Logitech io Personal Digital Pen Review

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(More customer reviews)...The box ships with version 1.1 software, but Logitech released version 2 in early September 2003. Learned that via researching the product a few weeks ago. The newer software (d/l from Logitech) bundles an integrated (fully featured 30-day trial version) of a (MyScripts-based) handwriting recognition engine. That's for the entire page, folks, not just the little blocks at the bottom, as was the case previously. It ain't perfect, but neither is my chicken scratch. The box includes a 20% off coupon if you register at Logitech. Apply that to purchasing Logitech's version of MyScripts, ...
Most importantly, you can take your notes, drop the pen in its well-like cradle, and configure the "Desktop manager" to take one of several automated actions. I chose to convert the pen notes to text, and save as RTF. ... But you could save as a standard MS Word .doc file instead if desired. Now, whenever I want to locate particular notes, I just click open InfoRapid and run an incredibly speedy search thru the rtf files I've compiled, courtesy of the IO package. E-Heaven y'all !!
A quick word about the pen. