Logitech io2 Digital Writing System

Manufacturer:	Logitech
List price:	~~$199.00~~
Our price:	$161.49 that is 19% off!

Logitech io2 Digital Writing System

Average rating: Stars

nice idea, but not there yet

I tried the IO2 for three weeks at my work, using it in different note taking situations: internal meetings, client meetings, taking notes on articles, "thinking out loud" on new product designs on my own, and my other day-to-day activities. I still like the idea of the IO2 but the pen didn't work for me in these real-world situations. The pen is a bit fat for everyday writing, uncomfortable in your hand and therefore tiring. The handwriting recognition isn't good enough, even after training, for the variation in my writing in different situations (hurried at times and not at others, sequential at times and jumping around the page at others...). It struggles if you have any note-taking habits such as using graphics such as arrows to set off your notes, or shorthand such as initials for people's names or abbreviations for words. The pen doesn't allow you to go back on a page and cross out a word or clarify a letter or insert a word -- the text will show up on the digital page but it seems to confuse the heck out of the handwriting recognition. The software also doesn't seem to keep learning with you -- you train it and that is all it ever knows. Another small but irritating problem was that you can't use one page of paper for more than one digital "page" -- that is, if you write two sentences on a page and then want to use the rest of the page for another topic or meeting, you can't tell the pen to treat these as separate pages on the computer. All in all, a good idea, with great promise for the eventual IO4 or IO5, but not ready for real-world use if the handwriting recognition is critical to you.

Logitech io2 Digital Writing System - Logitech

Over-engineered and goofy

The idea of capturing what you write, as you write it, for transfer to a computer later is clever. But this device is INFLEXIBLE and EXPENSIVE. I have no argument with the goals of the IO device, but this particular implementation is off-base for several reasons.

Reasons to not buy the IO --

1. The pen is big. Does not feel natural in your hand.

2. You have to write on special paper.

3. The paper is relatively expensive.

4. The paper is not commonly available -- if you are travelling and run out of paper, you are pretty much out of luck.

I have always wanted a device that could do what the IO sets out to do (but in my opinion doesn't achieve). I tried the Cross Pad which was also not very useful for completely different reasons. Folks, you need to look beyond the marketing and think about the implications of using the IO -- special paper, can't scan notes you write on pre-existing documents, memory fills up etc. It is a nice idea but has too many downsides.

Try the DocuPen instead. This tiny portable scanner works with any paper. You can scan pre-printed documents. You can store 50+ pages before having to download; and as a practical matter, you will never run out of memory because you can keep your paper until you're ready to scan it.

The DocuPen is less gee-whiz than the IO but it works and doesn't have these non-obvious downsides.

Logitech - Logitech io2 Digital Writing System

Very valuable

I have used this pen for a couple of years now (including the older version). It works well. I get to keep notes as I change jobs, go thru courses and evolve thru life. No point taking notes in class if all you do is loose them at some point, which you will with normal paper. Wish I had one as I grew up. I hope I don't overstate when I say that this can be one of those little life transforming tools.

Wholesale Electronics

Accessories

One-Year Replacement Plan for Electronics Products Priced Between $150.00 and $199.99

$16.99

3M Precise Mousing Surface with 3M Gel Wrist Rest Blue Water Design 8.71 in x 9.21 in

$30.39

Microsoft Natural Keyboard Elite

Microsoft Internet Keyboard