? for note takers

[brisa]

I received my first PDA for Christmas (T665) and started college for the first time in January. I haven't been taking notes on my Clie, still getting use to graffiti, but would like to start. For those of you who take notes with your Clie, what program do you use? Do you just use the memo function, or do you use documents to go or other similar software? I like documents to go and it is nice to sync it in a word program. I still feel really awkward using it though. Any note taking advice would be appreciated!:)

[Anita]

I think it took me 3-4 weeks to get comfortable with graffiti, maybe not that long. It seems really odd at first but then all of a sudden you get the hang of it. You might sit and force your self to write some paragraphs to yourself <g>.

You might try out Tealscript (which is what I use), which helps the handheld recognize your particular style. And it allows you to automatically write a capital letter if you write it in the space between numbers and letters. There are some hacks that do that too. Saves you that extra up-stroke.

I like Docs to Go (or Wordsmith is another program others like) because I like syncing with word. I use memopad for really short notes that I either want quick access to or expect to delete in a relatively short time.

Docs to Go (and Wordsmith) have the capability of showing smaller fonts, more words on the handheld screen. And the work is compatible with the PC counterparts, so if you expect to eventually need the notes in printout form or to manipulate them in Word, I'd definitely go with one of those programs.

Also, for notetaking in class, I know a lot of students just use a portable keyboard. Faster than graffiti and a lot less tiring.

Anita

[stevejohnson460]

Ditto on the keyboard. I had a Belkin for my T615C, and it worked well for "touch typing."

The Belkin also lets you charge your Clie while you type.

[rhart00]

I use fitaly virtual for text entry. It is hard to get used to a new keyboard layout but once you do you'll never want to go back. I can take notes on my clie now about as fast as I can handwrite. I have graffitied/jotted for years and it doesn't even compare to fitaly. I am a ton faster with fitaly because all I have to do is tap instead of making an entire character.

As far as notetaking programs are concerned I like both bonsai and shadowplan although I only use shadowplan now. If you don't need the notes to be in an outline form I use wordsmith.

[Pman]

Ditto on rhart00's comment about fitaly. This allows me to take notes without a problem.

[*YellowRose*]

If you want to take notes and have them in some type of hierarchal form, you might want to take a look at Shadow (www.CodeJedi.com (http://www.CodeJedi.com)) it's an outstanding program that is being continuously improved.&nbsp; It also has a desktop app that will allow you to easily print your notes from your PC (or Mac).&nbsp;

Good luck in school!

[MacClie]

Originally posted by *YellowRose*
If you want to take notes and have them in some type of hierarchal form, you might want to take a look at Shadow There is also Meteor, which is not as comprehensive as Shadow but cheaper http://www.palmgear.com/software/showsoftware.cfm?sid=68D39962-6AB9-43CD-A0303DF6E87902F1&prodID=14879

- MacClie

[Antoine]

I took me about 2 weeks to get used to grfatti. I use a game called Giraffe to train myself and from there it was jsut a matter of remmebering the symbols. I have used wordsmith since it came out and found that to be the best note taking software for me. I also used progect to organize my projects and used MegaWiki to link todos and my word docs.


Too bad i am no longer in college...that was a nice setup :D

[xyeta]

I use DayNotez for sales calls and other daily notes. You could set up a category for each class, and then you can keep all of your English Literature notes separate from your Physics notes.

Ditto Anita's TealScript advice.

I alsu use TextPlus for word complete...helps speed greatly.

That is the combo that works for me: DayNotez + TealScript + TextPlus

[hherbzilla]

TealScript and TextPlus are definitely a great combination. I tend to use Shadow for my notes.

[jims]

Depends how prolific of a note taker you are....if you take a lot of notes then this would be my order of preference.

Input Method:

1) Keyboard (for that comfortable touch typing feel)

2) Thumb pad keyboard (pretty good space for thumbs that aren't too big)

3) QuickWrite Hack (qwerty layout for your stylus to tap with autocomplete of words)

Applications:

1) Docs to Go (for easy synchronizing within Word)

2) WordSmith (a great memo utility with formatting)

[brisa]

Thanks for all the replys! I have an idea of a few things to try out now. Thank goodness most software will let you try before you buy. I have been out of school for a long time and I need all the help I can get!;) I don't know what I would do without my Clie! It is a life saver for me. Once I get the hang of note taking on it, studying will be easier.

[brisa]

I just downloaded the trial version of TealScript and think I will register it. Once I get it trained I think my graffiti input will be much faster. I especially like the capital letters in the middle. It saves a stroke and a little bit of time. I was going to try out text plus, but they do not offer a trial version. I have never been able to use the shortcut feature that the palm os has. I know there are a few shortcuts already programmed in, but they never work. Anyone know what I may be doing wrong? Will it work in programs like documents to go or datebk5?

[MacClie]

Originally posted by brisa
... I was going to try out text plus, but they do not offer a trial version.Are you sure? http://www.palmgear.com/software/showsoftware.cfm?sid=B8624BDC-90D5-4D67-833E79DB8A618B48&prodID=4037 I am trying it at the moment.

