Logitech io2 Digital Writing System: An Alternate Way for Digital Notes
OneNote, GoBinder, and Window Journal are great, but they require a computer. Paper is paper. Logitech io2 is a step between taking notes on old school paper and computer (desktop, notebook, tablet pc), It lets you take digital notes while still writing on paper. The io2 system works in two ways.
First: you have a digital pen, which is a high-tech version of a ballpoint pen. It is a normal pen with ink cartridges, but it also captures your notes digitally and has a battery. The pen works in conjunction with ”Smart” Digital Paper, a special kind of paper with tiny dots everywhere.
Second: “Smart” Digital Paper
- The pen reads these dots optically to turn handwritten information into digitized documents.
- The smart paper dots can also be used to instantly activate and integrate your digitized notes with e-mail, to-do lists, calendar entries, and other files.
- The smart paper is available in a variety of paper formats such as notebooks of all sizes and Post-it® pads for quick notes. (Source: Logitech)
After writing a day’s worth of notes, you go home, put the pen in a cradle and transfer the notes to your computer. The io2 pen and cradle sells for $152 on Amazon and the digital paper sells for $8.95 for 160 pages measuring 8.5″ X 11″.
Pros: This would be ideal for anyone wanting digital notes while still being able to use paper. Less expensive than Tablet PC.
Cons: Needs special paper. $152 seems pricey for a pen.
My Thoughts: This is the simplest way to take digital notes. Open laptops hide people’s faces and the constant typing can be irritating in a business meeting or a small class room. Tablet PC are better but they are fairly large. The io2 pen is simple, very light weight, and easy to use. I am already used to my Tablet PC and use it everyday so the io2 pen is useless for me. Also, i have a tendency to lose pens and pencils constantly. I would hate to lose the io2.
Before Ibought my Tablet PC, i actually considered buying the original io pen, but my biggest problem with it is the special paper. I don’t want to pay $10 for paper, no matter how special it is. I just want to be able to write on any kind of paper. The last thing I need to worry about is bringing the special paper with me or counting how much my notes are costing me.
