Tablet with digitizer versus ipad for note-taking

Will a tablet with a digitizer (and powered pen) be significantly better for freehand note-taking than a ipad?

I can get a Windows 7 tablet with digitizer for about the same cost as the equivalent ipad 3g. Note-taking is the most important feature to me but if the writing experience is only slightly better than on a ipad, I might be persuaded to get the latter.

Any opinions from people who've used both would be great. The Windows tablet I would be getting is a HP Slate 500. Thanks.

There's not much difference between them, but overall taking notes on a tablet sucks. It's OK for occasional use (like in a business meeting), but I would not recommend it for classes or any other extensive note-taking activities.

The stylus makes a difference - the windows machine can use a hard plastic stylus, but the ipad needs either your finger or a special conductive stylus - I've found the Griffin one with the soft rubber tip works best for me. Then you need note software for the ipad - I like neu.notes since it's free & does everything I need, but there are a bunch of better ones if you dont' mind paying a few $.

I'm guessing you probably already have a PC somewhere, so I'd recommend the ipad because it's a good complement to a PC (but not a good replacement for one); and I've never been that impressed with the Windows tablet implementation.

I'd recommend that you consider a 16GB wifi iPad 1 from the Apple refurb store ($349). If all you're doing is note taking, no need for 3G and no need for an iPad 2, plus the ipad will hold that value pretty well in case you decide you hate it & want to sell it.

Quote from Jeffbx : There's not much difference between them, but overall taking notes on a tablet sucks. It's OK for occasional use (like in a business meeting), but I would not recommend it for classes or any other extensive note-taking activities. The stylus makes a difference - the windows machine can use a hard plastic stylus, but the ipad needs either your finger or a special conductive stylus - I've found the Griffin one with the soft rubber tip works best for me. Then you need note software for the ipad - I like neu.notes since it's free & does everything I need, but there are a bunch of better ones if you dont' mind paying a few $. I'm guessing you probably already have a PC somewhere, so I'd recommend the ipad because it's a good complement to a PC (but not a good replacement for one); and I've never been that impressed with the Windows tablet implementation. I'd recommend that you consider a 16GB wifi iPad 1 from the Apple refurb store ($349). If all you're doing is note taking, no need for 3G and no need for an iPad 2, plus the ipad will hold that value pretty well in case you decide you hate it & want to sell it.

Thanks for the detailed reply. I did go to the Apple store to try out the ipad. They did not have any note taking program installed and could not provide me a test stylus, so I didn't get to test writing on it.

In general, I know that the ipad is the superior touch implementation over windows and better for general purpose home entertainment. But I am trying to specifically compare the active-stylus on a (Windows) digitizer-screen versus passive-stylus on ipad (which as I understand does not have a digitizer in the screen) for extensive (2-4 pages worth at a time) writing/drawing. I am not even considering passive screened windows tablets.

What happened to the good old pen and paper?

Honestly, I agree with Jeff, both options sux. If your notes mainly consist of text, it's better to just get a regular laptop and type your note out with a regular keyboard, it'll be way faster than regular handwriting guarantee

If you're considering the screen interface only, then I'd give the edge to a Windows machine, since you can be somewhat more precise on that, although they're probably close enough to leave it to personal preference. But I'd highly recommend you borrow one & use it for a day or 2 before you make a commitment - odds are pretty good that you'll hate it after a few pages. I've tried a bunch of different note-taking options, and from my experience:

Pen & paper is the fastest & most flexible
Laptop & Microsoft OneNote is best for typed notes & mixed media (drawings, graphic clips, ppt slides, etc)
tablet/iPad is best for quick items & short meetings where you may or may not even need to take notes

Of course all just IMHO.

i have an Thinkpad x201 tablet (convertible between laptop and tablet modes) which uses a Wacom digitizer (unpowered). i use it to mark up papers that are in PDF format. I would image that it would be good for marking up PowerPoint presentations as well. for writing pages and pages of notes, i'm not sure what the experience would be like. the writing can be fairly fine point (see attached) but it won't feel as natural as pen and paper for at least a while. However, you won't have to worry about misplacing your notes ever again (esp if you use Dropbox or something similar).

