life.of.sp0rk

So, as most of you know, I’m a business freshman at the University of Alabama (yeah, yeah: roll tide). I’m also OCD about my notes: they gotta be in pen (even though I make quite a few mistakes), gotta be extremely neat (contradicts with the first), and gotta be on paper. I considered buying a tablet PC from Toshiba since it would be like paper and I would be able to be neat and permanent. But at a gruesome $1,500, I couldn’t buy one just to experiment.

When Ryan and I hung out Thursday, I went into Target and I saw something I had considered before: a digital pen. Its called the Pulse from Livescribe. (Funny thing: right before we went to Target, we saw a kid with the Pulse sitting in Panera Bread)

Anywho, the 2GB model is $200. You get 2GB of memory (which the website states the “actual user available memory will be less.” Less meaning?) to record audio and save your notes, a “3-D recording headset,” a 100-page college-rule notebook, USB cable, carrying case, 3 ink cartridges, and stylus refill.

The Pulse uses a special paper (like most smartpens) they call “dot.” You can purchase 100-sheet notebooks either in-store (sold at Target only, I think) or online at either Amazon or the Livescribe store. Each notebook has a number (1-4) and your smartpen associates your notes and recordings with that particular notebook. Pulse can only hold four notebooks at a time but you can archive them through the desktop application.

What seems cool about Pulse is the fact it synchronizes the audio recordings with the handwritten notes! At least I won’t miss any part of the lecture if I take a quick visit to napland… Right?

If I get the 2GB edition, Livescribe claims I can get in over 200 hours worth of audio in. But, they warn that the length with vary by the audio quality settings and the fact they don’t give you the full 2GB for recording.

Some of the built-in Pulse features are paper replay (the notes-audio syncing), notes (just notes capturing), quick record (access the record and playback functions using the dot paper), printed calculator (a scientific calculator that, I assume, is printed on dot paper), quick calculator (a basic 4-function calculator you draw yourself), and “other utilities” (they control the Pulse itself).

Thankfully, Livescribe’s store has everything you need for the Pulse: dot paper, a pretty leather carrying case, extra ink, and extra everything that comes in the box. Not to mention, they’re prices are pretty fair.

So far, some of the cons I’m noticing are the fact you have to use the special paper (costing $0.03 per sheet versus $0.01 for a normal $1 spiral notebook) and only holds 4 notebooks (will write over identically numbered notebooks).

I’ve submitted this post to Slashdot in hopes that a few of their users will be able to help me out a few questions:

1. What’s the batter life like? I have to be able to use it from sun up to sun down each day.
2. How’s the audio quality? I’m used to 256kbps, will I be disappointed?
3. Is it difficult to work with writing-wise? Will I need to change my current style?
4. How long does the ink cartridge normally last? It kind of worries me they’re giving you 3 free ones…

And, of course, did you even like your Pulse?

Ciao!
- Logan

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