Ok I don't get theses "handwriting" apps. They do not work, I have tried Upad, Penultimate, Phatpad, Noteability and none of them work very well. I am trying to replace my pen and paper with something on the IPad but it's just not the same. I try the palm rest and the multitask thing comes up,I try to write something and the Ipad doesn't read it. When I do get something down, it looks like kindergardeners learning to write for the first time. Is there something I am doing wrong or is the apps just not that good for handwriting? I don't get it. Thanks.
Dan
If you're looking for a note taking app that "feels" like a pen and paper, I'm afraid you're going to be disappointed. The capacitive nature and glass of the iPad makes it virtually impossible to emulate the traditional feel of a pen and paper. You have a couple of options.
() Several new (and expensive) hardware solutions are available or in pre-production. The approach is to attach a small reader to the 30 pin connector combined with a special pen. I'm frankly skeptical about the approach but it's out there if you want to bypass the limitations of a capacitive screen.
() Note taking apps combined with handwriting recognition are becoming more common. The best one I've found is 7Notes HD Premium. Notes Plus now offers an "in-app" purchase option that enables handwriting recognition. However, it (and all the others I've seen with the exception of 7Notes) require you to write a block of text, select it, and then "feed" it to the handwriting recognition engine. 7Notes is far superior, imo, in that it translates your "kindergarten" scrawls into text in real time. Works quite well with my horrible handwriting. YMMV.
() Finally, the best advice I can offer is to choose an app that suits you and practice, practice, practice. You may find that a good stylus helps. (My favorite is from iFaraday.) But keep in mind that when you were in kindergarten it took you a long time to learn to use a pen and paper. You're going to have to retrain your brain and muscles to write legibly on the iPad. I've found that after a few weeks (!) my ability to write legibly on the iPad improved, but it does require a lot of effort and patience.