Customer Reviews

Cyberpad 8.5X11 USB Black Digital Notepad Pen Win Xp 2K

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(23)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(12)

 

 

I needed a pad to write notes on, but past experiences taught me the pain of having to write on a notepad and then re-writing my notes to computer in order to transmit those notes to others or to keep a record of meeting minutes. Along comes the Adesso Cyberpad, which was being cross-linked across a number of gadget blogs.

The Cyberpad acts as a digital tablet, but uses regular paper (that's right: any kind of 8.5" x 11" paper will work fine). How does it work? You simply turn on the Cyberpad, and use the included pen to write across the paper. Everything you write will be recorded into memory. You can even use the SD slot for an SD card to store your notes instead of using internal memory.

The Cyberpad package includes a wealth of items:

- (1) Adesso Cyberpad
- (5) "AAA" batteries
- (1) NEXcell Battery Charger (for the "AAA" batteries)
- (1) 8.5" x 11" writing pad
- (1) "Leather" carrying case (designed for the Cyberpad)
- (1) Electronic writing pen
- (2) Replacement nibs (for the pen)
- (1) Plastic nib (for tablet-mode use)
- (3) App and Driver CDs (including "EverNote Lite")
- (1) User Manual and Quick Guide
- (1) USB cable (to interface to your PC from the Cyberpad)

It takes four (4) "AAA" batteries to power the Cyberpad and one (1) "AAA" battery to power the digital pen.

In day-to-day usage, I took the Cyberpad out to different meetings, and it performed well. The battery life is very good and I managed to get several hours worth of use out of the Cyberpad. When transferring notes back to the computer, I used Evernote to pull the files in and view what I had written. I haven't tried any OCR software yet but that's my next goal.

The Cyberpad itself has a number of functions available, such as creating new pages (files) in memory to store a new page of notes, and the ability to move through folders. All of this can be done through the Cyberpad itself, and output is displayed via an embedded LCD.

I did have issues in trying to use the tablet to interface to both my PC and notebook (separately, neither recognized the Cyberpad), but this appears to be a driver issue. I currently use an SD card to store my notes to transfer back to PC, which is better for me since I don't like carrying a USB cable around (and my HP notebook has an SD card reader built-in). This also means I can't use the "digital tablet" function, but I prefer to draw on paper anyway.

The resolution of the notes are great though: high-resolution captures of my writing notes or drawings are clear and easy to see. There is some jaggedness among lines, but I don't expect 300dpi resolution out of my writing notes in any case.

One other thing to note is that the writing pen is fairly thick (especially as it contains the "AAA" battery in it), so those with small hands may not like having to use the writing pen. I wish they had used a smaller pen, and I wouldn't have minded buying watch batteries or such, just so a smaller pen could be used. Maybe Adesso will offer a smaller pen in the future (hopefully).

Overall I'm happy with the Cyberpad, and I'd still recommend it to anyone who wants an alternative to higher priced alternatives like the Logitech tablet solution, or having to buy a tablet PC outright. There is room for improvement, but the Adesso Cyberpad is pretty good for the price.

Got the Cyberpad late yesterday and started working on installation of all the software. The software installed without a hitch and the product immediately worked. Total time to install the software was about 5 minutes.

The print directions are pretty lame and they are pretty small to be of great value. However, there is a pdf manual that is a little more indepth on the CD and it provides enough information to get going and function.

One thing of note is the Evernote product supplied DOES NOT do OCR of Handwriting. This is a drawback if you are intending to OCR your work and store it in a note organizer. However, if you are going to put out the bucks for this particular hardware, $35.00 bucks to get the full version of Evernote is trivial compared with the time savings you will receive.

Another drawback is the file formats are not usable for Microsoft OneNote 2003 as of yet. Although Evernote is usable for notes organization, OneNote is just a power house when compared.

The Cyberpad basically acts as an external/removable hard disk on your system. Once installed, you can drag and drop the .top files anywhere on your desktop or in a program that recognizes .top files. This is convenient if you are able to quickly understand which of the numbered files are the one you want (a01.top, a02.top, etc)

With the Evernote Handwriting Recognition, the system did fairly well with Cursive but didn't do as well with Print. Lowercase did better than uppercase in my experience. This is all dependent upon how you write and as one would expect, my handwriting is not the picture of perfection. When I wrote some programming Functions like (For X = 1 to 5 Step 1), the system didn't catch the = sign. In later writing of code, it didn't catch the + sign. Z and 2 got mixed up pretty regularly. Again, a note of caution in that my writing is not precise. Amazingly to me, the cursive was much more accurate in recognition than print. A handwriting example of recognized character types might be a good idea over time and after testing the system out a while, and possibly adjusting a little bit of your writing, the recognition will improve.

I turned the Cyberpad sideways and promptly with some supplied software called OfficeInk started writing directly into a word document and directly into Outlook. Although it stays graphical in representation, I was quickly able to markup a document and save and send back for review to one of my clients. This easy markup and drawing capability makes transfering ideas much easier than trying to sit on Visio or some other art program to detail out a concept.