Quote from V0RT3X : What happened to the good old pen and paper? Honestly, I agree with Jeff, both options sux. If your notes mainly consist of text, it's better to just get a regular laptop and type your note out with a regular keyboard, it'll be way faster than regular handwriting guarantee

:-) I was hoping for an experience close to pen/paper on a tablet with digitizer. Laptops are bulkier and freehand drawings difficult. If tablets were ready for primetime in this space, it would work best for me. But perhaps the truth is that they simply are not there yet.

Quote from Jeffbx : If you're considering the screen interface only, then I'd give the edge to a Windows machine, since you can be somewhat more precise on that, although they're probably close enough to leave it to personal preference. But I'd highly recommend you borrow one & use it for a day or 2 before you make a commitment - odds are pretty good that you'll hate it after a few pages. I've tried a bunch of different note-taking options, and from my experience: Pen & paper is the fastest & most flexible Laptop & Microsoft OneNote is best for typed notes & mixed media (drawings, graphic clips, ppt slides, etc) tablet/iPad is best for quick items & short meetings where you may or may not even need to take notes Of course all just IMHO.

Thanks again. I am beginning to understand that the note-taking use-case isn't a strength for tablets. I think i have gotten fixated (to the extent that perhaps i am not listening to good advice :-) ) with the idea of having a tablet that serves as pen paper, and i never lose the docs, can go back to them anytime etc.

Quote from bubbachuck : i have an Thinkpad x201 tablet (convertible between laptop and tablet modes) which uses a Wacom digitizer (unpowered). i use it to mark up papers that are in PDF format. I would image that it would be good for marking up PowerPoint presentations as well. for writing pages and pages of notes, i'm not sure what the experience would be like. the writing can be fairly fine point (see attached) but it won't feel as natural as pen and paper for at least a while. However, you won't have to worry about misplacing your notes ever again (esp if you use Dropbox or something similar).

Thanks, it helps to see your png. if i can write like you did without experiencing lag, i would be a happy camper. i think i will pull the trigger for a windows slate, and if it doesn't work out, recoup as much as i can by selling.

Quote from new_berlin : Thanks, it helps to see your png. if i can write like you did without experiencing lag, i would be a happy camper. i think i will pull the trigger for a windows slate, and if it doesn't work out, recoup as much as i can by selling.

Give OneNote a shot. I haven't found anything better than it for note taking and Microsoft's handwriting recognition is really good.

Quote from new_berlin : Thanks, it helps to see your png. if i can write like you did without experiencing lag, i would be a happy camper. i think i will pull the trigger for a windows slate, and if it doesn't work out, recoup as much as i can by selling.

there is a small bit of lag, but not much. you could probably demo a tablet at your local retail store to test handwriting.

The best note-taking technology is the Moleskine medium sized notebook. Electronic devices are inefficient, distracting, and are impolite towards the speaker. With pen & paper, your attention is on the speaker and the information, and not the workings of your electronic toy. When I meet with engineers and executives from the world's largest electronics manufacturers, we use pen and paper. Using a laptop shows disrespect.

We all have PC's and iPads and all sorts of toys, but when I fly across an ocean for a one hour meeting, we use pen and paper.

What about crayons and markers! That's what I used like.. 7 years ago.

Quote from Rebound : The best note-taking technology is the Moleskine medium sized notebook. Electronic devices are inefficient, distracting, and are impolite towards the speaker. With pen & paper, your attention is on the speaker and the information, and not the workings of your electronic toy. When I meet with engineers and executives from the world's largest electronics manufacturers, we use pen and paper. Using a laptop shows disrespect. We all have PC's and iPads and all sorts of toys, but when I fly across an ocean for a one hour meeting, we use pen and paper.

I would just like to add that some of us require a laptop for significant amounts of note taking. I have a disability that demands this and me showing up with a laptop means I'm serious about taking notes for what the speaker has to say.