iPad for Business: Replacing the notebook?

I have been following the iPad launch since conception and I have been very interested in this device. I've had my 32GB 3G model on order quite some time now and I see the power of this device as a business tool. I am an IT Project Manager and I see this tool becoming a part of my IT toolkit. I am just figuring out how this will work and how to best implement it in my daily business life.

One question I have is - is there a way to have this replace my notebook? I use a Franklin to keep a schedule (apple has an answer for this) and to take notes (no answer to this). Ideally I would like to write directly on the face of the ipad and have it convert my notes into text that can synch up with something like Microsoft Notes application. Do you know of any apps that can do this? I think something like this would be a huge commercial success and would be very interested in speaking with developers about starting an app like this. Add a pogo sketch and you can replace even the spiral notebook. Let me know your thoughts or if interested send me a private message!

Note: this is meant to discuss the SPIRAL NOTEBOOK, not the computer kind

 

I would think the notes app on the iPad should suffice for taking notes, though it's true it doesn't do any kind of handwriting input... You should become proficient with the on screen keyboard rather quickly I'd imagine (assuming you can type as opposed to hunt & peck).

There may be apps that will accept written input, but given that there's no stylus and you'd have to use your finger to do it, it may not be very practical. In addition, the state of OCR and handwriting still isn't very good, even on a powerful desktop machine.

 

Amazon.com: capacitive stylus

Actually there are quite a few.

 

Thanks for your response. I have been an longtime iPhone user so I am quite familar with notes, but it is just to Vanilla for a real business user and the onscreen keyboard is awkward when you are in a meeting room with Execs and you need to maintain eye contact and not typing on the onscreen keyboard.

Using a PogoSketch Stylus is ideal as you could just write notes and programatically convert it to text. I understand the tech is not there yet, but I am on here to brainstorm with like minded individuals who see the business benefits of something like a virtual notepad.

On notes, it aalso does not work for a number of reasons:

1. No sync to Microsoft Notes or similar app
2. It does not offer tabbed notebooks (to my understanding)
3. You have to hunt and peck and it looks unprofessional in a meeting to have to type everything that you want to capture...

 

This is where tactile feedback when typing on the soft keyboard would come in handy. Instead of the audible click-click-clickity-click we are all used to... it would be nice if there was a physical feedback when typing so you wouldn't have to be "watching" your iPad to make sure that keys are registering. If you are a competitent enough typist and you could get touch response back when hitting keys... you should be able to watch and pay attention to your meeting presenter(s) while taking(typing) notes without having to look down at your iPad or lose eye-contact with your presenters. Maybe something like that will be in a gen2? If enough people request it and Apple realizes how much it is wanted/needed... maybe they would put it in there.

 

Why not use the pages app? That and the Numbers app are to sell for $9.95 each.

 

While I have seen various potential programs that could help take notes, none seem to be ideal. What I would like is a way to set one up for voice recording and then would convert to text. That way I could listen to what is being said and then come back and see it in black and white.

 

Have you searched the app store for voice to text or speech to text? It garners many results...

 

I have and I am still digging into the reviews on those. I just have several questions before I decide how to proceed.

 

Well let us know which one seems the best...I have an iPod Touch so I can't use any of them....I will be able to tho once I get my iPad....since it has a mic!