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Sketchbook Pro for Taking Notes in Class?

keyofnight

keyofnight

macrumors regular
Original poster
Mar 19, 2009
201
46
Seattle, WA, USA.
My question is all in the title. I'm a grad student in a small Philosophy program, and I've been wanting to switch to digital note-taking for a long while. However, I still have my qualms. I tried using Curio and a Wacom Tablet, but that did not worked out the way I wanted it to (not mobile enough).

Right now my notes look like this (—though usually they are more "pictorial," but you get the point):

b4w.jpg


Is there any way I could get a similar effect from Sketchbook Pro?—or would it be too cumbersome? Also, is the application fairly stable? I don't want to lose my notes to a crash or something lame like that (although I suppose that's always a possibility with any software no matter how stable).

Thanks guys.
 
keyofnight said:
My question is all in the title. I'm a grad student in a small Philosophy program, and I've been wanting to switch to digital note-taking for a long while. However, I still have my qualms. I tried using Curio and a Wacom Tablet, but that did not worked out the way I wanted it to (not mobile enough).

Right now my notes look like this (—though usually they are more "pictorial," but you get the point):

b4w.jpg


Is there any way I could get a similar effect from Sketchbook Pro?—or would it be too cumbersome? Also, is the application fairly stable? I don't want to lose my notes to a crash or something lame like that (although I suppose that's always a possibility with any software no matter how stable).



Thanks guys.
Click to expand...

Right now, all note taking apps are to cumbersome. I've tested them all including sketchbook
 
The main problem with note taking apps, including my own PaperPad, is that the touch resolution of the iPad is too low to feel like paper. You have to turn your expectations down a bit, and get used to zooming in and out to write smaller text.

I had the chance to compare the iPad with a tablet PC of a student of mine. The tablet PC was made by Fujitsu and had a Wacom display. It was 4 times as heavy as the iPad and ran some Windows version, the screen was dim but the touch resolution simply blew the iPad away. It really was like paper. My student also uses it to take notes during class.

Send me a message if you'd like to try PaperPad out. I can give you a voucher code.

Cheers,
e.
 
Engin Kurutepe said:
The main problem with note taking apps, including my own PaperPad, is that the touch resolution of the iPad is too low to feel like paper. You have to turn your expectations down a bit, and get used to zooming in and out to write smaller text.

I had the chance to compare the iPad with a tablet PC of a student of mine. The tablet PC was made by Fujitsu and had a Wacom display. It was 4 times as heavy as the iPad and ran some Windows version, the screen was dim but the touch resolution simply blew the iPad away. It really was like paper. My student also uses it to take notes during class.

Send me a message if you'd like to try PaperPad out. I can give you a voucher code.

Cheers,
e.
Click to expand...

We can't pm you, but I'd love that!!
 
hmmm, sorry about that. i'm new in macrumors forums :)

then here is the deal: first 25 to send me an email, get a code.
engin [that curly sign] fifteenjugglers.com
 
Engin Kurutepe said:
The main problem with note taking apps, including my own PaperPad, is that the touch resolution of the iPad is too low to feel like paper. You have to turn your expectations down a bit, and get used to zooming in and out to write smaller text.

I had the chance to compare the iPad with a tablet PC of a student of mine. The tablet PC was made by Fujitsu and had a Wacom display. It was 4 times as heavy as the iPad and ran some Windows version, the screen was dim but the touch resolution simply blew the iPad away. It really was like paper. My student also uses it to take notes during class.

Send me a message if you'd like to try PaperPad out. I can give you a voucher code.

Cheers,
e.
Click to expand...

Well, that's definitely a problem... If the resolution is low then it's difficult to get a legitimate drawing experience. However, I might be able to deal with the situation as it is if the workflow is solid or organic— the software has to work right more often than it does not.

For instance, if it's too hard to set preset brushes, then I'll have to tinker a whole bunch in the middle of class. If it's laggy, then I'll have to wait for a bit between brush strokes. If it's hard to move notes on and off the iPad, organize them, read them later, then the notes are no good to me.

Are these problems you've run into?
 
Until Apple bring a stylus into the equation, no it's not really viable to produce notes like that. Very nice notes though... I like them a lot.
 
keyofnight said:
Well, what do you think of buying a third-party stylus? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WfTeIIi79r8



Thank you so much for the compliment. I'm proud of my notes, and it took a while to get them looking like that.
Click to expand...

I purchased a stylus, and besides for it 'feeling' somewhat nicer, the accuracy is not really improved a lot over a finger. It seems the iPad just can't register things accurately enough.

As far as handwriting on the iPad goes you need to count on it being about as legible as if you finger-painted. I'm not kidding. For drawing it can be ok as some of these things can be overcome by zooming in, but that takes time and it won't be nice for taking notes.

For taking notes they really need to make a good app that lets you do most of the note taking with the keyboard and then add in some drawing when needed.

This is about as accurate as it gets on the iPad:

pumain.png
 
Simgar988 said:
Right now, all note taking apps are to cumbersome. I've tested them all including sketchbook
Click to expand...

Except sketchbook was never touted as a note taking app. Have you really tried them "all". I bet you haven't. Maybe all free ones. Oh and don't quote the post and image just above you. It's cumbersome and silly.
 
jessica. said:
Except sketchbook was never touted as a note taking app. Have you really tried them "all". I bet you haven't. Maybe all free ones. Oh and don't quote the post and image just above you. It's cumbersome and silly.
Click to expand...

So…have you tried any of these apps? I'd love your opinion on the matter.
 
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