Taking Notes, Part 1: Keeping Up
Switching from taking notes on a laptop to an iPad seriously hinders my speed. Using a 3 minute typing test, I get 36 words per minute with 91% accuracy on the iPad and 97 words per minute with 94% accuracy on a laptop. This is fine in the moments of class discussion, but what about the "speed presentation" that requires you to furiously jot down every detail before it is lost to the ether?
I have tried three separate apps so far while attempting to take notes:
QuickOffice - A simple word processor, QuickOffice allows me to type and create notes with bullet points. This is great for a discussion-based class or making terminology lists you can turn back to. You can also use the spreadsheet-maker to create charts with relative ease. Formatting is quite limited. $14.99
WritePad - So far, this is a total failure for me. The goal is to turn your handwriting (using a stylus) into text. It constantly fails if I use any complex terminology, regularly omits spaces from my words, and formats pretty poorly. $4.99
PenUltimate - So far the best for quick note-taking. Using a stylus, I can write notes on lined paper in several colors and thicknesses, draw, erase whatever I'd like, and organize my notes by notebooks and pages. Best of all? When class gets dry, I can doodle (albeit with a limited 8 colors). $0.99
In all, I find a good combination of PenUltimate and QuickOffice meet my needs. But how in the world could you keep track of all your notes if they are scattered amongst more than one app?
Tune in for Part 2: Study Material Integration.
