Notetaker HD is available in the app store now!

[iRabbit]

As you all know I've been looking for the perfect note taking app (handwriting notes). I had settled on Ghostwriter while I waited for Notetaker HD to be available. I've come to like the features of Ghostwriter but it does get a little laggy and choppy as you fill up the page with notes.

I just bought Notetaker and my first impressions are that i like it very much, it has an awesome input field for writing small (on the lines of the paper). Very responsive and quick at following along to your writing. It's a tad choppy (the written text isn't as smooth as it could be), but not at all enough to make it a deal breaker.

There are also a lot of great options... The ability to tag a document with keywords, able to pick the page style (wide rule, narrow rule, etc.). You can even customize the thumbnail for the page you save.

I still like Ghostwriter also so it will be some time before I decide on which one i like more... And I imagine they will only improve with updates as times goes by.

As for handwritten note-taking, these are the two best apps I have found. Both give the ability to write directly on the page or with an input field for on-the-line writing. Give 'm a shot if you're looking for something like this!

(I'm not affiliated with either app in any way)

 

[sinsin07]

Phatware Writepad

This is what I use. Phatware has been around awhile, I have using them since my WinMo days in 2003.

Writepad for iPad (Can sync)
http://appshopper.com/productivity/writepad

Company Link
http://www.phatware.com/index.php?q=page/show/products

Excerpt: Use built-in HTTP file server to exchange text files between device and desktop computer (get free WritePad Sync Lite for Windows and Mac OS).

I would check out the website for further info. They have some different versions, some more expensive. I brought their other product, PhatNotes, so I can synch my regular keyboard typed notes to the iphone and iPad. (Needed a better note app than the default) They do not have an optimized Phatnotes for the iPad yet.

 

[David R]

Interesting app. Thanks for the post!

I checked out the free version meant for the iPhone and I liked what i saw, although I'm sure that it'll be a better experience on the iPad.

I wish it also let me use the keyboard if I chose to do so sometimes though, I'm not sure that's an option.

I also don't think it lets you group pages by topic/meeting.

 

[jsbaugh]

I give this app two thumbs up. I have every note taking app you can get on the iPad and this one is by far the best. I have been using it with a pogo stylus and really enjoy it for note taking.

 

[iRabbit]

I give this app two thumbs up. I have every note taking app you can get on the iPad and this one is by far the best. I have been using it with a pogo stylus and really enjoy it for note taking.

I agree with you, though Ghostwriter is a close second (and I like how it saves into notebooks instead of just pages).

I'll probably keep both, but I'm afraid Penultimate will probably end up deleted from my iPad... It has a beautiful writing engine, but if you can't quickly and easily write small, it limits its usefulness.

 

[rldunn]

When Steve Jobs assigns me as head of the app store, my first order of business will be to require these 3 developers to work together to produce an app with the small writing from Note Taker HD, the notebooks of Ghostwriter, and the handwriting from Penultimate. Oh, and probably work with the GoodReader developers to add the ability to make the iPad show up as a server on my Mac via Wifi.

I find myself making 2 kinds of notes at work. For the first, I'm just jotting down quick notes/reminders as I'm working. Previously, I had a notepad sitting next to my computer and would jot things on it, then when I was done with the day or the project, I would throw that piece of paper away. For these tasks, I'm still using Penultimate. It looks the best on screen by far, I can quickly add a new page, and there is no lag.

The second type is to take notes in meetings. For this, Penultimate sucks. Actually, during the meeting itself, it's ok and the notes look fine, but the huge size looks horrible later either as a PDF that I save to the project folder or when printed out. I think I'll be using NoteTaker HD for this situation for now. GhostWriter is ok, but the features in NoteTaker just work a little better, things like the Advance function, etc.

Oh, I still need the ability to annotate a PDF when I'm doing paper reviews. The apps that do this now have horrible interfaces and/or other drawbacks. I wish one of these 3 apps would add this functionality.