Overall, the system is outstanding for getting handwritten notes into some media. It is fast, ink accurate, and manageable. Over time, the software will catchup with this amazing device. The device itself is easy to write on and although the pen is a little larger than what I would like, it was comfortable to write with.

For those seeking a writing tablet to digitize with, some pro's and con's of my research:

The Cross only has a serial interface. This seriously is not the way to go. This tablet only uses Steno Notepads (small little stenographer pads from 200 years ago :) )

The Logitech i2 seems interesting but you need specialized metalic papers. This over time is going to be pretty costly and availability of the paper will decrease when the product drops off market or out of phase with marketing practices.

The Adesso Cyberpad uses regular paper, regular pen refills able to be gotten at Staples, etc. This also allows a 8.5 x 11 regular pad to be used for more writing area.

Overall excellent product that is fully functional and will save hours of time.

The possibilities seem great for the Adesso Cyberpad. I have to keep notes of my client contacts, and it made sense to manage them all in one place on a Sandisk Secure Digital card, which I already owned. Today was the first day to put it to the test. When I got home I accessed the .not files and noticed that while some notes came through great, a few had multiple vertical and horizontal lines running through my text. I'm not sure what to make of these. At first I thought maybe the lines were from the seams of the nylon pockets on the inside of the nice zippered leather case pressing into the tablet (which I had inadvertantly left on while closing the case). Maybe so... Adesso doesn't see fit to ship a hard copy manual with the product -- just a couple of pages of instructions about the three software disks. Overall the Cyberpad has promise. But I have to take off a star for lack of documentation. Everything else is there - Case, paper, pen, batteries & battery charger.

I bought the Cyberpad as an alternative to a PC Tablet. It really works and really like it. Right out of the box it works adequately but you really need to step up to Evernote Plus to gain full use of the Cyberpad. I wanted to input notes without having to retype them and with Evernote Plus you can do that as well as search your handwritten words.

You have to make sure you have the right memory page with on the right notepad page to maintain you notes. You can overlay text on two different hand written pages. Not a big issue. More of a user issue. Also you have to pay attention in order to make the transfer to the computer easier (pages are stored as A01 A02..). Just place a note on each paper page to match the memory page so you can match the two when flipping through your notes.

The battery usage is great. I leave the Cyberpad on most of the day. When charging the batteries, I have not lost anything stored. When connected to a PC, the Cyberpad becomes a digital pad and removable drive. You loose the tablet capability. Then you have to turn it sideways to orient it with the monitor and double press to activate the `puck'.

It is unfortunate that there is not a button to switch between tablet and digital pad when connected. You have to disconnect to use as a notepad (with pad of paper not digital pad). I really like using it so I have to plug and unplug. If you upload once a day it may not be a problem. Another issue is that people with small hands may find the pen large but it works for me.

Overall the Cyber pad is great. Not perfect but the best solution for those on a budget. It is natural to write on and it is very light. The only real draw back is there is now direct way into OneNote and other formats. You have import into Evernote Plus, convert the text and then cut and paste out. Never less, we will be buying more of these for our staff so not to purchase heavier and more expensive tablet.

I've been using this pad for about four weeks now, and I'm generally very satisfied with the hardware. I've had no problems with the pen, connectivity, or battery life. The only small qualm is with the size of the portfolio. It seems the designer erred on the side of making it extra large and extra-padded, so it's just a bit bulkier than I'd like.

Aside from the hardware, a big part of the effectiveness of this product, as you might imagine, is the software. The package includes software to do a whole variety of things, from Office integration to using the device as a drawing pad. The thing I was really after, though, was handwriting recognition, and this is where I was let down.

The package advertises that it supports handwriting recognition with the software in the box, and it does -- except there's a catch. You've got to be plugged in for the handwriting recognition to work. That's right, you're out of luck when you use the tablet disconnected and then plug it in.

There's an easy way to fix this, though. When you run the demo version of EverNote for the first time, you'll have a chance to upgrade to EverNote plus for like $30. Take advantage of this the first time you see the option, though, because I wasn't able to find the offer once I'd passed the first time. EverNote Plus *will* recognize handwriting from offline notes, and it does a pretty passable job.

If you factor in the extra $30 in software costs, this product is a little pricier, but it's well worth the upgrade.

No problems getting it to work right out of the box, or connecting to my computer for download. The batteries didn't last very long, so make sure to charge them with the included charger if you need several hours of use. The pen is a bit large but managable. Mine ran out of ink after 30 pages of notes at a conference. I emailed the company and was told how to get refills without having to buy another pen (which is pricy at $29). Here's the info for the ink:
You can purchase the following ink refills from staples, office depot, etc.:
BRAND / MODEL
Cross / 8518-1
Zebra / BR-8A-4C
Lamy / M21
Sterling / 01800T
Spalding / RFR80A
Staedtler / 930-ASBK3V
I actually love the leather binder with the extra pockets, but it is a bit bulky when sitting in a row with people on either side. At my desk, I love it. Wish I had this years ago, as I take a lot of client notes. My guess is those with bad reviews just didn't take the time to plug the cable in properly and figure out how to work it. I couldn't be happier. Haven't used it as a tablet on my computer yet. Don't have that need right now. Looking forward to trying all the software.

