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Note taking and annotating apps??

Which note taking and annotation app should I get?

  • Notes Plus App (note taking app)

    Votes: 11 30.6%

  • Penultimate (note taking app)

    Votes: 6 16.7%

  • Jotnote pro (note taking app)

    Votes: 1 2.8%

  • Notability (note taking app)

    Votes: 5 13.9%

  • Notetaker HD (note taking app)

    Votes: 8 22.2%

  • PDF Expert (annotation app)

    Votes: 2 5.6%

  • GoodReader (annotation app)

    Votes: 17 47.2%

  • iAnnotate (annotation app)

    Votes: 6 16.7%
  • Total voters
    36
S

stefc93

macrumors regular
Original poster
Feb 16, 2010
143
0
I am about to start college very soon and heard of some good note taking and PDF annotating apps. However, I am pretty confused on which to get. Most are about the same price (give or take a dollar or two) and most receive positive feedback/raves. I currently have Evernote. It would also be nice to get a annotation app that I could take a picture of a handout and save it to that app for marking up and annotating.

So far I have received these recommendations:

Note Taking: Notes Plus App, Penultimate, Jotnote pro, Notability, Notetaker HD (can't find Jotnote pro)

Downloading PDF's and annotating: PDF Expert, GoodReader, iAnnotate

I have heard good things about GoodReader but also about PDF Expert. I really need to make a decision and purchase/download one note taking app and one PDF/annotation app.
 
Last edited:
Goodreader is mandatory!

Notetaker HD is my recommendation for the best handwritten note taker. I've tried a lot of them, and this one was the best at duplicating pen and paper note taking.
 
mgipe said:
Goodreader is mandatory!

Notetaker HD is my recommendation for the best handwritten note taker. I've tried a lot of them, and this one was the best at duplicating pen and paper note taking.
Click to expand...

Can you type in Notetaker HD?
 
One important piece of info needed to answer this question is whether you want to be able to handwrite your notes. I said Notes Plus, but if you don't need to handwrite things then there are probably better ones for all-typed notes. Whereas others (like the abovementioned Pages and Evernote) don't allow handwriting at all.

Also, I'm really liking the free Noterize for quick scribble-on-a-PDF tasks.
 
porcupine8 said:
One important piece of info needed to answer this question is whether you want to be able to handwrite your notes. I said Notes Plus, but if you don't need to handwrite things then there are probably better ones for all-typed notes. Whereas others (like the abovementioned Pages and Evernote) don't allow handwriting at all.

Also, I'm really liking the free Noterize for quick scribble-on-a-PDF tasks.
Click to expand...

I think having the ability to handwrite notes with a stylus would be nice. But it's not necessary.

So Noterize is a PDF mark up and annotation app? Any good?
 
Can anyone recommend a stylus that is good for writing equations and drawing diagrams and taking notes?
 
stefc93 said:
Can anyone recommend a stylus that is good for writing equations and drawing diagrams and taking notes?
Click to expand...

The Bamboo Stylus is my favorite hands down. I have tried several other and this one is the best for me so far. It's a little more expensive than some, but well worth it IMHO.
 
I have a targus stylus. I was wary of the rounded tip at first, but I've learned that it's really the software, not the stylus, that defines your handwriting experience. Given the big tips on all capacitative styli, a program with zoomed-in writing is an absolute necessity. Personally, notes plus is my fave for that.
 
stefc93 said:
Can you type in Notetaker HD?
Click to expand...

I've tried NoteTaker HD but like the UI and efficiency of Notes Plus a lot more. If you wait for the right time, you can get it for sale for 99¢ and it is def. worth it. In terms of PDF annotations, GoodReader works the best with different engine options. PDF Expert isn't bad really; but GoodReader is better. Only advantage of PDF Expert over GR is that when you turn a document into landscape, it automatically fits width to screen (I think the latest GR added this). Lastly, GR is constantly updated and so is Notes Plus.
 
porcupine8 said:
I have a targus stylus. I was wary of the rounded tip at first, but I've learned that it's really the software, not the stylus, that defines your handwriting experience. Given the big tips on all capacitative styli, a program with zoomed-in writing is an absolute necessity. Personally, notes plus is my fave for that.
Click to expand...

Unfortunately, you're right. The capacitive screen on the iPad places major limitations on the precision and functionality of note taking. There are differences in the quality of styluses, imo, but there are inherent limits on both styluses and software given the hardware Apple has used on the iPad.

I'm interested in hearing how the new Lenovo ThinkPad Stylus with a built-in stylus and pressure sensitive hardware/software works.
 
i've been trying a lot of them and i agree that Note Taker is good

my favorite is neu.Notes

also neu.Annotate (for PDFs)
 
saberahul said:
I've tried NoteTaker HD but like the UI and efficiency of Notes Plus a lot more. If you wait for the right time, you can get it for sale for 99¢ and it is def. worth it. In terms of PDF annotations, GoodReader works the best with different engine options. PDF Expert isn't bad really; but GoodReader is better. Only advantage of PDF Expert over GR is that when you turn a document into landscape, it automatically fits width to screen (I think the latest GR added this). Lastly, GR is constantly updated and so is Notes Plus.
Click to expand...

Do you (or anyone) know if I can take a photo of a handout and save it in GoodReader as a PDF for marking up/annotating? That way I wouldn't have to sort papers in binders and folders. I think there's an app with this feature but I'm not sure of the name.
 
stefc93 said:
Do you (or anyone) know if I can take a photo of a handout and save it in GoodReader as a PDF for marking up/annotating? That way I wouldn't have to sort papers in binders and folders. I think there's an app with this feature but I'm not sure of the name.
Click to expand...

sure. take a look at my thread somewhere in this forum about digitizing stuff. i recommend something like scansnap if you are doing this on a regular basis. goodreader will mark it up.
 
palpatine said:
sure. take a look at my thread somewhere in this forum about digitizing stuff. i recommend something like scansnap if you are doing this on a regular basis. goodreader will mark it up.
Click to expand...

Already saw that thread (among your other ones) last night. :)

But I'd just prefer to take a pic. of the handout via the iPad's camera and then just import it into GoodReader.
 
stefc93 said:
Already saw that thread (among your other ones) last night. :)

But I'd just prefer to take a pic. of the handout via the iPad's camera and then just import it into GoodReader.
Click to expand...

a picture is a great idea. it's just that the quality can be rather disappointing. i have used the ipod4 on occasion, but prefer a digital camera. if it's worth saving, it's worth doing well. you might want to give a try to apps like scannerpro. i prefer to touch up photos with that.
 
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