Customer Reviews

Digital Ink Pad with Voice Recording iVistaTablet (OCR Handwriting Recognition Software INCLUDED VALUE $40)

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

I'm a grad student, and my back is killing me because I carry so many notebooks around. I decided to purchase a digital tablet so I could downsize my packed-full messenger bag, and not have to waste time re-writing my notes.

At first, I thought of purchasing a tablet PC; I decided against it because I already have a netbook and a laptop, and I really don't need another computer. It took a while to sift through the various digital tablets that Amazon.com has to offer, but I finally found this little gem.

What makes it better than the DigiMemo (my second option) tablet is that it has voice recording capabilities, a headphone slot for playing music (via a SD card), and if you connect it to your computer via USB, it becomes a fully functional tablet with the pen as a mouse. Artists may want a traditional tablet like a Wacom, but I found doodling with this really fun. I did a few drawings in GIMP and the pen was just as responsive as the one from a Wacom tablet I bought a few years back.

The other digital notebooks all had trial versions of their proprietary handwriting recognition software (which you had to purchase later, blech), but iVista includes this in their package, along with a program that converts your writings to text.

My biggest concern was that I wouldn't be able to use this tablet to write math formulas (I'm a physics major). The software is able to save your notes as either text, PDF, or an image file (JPEG, TIFF, etc.), so I just save my notes as PDFs or images so I don't have to worry about the software misinterpreting my writing. You can even edit your notes while they're displayed on your computer screen; I erase all the scribbles I made and now I have polished, professional notes that impress my classmates. Since I can now email my notes as attachments rather than having to lend them out or Xerox them, I'm the new go-to for notes from a missed class.

My only gripes (which are small) are that:

a) It would be nice to have a little notch for a pen holder; a replacement pen is $20 from iVista's website, and you can't use the tablet without it. I'm a little clumsy, so I've to be careful with this.

b) I expected it to be a little lighter (it's about 1.5-2 lbs), but that's okay--it's still way better than carrying around three binders!

c) My saved notes aren't automatically in a standard recognizable format; you've to use the included software to convert them to standard extensions. It's understandable given you've to use that software if you want to edit your notes before you save; I just wish there was an option to save directly as a JPEG if you weren't concerned with editing. That way, a computer that doesn't have the iVista drivers installed will be able to read my notes as if they were on a flash drive. But meh-- I usually wait until I'm at home before I look over my notes anyway.

Right now, I'm giving it a 5/5 for product description/performance (it actually works better than I'd anticipated). My only concern now is the durability. It seems to be built pretty sturdily, so I don't expect it to break.

It /is/ a bit expensive, almost the price of a netbook-- but based on the reviews I've read about other digital tablets I think if you go cheaper you're going to get what you pay for. If you've the cash for this, it's a really handy thing to have, especially for a scatterbrain like me who has loose notes flying everywhere.

BTW, that little microphone in the picture isn't included. :p

EDIT: iVista's customer service is really quite good. They contacted me shortly after the purchase of my tablet, and listened intently to everything I'd to say about it. +1 more point for the iVista tablet-- other reviews of digital notebooks I've researched have said that they've trouble getting any customer support when they need it.

EDIT #2 (12/22/2010): Another reviewer mentioned that their notes came out messed up because the pen over-scrawled everything they wrote. I've have this happen a 3-4 times, and it's a good thing I keep hard copies of my notes in a file, otherwise I'd be in a bind. I've noticed that the pen can be a bit hyper-sensitive when you're using just 1-2 sheets of paper; it tended to scramble my digital notes unless I held the pen properly upright and used my 'best' penmanship. I've learned to avoid this by always having a thicker stack of paper to bear down on; the tablet isn't so pressure-sensitive then, and I can even leave the pen on the tablet idly without fear of accidental markings.

Other than that, the tablet is still holding up well; no stress cracks, programming bugs, etc. My only concern now is how long the tablet's rechargeable battery will last, and where I can find a replacement (I don't see one listed on iVista's website).

I am really enjoying this product. I write alot especially for school. I was writing my notes manually and then retyping them. Well no more. I am still tweaking my handwriting so the OCR software pickup my writing. The product is easy to use. However the pen refill were difficult to find. the company sells them with a power pack, but all i wanted is the pen refills for the time being. The company has been tremendous with customer service and are now offering them in individual units. That is one thing I am extremely particular about it how the company resolves issues. I highly recommend the IVista, it has been a life saver for me.

I bought this and received it about a week ago. So far it is great. It is so handy for me at work since I have to write a lot and then eventually type it all up. Now I can write and upload the forms to my computer. The software that comes with the pad works for my handwriting. I have only had the unit a week so I can't say how rugged it is yet. It is attractive though, and very thin. I really wish I had this when I was in college because I would have all of my notes saved as word documents or powerpoint slides.

Nice instrument but, as expected, the OCR will take a lot of getting used to.
Bit of a shame that there is not spare pen included: very easy to leave your pen somewhere.

