Not yet an iPad owner, but have question re: "taking notes". (Thx!)

Like the title bar says, I don't have an iPad yet, so please bear with me! I am still debating *which* tablet I will get; but the iPad2 seems to be strongly leading the pack so far!

One feature that is important to me is the ability to quickly and easily "take notes", at meetings, seminars, etc. Right now I use the swype keyboard on my (android) phone and LOVE that.

Is there a free app for swype (or similar) for the iPad? And what would be the best "note taking"/word processing app?

All thoughts, comments, opinions welcome! THANK YOU!

 

There seem to be a few in the store, but they all get pretty bad reviews, with one at least appearing to be a fake app from the reviews. (How that got past Apple I don't know)

There are other fantastic note taking apps though, One I just downloaded ($1.99, not free) is call Tapose. It lets you type notes, then you can swipe and have a split screen to browse the web in one pane and take notes in the other (i.e. both onscreen at same time). it's actually pretty cool.

 

Thanks, Dale, for the reply. I don't know why I said "free" app in my first post; of course I like free apps , but I will also happily pay for one if it's what I need.

What about a SWYPE app (free or for-fee) -- is there such a thing for the iPad?

THANK YOU!

 

that's what I meant by the "a few in the store", they're there, but seem to get bad reviews.

 

Oh - I didn't catch that in your first post, I'm sorry!

And that's a bummer that there's no decent, dependable SWYPE app. Bah humbug!!!

 

I think you should also give some consideration to the new iPad 3 - dictation is a great way to enter notes. Doesn't replace a good keyboard but it's just another option to have.

You may also have to consider just keep using your android phone for taking notes instead of a tablet - it really would not buy you much if you already carry your phone with you to whip out your iPad to take notes unless you have room to set up a physical keyboard. The tablet excels at reading and looking up information - and with a bluetooth keyboard and dictation is not too shabby at entering it either - but not on the screen.

 

Do you mean with a stylus?

I use a Bluetooth keyboard to type and I also bought the bamboo stylus for "hand written" notes. The case I have (a targus one) has a stylus holder, it's out of the way and always available!

I tried a few word processing apps, and the one by apple (pages) I surprisingly found to be the best. That and noteshelf work as a good combo for me..


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Z,
Thanks for the reply. By dictation, do you mean speaking aloud? Very cool -- but the use I am looking for would be in public meetings, seminars, etc., so not an option. (Well, not unless I really wanna alienate the other attendees, LOL!!!)

 

Thanks, MML, for the reply.

A bluetooth keyboard is a neat option, but typically I would be sitting in a chair without any desk or writing space besides my own lap, so that probably wouldn't be too workable.

Yes, thinking of using a stylus, or just my fingers "swyping" the virtual keyboard, was what I had in mind.

What do you mean by "hand written notes", please?

 

Some cases have a keyboard built in...you might also want to look at the asus transformer/prime, but that's android.

YouTube noteshelf. It's a very nice note taking app..you write directly on the screen, just as you do paper. If I was in the situation you're describing (no room besides lap) I would use noteshelf plus a stylus. I use it for taking notes in class, the organization is very well done..you basically create different notebooks, you can assign different paper types, even mix and match (ie, graph, wide ruled, blank, legal ruled, etc)..theres a nifty feature where it zooms in, so you can write bigger on the screen, but it turns out smaller on the paper and looks quite nice. There are numerous highlighter, pen tip size, colors, etc options - its a very spectacular app, and one of the reasons I switched over from Android.

It's essentially like having a note pad and a bag full of markers and different colored pens with you. Except everything is portable and the notes are always with you
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