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Best (handwriting + text) notes application?

adamvk

adamvk

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Oct 29, 2008
1,308
0
Phoenix, AZ
I'm looking for an iPad application that allows you to type, use handwriting, draw the occasional image, etc. What's the best app that does this?

Also, it's it's retina, that would be preferred. :)

Yes, I know, there's a million threads/articles on this, but since there are new applications available each day this answer changes frequently. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!
 
adamvk said:
I'm looking for an iPad application that allows you to type, use handwriting, draw the occasional image, etc. What's the best app that does this?

Also, it's it's retina, that would be preferred. :)

Yes, I know, there's a million threads/articles on this, but since there are new applications available each day this answer changes frequently. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!
Click to expand...

here is a review that recommends note taker hd.
http://www.princeton.edu/~cmayo/reviewhandwriting.html

here is one recommending notability.
http://www.cultofmac.com/167892/best-of-round-up-ipad-note-taking-apps/

your mileage will vary depending on your usage.
 
palpatine said:
here is a review that recommends note taker hd.
http://www.princeton.edu/~cmayo/reviewhandwriting.html

here is one recommending notability.
http://www.cultofmac.com/167892/best-of-round-up-ipad-note-taking-apps/

your mileage will vary depending on your usage.
Click to expand...

Ok thanks for the reply! Yea I've heard good things about Notability. Note Taker Hd also looks fine, I'm just personally not a fan of the ui. Being a graphic designer is a curse sometimes. I notice too much. :)
 
So far I'm enjoying GoodNotes and am considering purchasing the full version. You should give it a try, there's a free version on the app store that's limited to two notebooks so you can try it out.
 
i would say try UPAD app .. i am using it from last 4 months for all my college classes(5) to take notes... worth $5.
 
bijju said:
i would say try UPAD app .. i am using it from last 4 months for all my college classes(5) to take notes... worth $5.
Click to expand...

Good suggestion, thank you!

JacaByte said:
So far I'm enjoying GoodNotes and am considering purchasing the full version. You should give it a try, there's a free version on the app store that's limited to two notebooks so you can try it out.
Click to expand...

This is basically EXACTLY what I'm looking for, thank you!

gorskiegangsta said:
Having tried more than a few note taking apps, Notes Plus beats all of them handily. It isn't cheap (at $7.99) but for the quality of the app and number of features it is well worth it.
I'd recommend checking out videos on it to see if it suits your needs.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ty3tdlSbM7M
Click to expand...

Oh, wow. This is also EXACTLY what I'm looking for, but seems to have a little more features. Hmmm....You can customize more it seems like which I really like.
 
JacaByte said:
So far I'm enjoying GoodNotes and am considering purchasing the full version. You should give it a try, there's a free version on the app store that's limited to two notebooks so you can try it out.
Click to expand...

I agree with GoodNotes. It's so worth it. I've tried all the notes apps and this is def the best.
 
sk1wbw said:
What about Remarks, from Readdle?
Click to expand...

Remarks if my personal favorite. I like its UI. The handwriting is very good for me. Literally my only gripe about it is I wish its highlighting tool would automatically follow a line of text (or at least have that option). My highlighting is a bit messy at times.

Remarks does everything I want it to and looks good doing it.

I can't stand Note Taker HD's UI and I don't find the handwriting to be very smooth.

I used Notability until Remarks came out. No real complaints about Notability, but I prefer the look and feel of Remarks. Handwriting is slightly better (for me) on Remarks.

I have not tried either Notes Plus or GoodNotes, but I have not seen anything about them that is tempting me away from Remarks.
 
juliainor said:
Remarks if my personal favorite. I like its UI. The handwriting is very good for me. Literally my only gripe about it is I wish its highlighting tool would automatically follow a line of text (or at least have that option). My highlighting is a bit messy at times.

Remarks does everything I want it to and looks good doing it.

I can't stand Note Taker HD's UI and I don't find the handwriting to be very smooth.

I used Notability until Remarks came out. No real complaints about Notability, but I prefer the look and feel of Remarks. Handwriting is slightly better (for me) on Remarks.

I have not tried either Notes Plus or GoodNotes, but I have not seen anything about them that is tempting me away from Remarks.
Click to expand...

I find Remarks to be, well, remarkably easy to use, no play on words intended. I tried to annotate some PDF files the other day and Remarks came out the winner on how easy it was to do.
 
juliainor said:
Remarks if my personal favorite. I like its UI. The handwriting is very good for me. Literally my only gripe about it is I wish its highlighting tool would automatically follow a line of text (or at least have that option). My highlighting is a bit messy at times.

Remarks does everything I want it to and looks good doing it.

I can't stand Note Taker HD's UI and I don't find the handwriting to be very smooth.

I used Notability until Remarks came out. No real complaints about Notability, but I prefer the look and feel of Remarks. Handwriting is slightly better (for me) on Remarks.

I have not tried either Notes Plus or GoodNotes, but I have not seen anything about them that is tempting me away from Remarks.
Click to expand...
Highlighting seems good with remarks,that's the only thing I don't like with notability. But as I recall, remarks doesn't have zoom writing box, right? That's a big no to me.
 
wadjj said:
Highlighting seems good with remarks,that's the only thing I don't like with notability. But as I recall, remarks doesn't have zoom writing box, right? That's a big no to me.
Click to expand...

I primarily use the zoom writing box for the handwriting apps I use, Note Taker HD and Notes Plus, but I have to admit that the handwriting in Remarks is so good that it might not need a zoom writing box. It is not my default notetaking app because it doesn't yet have the ability to copy/cut/paste/move handwriting entry, at least not that I found the last time I checked.
 
I also heard that Remarks has stability issues, have those been smoothed out since its release or is there still a threat of losing your unsaved notes?
 
epicmar said:
I primarily use the zoom writing box for the handwriting apps I use, Note Taker HD and Notes Plus, but I have to admit that the handwriting in Remarks is so good that it might not need a zoom writing box. It is not my default notetaking app because it doesn't yet have the ability to copy/cut/paste/move handwriting entry, at least not that I found the last time I checked.
Click to expand...

Not for me cuz I have to write formulas, anything without zoom writing makes little difference to sketch apps like penultimate. If PDF expert and remarks have zoom writing I'd definitely try them. I don't like goodreader's userface but for now I have to stick with it.
 
sk1wbw said:
What about Remarks, from Readdle?
Click to expand...

Soon after reading your tip, I googled some and checked several apps from this topic.
But I was instantly in love with the unique and clean interface of Remarks.
Bought it right away :)
So, cheers to you!
 
which stylus are you guys using. I've heard a lot of things of Amazonbasics and the targus one... are there any recommendations?
 
wadjj said:
Highlighting seems good with remarks,that's the only thing I don't like with notability. But as I recall, remarks doesn't have zoom writing box, right? That's a big no to me.
Click to expand...

Remarks does have a zoom writing box, actually.
 
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