I was skeptical with buying this product, normally I don't pay so much for something I have never used before. But it looked to have many good features and good reviews, so jumped out on a limb and bought it.
And glad I did. Setting this thing up was a breeze. First you install your Tablet Drive followed by Ink Pen (a program), write on your tablet then plug it in and you're set. Everything is automated. Once you plug in the tablet the recognizing programming will pop up and ask you want you want to do. It is simple, you just choose which file you want to send to your computer, choose in which file you want this as BMP, JPEG, Word stuff like that, click convert and you're done. It's that simple. Yo udon't need Office and programs of the sort when you want it for the basics.
When I first opened this product I got to messing with it and noticed that my palm might bump one of the buttons since they're right beneath my wrist. That's not a problem because the buttons only activate when you press the pen to them. I was mashing and mashing them trying to get them to work, so I used the pen to see what would happen and it worked. Another thing is that it came with extra ink refills plus what was in the pen. I was thinking I would have to buy the set of 10 about two weeks later, but now I don't have to do that for awhile.
There's also a thing called a dummy pen (something like that), you have two of them and they're for replacing the refills when you want to use your tablet on the computer. Instead of waisting your ink when you're using it like a mouse.
Another feature I like is that there would be no more searching of an ink refill when there's the dummy and refill in two slots, inside the tablet underneath it next to the battery. You have to open the battery chray.
I bought this for my book writing. Half my book is on paper and so I will be spending countless hours on the computer just transferring it. And I kept telling myself I could get it done faster if I could do half at work. Now I can. Also, compared to a PDA or phone, if used at work no one will tell you to get off your PDA or phone because it looks like a clipboard. If you do a lot of paper work, you could fool anyone into thinking you're working when you're really jotting stuff down on your portable computer.
I know I shouldn't be giving people that idea, but we all like to squeeze in a little extra time for ourselves while at work.
On another note; Here you pay for Shipping, but if your head to the main iVista site you get the same product for the same price but free shipping. i bought it there.

I spent lots of time analyzing all tablets ranging from Tablet Laptops which are expensive to Digi memo and ivista tablets or Livescribe pens and etc.
I got livescribe but you can't edit your notes using that. You can't use different colors and it can't be connected to Microsoft Journal. it records voice however which is a good thing digi memo lacks. but digi memo doesn't record voice. Bith these alternatives for ivista need another OCR software to recognize your text.
SO advantages of this product are:
1. You can FULLY edit your notes (using different colors) [ LIVESRIBE PENS LACK this option)
2. You can connect it to Microsoft journal and use it as a mouse also [ Livescribe and digimemo lack this option)
3. You can record voice [digimemo lacks this option]
4. You can use different colors for pens and also you can write on every paper [ livescribe pens have to be on particular pen they sell to you]
5.IVista tablet has ( without any additional cost) text recognition software which for all other products you have to buy seperately for at least 40 dollars.
6. It is much cheaper than Tablet PCs and MUCH lighter.
BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING is customer support
I contacted them they answered super fast and they sent me a pen in the soonest time possible. I really liked the way they talked to me and took care of my problems.

I ordered this product directly from iVista company (APPLIED SOLUTION GROUP) and was really disappointed with the product. What was more insulting is the endless charges tagged on the purchase, not to mentioned 20% return fee and $20+ fedex shipping charges. You better decide to like this product very much BEFORE you purchase it as returning will cost you 50% of the costs. Really poor customer service turned me off of any future purchases from this company!

Working in sales and having a lot of meetings with customers as well as meetings within the company, I needed device that would help me to get better organized with my notes.

I wanted to give a try to digital ink pad by iVistatablet and it was good decision. It is real time saver. I like the fact that I still take notes on the paper, but now I can upload my notes easily to my computer, I can annotate them, convert into digital text in word and send it easy by email.

I am very happy with MyScript note software that it bundled with tablet. It is not 100% recognition but it recognizes my handwriting pretty well and save it in word. It also recognizes sketches or tables.

Sometimes I would use digital ink pad for voice recording and it is very useful since it automatically links the recording to my specific note.
There is built in microphone which is pretty good to pick up audio even in larger rooms. They put picture of product with external microphone on Amazon, but external microphone doesn't come in package. I found that internal built in microphone is just fine for my needs.

One bonus for me was that digital ink pad could work as graphic tablet. I was able to make my presentations much more attractive for my clients. I have tablet connected to computer and projector and going through my power point presentations, I can use pen on tablet instead of mouse, annotate slides, highlight areas of impotence etc. It could be also used to annotate contents in word and excel.

Initially I didn't purchase portfolio because I wanted to make sure that product meets my requirements. I will add portfolio because it would be easier to go on meetings carrying additional papers, business cards and pen.

Digital Ink Pad with Voice Recording iVistaTablet (OCR Handwriting Recognition Software INCLUDED VALUE $40)

After paying for 2 day shipping, I finally got it on the 4th day (of the same week) after purchase.

I really wanted to like the tablet, I went back and forth with other technologies before deciding to purchase this one. I was finally excited about the purchase. I take a lot of handwritten notes for business clients and create a lot of lists in most things I do so I figured this would be a great problem solver for me.

I got the machine, loaded all the software as the instructions say and then plugged it in. Well.... 8 hours later.... the unit has no/Zero power after being plugged in all day.

Pro's: The iVistaTablet is a nice pc light pen tablet and it is sensitive to movement and placement.
The pen was easy to set up, install battery and change the pen/dummy units.

Con's:
From what I can find, the screen configuration is not flexible at all on the iVistaTablet. If you have dual monitors you may notice it is difficult to write/edit while connected to the PC.
After over 8 hours being plugged into the USB port on the PC, I have no/Zero power and the unit will not turn on.
Writing while connected to the PC is slow and can be tedious.

Had the product for one day and very disappointed. After charging digit tablet I wanted test to see if this product did all it was advertised it could do. Well, I ran just one test and it failed. I am not able to change the items in the LCD panel which includes creating a new page or folder. The Digital Ink Pad with voice record, model number ITR-SP410 looks promising but when I can't even change the items in the LCD panel, it's a bad sign and yes I did a reset on pad and still nothing. It may be a good product for some but mine is defective. Don't buy.