A “digital notepad” is portable to write notes on the go, and transfer them to your computer later. It’s about the same size as a regular notepad, but you use it the same way. Just write on the screen with the stylus like you’re writing on a piece of paper. You don’t have to be attached to a computer or anything. Most of these devices have internal storage so you can save lots of notes, but they also have an SD card slot so you can add even more storage.

This post of part of The Smorgasbord Tech Reviews series!

How many times have you wanted to transfer something you’ve written down to your computer? With the “digital notepad” once you’ve written your notes, you can connect to your PC with a USB cable and transfer them. The better ones also convert to a full functional PC table for drawing! It could then be used with Photoshop, other graphics editors, CAD/CAM applications, and more.

The other day my wife and I were in the emergency room and when we were ready to check out and leave the nurse brought in a laptop. She flipped the screen around and set it flat and it had our discharge papers on the LCD screen for us to sign. As we were leaving my wife asked me why I didn’t want one of those. I’ve looked at “tablet PC’s” the last few years, and they’re really “cool” and all, but I told her I couldn’t think of a direct reason (other than the ‘cool’ factor) for me to own one. In fact, mostly I see them used by people that have to deal with lots of paperwork, like UPS or Fedex drivers, warehouse workers, healthcare, etc.

A college student even asked me if I thought that the Panasonic “Toughbook” tablet PC was good for him – and at $2,300 I didn’t think it was. I told him that he could get a kick-ass laptop for about $1,200, and this for aroun $150-$200. The digital notepad may not have the full functionality that an entire laptop does, but it will surely get the job done for note taking in class. I think it would be better because you wouldn’t have all the normal distractions of a computer (email, IM, the web) when you were in class. Just think of all the things you could use this for from a guestbook at a graduation or birthday party, grocery list at the store, notes at the library, you could even have people write specials notes to a bride and groom at a wedding reception!

I think for the money, when compared with other gadgets like digital cameras, that digital notepads are not only a good bargain – but very handy!
Here’s a few for you to look at:

Adesso CyberPad 8.5″ x 11″ USB Digital Notepad Imagine having a notepad with the ability to transfer what you’ve written on paper, directly onto your computer? What a remarkable convenience that would be! Adesso makes it all possible with this revolutionary CyberPad! The CyberPad is a stand-alone device with internal storage capability that digitally captures and stores everything you write or draw with ink on ordinary paper, such as letter size or A4 size without the use of computer and special paper. An optional SD slot makes it perfect for additional storage. Then you can easily view, edit, organize and share your handwritten notes on your computer screen.The Adesso CyberPad digitally stores exact reproductions of notes or graphics in real time. It includes a clip which accommodates all standard letter-sized paper pads. The CyberPad includes 32MB of internal memory which provides 26 directories (A-Z) with 99 pages available in each – and is further expandable with the integrated SD slot – which can also act as an SD card reader. It then connects to a PC via USB to instantly transfer and manage notes and images. Once connected to a PC, Adesso’s CyberPad can also convert into a fully-functional PC tablet, which is an ideal input solution for computer artists, graphic designers, photo editors and office and CAD/CAM applications. Other emerging applications include Internet whiteboard graphics, signature verification for e-commerce as well as handwriting/text conversion.

8.5 X11INCH DIGITAL NOTEPAD WITH ELECTRIC INKING PEN, BULIT-IN 32MB MEMORY ,OVER The CyberPad integrates the familiarity of pen-on-paper feel. It’s a digital notepad with an electronic inking pen that feels and works as well as a regular pen. It lets you to naturally write as you usually do with a regular pen on paper. No special papers needed! Utilizing the electromagnetic technology, it lets you put any ordinary letter size or A4 size paper on the pad and use the inking pen to write directly on the paper. Even if the thickness of papers laid on the pad are 0.75 thick; your handwritten notes can still be captured and stored in the built-in or optional SD card memory slot of your CyberPad.

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