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Best for note taking: PDA or notebook?

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  • #1

    Best for note taking: PDA or notebook?

    I want to get away from pen and paper. I can never write fast enough and I end up losing half of it anyway either through actually losing it or not being able to find the information i need quickly.

    So, for a digital alternative, which would be best a PDA or a notebook? I am on a somewhat limited budget (below US$500) and I have no need for a notebook to serve as an alternate desktop, so I dont need it to be high end.

    Basically what I'm looking for is which model/devices are easiest to use as a replacement?
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  • #2
    Tablet would be best, but I don't think those run <$500. It depends on whether you're more comfortable writing or typing, but I suspect notebook is superior as you a) forum thus you probably are comfortable typing, and b) taking notes on a PDA is not a perfect science (ie, handwriting recognition, limited space, etc.) Some PDA software get around some of this problem, but I'd still suggest a notebook [computer].

    I used a PowerBook throughout college, and it served me well; not only were my notes organized, but if the lecture was boring stuff I already knew I could play SMB while still appearing to be paying attention

    Another good idea, by the way, is tape-recording ... which can be done on a laptop as well, of course, with a USB microphone. You can have the entire lecture in a .wav file alongside the entire notes in a .doc (or whatever) file, allowing you to quickly grab whatever you need
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    • #3
      wouldnt that have to be a really powerful microphone? i thought they could only capture sound really close to the microphone. .

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      • #4
        Originally posted by snoopy369

        Another good idea, by the way, is tape-recording ... which can be done on a laptop as well, of course, with a USB microphone. You can have the entire lecture in a .wav file alongside the entire notes in a .doc (or whatever) file, allowing you to quickly grab whatever you need
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        • #5

          Another good idea, by the way, is tape-recording ... which can be done on a laptop as well, of course, with a USB microphone. You can have the entire lecture in a .wav file alongside the entire notes in a .doc (or whatever) file, allowing you to quickly grab whatever you need
          The new version of OneNote automatically indexes recorded .WAV files for text search. Very useful if you have a high quality microphone.

          As you take notes while it records, it also timestamps your notes relative to the audio recording.
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          • #6
            Tablet would be best, but I don't think those run <$500. It depends on whether you're more comfortable writing or typing, but I suspect notebook is superior as you a) forum thus you probably are comfortable typing, and b) taking notes on a PDA is not a perfect science (ie, handwriting recognition, limited space, etc.) Some PDA software get around some of this problem, but I'd still suggest a notebook [computer].
            Can you not get PDAs with keyboards?

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            • #7
              1. You don't have to write down everything the prof says

              2. What are you going to do with graphs, pictures, diagrams, images, etc?
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              • #8
                Originally posted by Kalius


                Can you not get PDAs with keyboards?
                Bluetooth keyboards go for about $200

                PDA's can be used to record.

                But for true note taking go the tablet route.
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                • #9
                  Originally posted by Urban Ranger
                  2. What are you going to do with graphs, pictures, diagrams, images, etc?
                  I think I will have to look into a tablet.

                  Really all this is is to make it easier for me to take notes and keep track of them... (admittedly I do get very few diagrams and pictures)

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