and its 18 freaking dollars for two small chocolate lava cakes, but it's ok because you secretly love chocolate even though you're a dude and you're still a manly man.
$2 for Carmex so your lips aren't dry for when you make your move and kiss her at her doorstep.
$10 for a box of x-large condoms for when she invites you upstairs and rips your shirt off while you pick her up and toss her on the bed.
$5 for gas station sunglasses for when you leave in the morning (after pulling an all-nighter if you know what I mean) so you can get that swagga going on and mind-hum "Damn it feels good to be a gangsta."
....or I guess you could get an acer aspire one if you'd prefer to get a netbook to take notes instead. Your choice really.
@AdrianWerner The IBM x41 is a no go. They have a smaller hardrive that is still based on the 3.5 ide but shorter. I know I had one and it only ever had a 40gb in it. yes might be big enough but a large paper weight if it fails.
I say a EEE PC with the HD and the Celeron CPU. that way it can still do some stuff as well as note take.
@Zeroexe43
If he's getting an external keyboard, he may as well get an actual laptop, it would be easier to use.
And you're one to talk, troll.
@DaHarder
Why not go almost iPad?
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.42070
@NamelessFragger Why are you editing notes to begin with? That's the point of notes. They're notes, things to jog your memory and short snippets of information. And handwritten notes are easily duplicated via a copy machine.
My advice, learn shorthand and notetaking techniques and transcribe them at home. Not only does it refresh your memory, but you zero in on the important details. When you take shorthand, you think about what you're taking notes on. When you type notes, you're trying as hard as possible to type everything that is said in class. It's the difference between comprehension and transcribing.
@Zeroexe43
Another vote for pen and paper. Learn shorthand if speed is important to you. If you absolutely, must go digital, save up for a capacitive tablet. The pressure sensitive ones (like the new asus tablet) are a pain to write on.
Acer Aspire One (on sale)...
@DaHarder
... they're often on WOOT for right around US 200.00.
@DaHarder Or one of the many netbooks on the Argos clearence store on ebay, since he appears to be in the UK.
pen and paper, 3 dollars at your dollar store ;)
@kup3 Technological heresy!
@kup3 Yep. I don't like to criticize Engadget, but this just isn't a very helpful Ask Engadget topic. Under $200? Seriously? Well, I'd check out Woot.com and hope you get lucky with refurbished netbook.
Next time, Engadget, how about answering the question many of us actually do want answered: What's the best media streamer for under $300? There are so many of these little boxes coming out and it's impossible to tell which is really the best to use just from their spec sheets and codec lists. Thanks for considering it.
@wemustcontrolpeople Once upon a time the paper and pen were as advanced as the iphone today.... except that they actually did what they were supposed to
@kup3 I did get criticized for holding my pencil wrong in grade school...but it still kept working.
@CRA1G I don't think there IS a wrong way to hold a writing utensil as long as it writes, unless of course you were attempting to write with the eraser side >>
@kup3 Sorry, but that has no style.
I'd get a P-P-P-Powerbook.
http://www.zug.com/pranks/powerbook/
@CRA1G
Me too - lefty
@kup3
What's the third dollar for?
@panosx a candy bar or a slim jim of course!
Look for a ThinkPad X41 tablet on Ebay or such. It'd be faster CPU-wise than any current Atom-powered tablet, that's for sure.
If you can find them, something like the defunct CrossPad is pretty sweet. Basically, you have both a paper copy and a digital copy.
Zune HD
Fresh from the front page of Slickdeals is this Asus Eee Netbook 10.1", LED, 1.66Ghz, 10.5 hr battery, 250GB HDD, 1GB DDR2 RAM, FS, No Tax for most, $229.
http://slickdeals.net/forums/showthread.php?threadid=2129424
@macphile good to see another slickdeals enthusiast on engadget!
@macphile After taking notes on a netbook last year I can't say I recommend it.
The reason is simple after you realize it, note taking with a pen and paper forces you to remember the information you are trying to take notes on for longer and write it shorter to be able to keep up with the instructor. With a keyboard you can easily record the entire speech exactly as it was without having to think at all about it because typing really fast is quite easy.
Now think about test time when comparing the two. With pen and paper you've already had to digest much of the information and had to remember it for at least a little while in the first place, with a netbook you just passed it right through onto the document. What method is going to make it easier to study with, and, ultimately, take the test with?
@YuriTenshi
i don't understand your logic. But this is the type of question that really makes you remember just how important the courier was. And glad there are other slickdealers here as well. I'm using the inspiron 1012 from that deal a while ago.