I am pretty happy with my cyberpad. Compared to the other digitizer options it is a pretty easy choice. It uses standard 8.5x11 sized pads, has a reasonable sized pen, and doesn't take special paper. I was unhappy with evernote (even evernote plus) and found some third party software called CyberConverter from Blue Euclid Software that imports the .top files into Microsoft OneNote. I agree with previous posters that OneNote is much more powerful. anyway, the CyberConverter fixed my only real complaint.

The exact same device is also sold as the Genius G-Note 7000. In the latter form it retails for up to 50 dollars less than the Cyberpad. However, the Genius package comes without the portfolio, the rechargeable batteries and charger. Also, no handwriting recognition software is included in the Genius bundle. However, my impression is that the handwriting recognition tool that comes with the Cyberpad is not very usable anyway (cant interface easily with evernote / onenote etc), so that wasnt a big deal to me. You can get excellent batteries and chargers -- probably better than what comes with the adesso -- for the 50 dollars you save.

It works great for me -- both as a tablet (for taking math notes, not for artwork) and as a portable note-taker. The quality in the latter mode is superb (very surprising).

I had no problems with the installation (i made sure to uninstall my puny wacom tablet first).

The tiny recessed usb port is not *too* much of a problem, though somewhat irritating. I just leave the cord plugged in to the tablet, and only disconnect the laptop end while traveling.

I've been using the CyberPad for about the last 6 weeks every day in a classroom setting (I teach math). I come into the classroom, plug the USB cable into the classroom computer, and turn on the projector. I've been using the included RiteMail program to capture and display the notes. After class I clean the notes up a bit, save them as pdf files, and then post them on the class web page in Blackboard. By "clean them up" I mean that I get little extra "doodads" on my letters and mathematical symbols when I try to write either too fast or too small. I clean them up with the eraser tool in RiteMail.

Here are some additional advantages of using the CyberPad in the classroom:
- in class, students can focus more on following the logic of the lecture and less on making sure they record every jot and tittle in their notes;
- great for communicating with my online students;
- no more, "I missed class. Can I get a copy of your notes?";
- class notes are immediately available for students with disabilities which prevent them from taking notes.

Our school has a license for Adobe Connect, so I'm going to experiment with that next semester. I'm hoping it will do a little better job of capturing my inking so I can reduce or eliminate the "clean up" phase. (In defense of the RiteMail program, my handwriting is not the best to begin with.)

I demonstrated my classroom use of the CyberPad to a colleague from the biology department, and now both the math and biology departments are considering buying one for each professor who wants to use one.

Student reactions range from "whatever" to "great". So far I haven't had any negative student comments.

By the way, it does work with Microsoft OneNote in tablet mode, just not in the off-line, note-taking mode.

I can also use it to take notes in our department meetings, but I haven't told anybody else about this capability as I do not wish to become the permanent note-taker!

The bottom line is: I love this thing!

I've only used this with Evernote Plus and in standalone (writing on paper) mode. I already had Evernote Plus to use on my Sony U750P, which allows inking on the touchscreen. So why did I buy this? Because it's instant-on. Waiting for a PC to start up is a chore for entering little things.

Sorry, haven't used it as a Tablet, nor used any of the bundled software, so can't speak to those features. Have had zero problems, though the USB connection is not recognized properly on USB ports on my computer's docking station--it sees something but doesn't know what it is. But when I connect to the computer's USB slot, the Cyberpad always gets recognized.

I appreciate the thought they put into making this simple but complete. Nice buttons that are pretty obvious in their functions, battery life indicators for the pad and the pen, generous inclusion of the right batteries (NiMH for the pad which uses batteries quickly, alkaline for the pen which uses batteries slowly) and a good charger (indicator light for when it's done charging, and smart enough to then trickle charge), an indicator on the LCD of whether the current file/page is blank or not (I've screwed up several times by not paying attention and wrote on top of previous notes), a pen icon indicator on the LCD of when the pen is sending to the pad. Nice zippered portfolio, too, though it doesn't fit spare batteries and charger (or at least it appears that you'd scrunch too much and possibly damage the pad if you stuffed them in).

I haven't had a need for the SD slot, as the built-in memory is quite enough, but it's nice to have the possibility to use an SD card for transferring notes if something were to go wrong with the USB connection (or maybe Windows Vista won't work with the Adesso driver?).

You'll have to download the manual from adesso's site, because the one on the CD won't let you write to disk--a pain to load a CD just to look up a function. The pen is also a bit fat for me.

In the Evernote forum, a couple of people have damaged their pens because they thought they'd have to push hard to get signal through all that paper (I have maybe 40 sheets of paper on average). Not necessary, there's a simple contact that the refill makes when you write. So I've been careful to be gentle.

I like it, no problems, regular paper, regular writing (though my line and word spacing is more than usual to help Evernote's handwriting recognition). And thanks to the reviewer below, GradStudent, for telling us how to make this work with OneNote, which makes it more versatile.