- MacClie

[addict]

I've been using ThoughtManager (http://www.handshigh.com/html/thoughtmanager.html) for several years and am very satisfied with it. I allows for heirarchical note-taking, with the ability to expand & collapse sections. You can export to Notepad for later import to your WP of choice, but there you have to buy ThoughtManager Desktop to get direct synchronization of your notes.

[kstuart]

I am a ton faster with fitaly because all I have to do is tap instead of making an entire character.

This is why I have been using the built-in virtual keyboard (tap on "ABC" in the graffiti area) for about 5 years and never used Graffiti after the first day with my first Palm.

I've tried Fitaly and MessagEase and find that I don't want to learn another "language". Qwerty is already familiar to me and when I want to write more than 2 or 3 sentences, I use a full-size keyboard for my Clie, like the Belkin or Stowaway.

[cpwoo]

xyeta uses a very similar method from me. I use DayNotez and WordComplete. I also have Belkin keyboard, but I rarely use it.

In fact, when I take notes, I actually use a paper diary. DayNotez and others are there for me to summarize what I had written down in the paper diary and store for record keeping purpose. I just haven't found using portable keyboards appropriate during business meetings.

[Anita]

Originally posted by brisa
I just downloaded the trial version of TealScript and think I will register it. . . . I have never been able to use the shortcut feature that the palm os has. I know there are a few shortcuts already programmed in, but they never work. Anyone know what I may be doing wrong? Will

Brisa, are you writing the little squiggly thing in front of the shortcut letters? There may be a name for it but it looks like a cursive "e", is best I can describe it. That should give you the shortcut. . . .I use to have a ton of them for phrases I used a lot in dog training. Well, I still have them, just slacked off on the training <g>.

You can also create "shorthand" strokes in TEalscript -- For example, I have a Tealscript "B" with an upstroke at the end of that that writes "backup and transmit". I have combination t-h (both sharing the downstroke) that writes "the". A combination c-a in one fluid stroke that writes "calls".

Well, now I'm thinking I really should stop fooling around with launchers and backgrounds and do something more productive -- like think about words I frequently use and develop more "shorthand" strokes in Tealscript <g>.

Anita

[*YellowRose*]

Originally posted by Anita
Brisa, are you writing the little squiggly thing in front of the shortcut letters? Yeah, you know. . . looks like a fish standing on it's tail . . . or a lowercase cursive L . . . ;)

[xyeta]

Originally posted by Anita


You can also create "shorthand" strokes in TEalscript -- For example, I have a Tealscript "B" with an upstroke at the end of that that writes "backup and transmit". I have combination t-h (both sharing the downstroke) that writes "the". A combination c-a in one fluid stroke that writes "calls".

Anita


Thanks for that TealScript tip, Anita! I had forgotten about that feature!

[brisa]

are you writing the little squiggly thing in front of the shortcut letters?

Nope! Thanks for the tip. I knew the feature was there, just didn't know about the squiggly thing! I'm sure one of these days it will all sink in.;)

[mrfloyd]

Has anyone tried or had any luck with Jot 2.0?
Isn't this the new graffiti that will be offered on new Clie's?

[KCoram]

FWIW: I've been playing with the demo of Jot 2.0 on my NX70V for the past few days. I haven't had any conflicts with any of the applications I use, and am coming to like writing anywhere, not just on the silk-screen.

For most letters, it matches the horrible way I write better than Grafitti does. Writing 'r' like a lower-case printed letter fails the matching a lot. But, Jot does recognize the way I write a capital-letter printed 'R', like grafitti does, so I can make do.

I'm still not sure that I'd want to pay $39.00 for it, but their promotion of $39.00 for Jot plus two of their other applications is attractive. WordComplete, at least, has some promise, especially for note taking.

[LaStigmata]

I have been using Text Plus with Millikeys and it works good for me. But I have heard alot about Jot and think I will give it a try. But I don't see how anyone could be with out Text Plus, I registered it 2 days after I tried it.

[volcanopele]

I use bonsai. Helps keep your notes organized and looks pretty good. Many of the features that convinced me to get this software don't matter for the T665C so I would also recommend looking at ThoughtManager which is very similar. When I tried shadow before, I didn't like it as well as the other two, mainly because of it's lack of in-line editing, which makes it difficult to take notes during lecture.

[MacClie]

Originally posted by addict
I've been using ThoughtManager (http://www.handshigh.com/html/thoughtmanager.html) for several years and am very satisfied with it. From their site:

"Many Hacks will not work with ThoughtManager. We have made progress on this, and many hacks that did not work in the previous version of ThoughtMill now will work."

Have you found this to be the case, addict?

- MacClie

[addict]

I was never a big Hack user on my Palm Vx, and am obviously not a Hack user on my NX (they usually don't work), so I can't really say. You can always install an eval copy and see if works w/ your installed Hacks.

[MacClie]

Originally posted by addict
I was never a big Hack user on my Palm Vx, and am obviously not a Hack user on my NX (they usually don't work)... I am surprised to hear you say that. I am using 16 hacks - all of which make life easier - on my NR, and am having no problems whatsoever. To have to turn them all off for some software does seem a little extreme, but you are right, I can always try ThoughtManager and see what happens. Thanks, addict.

- MacClie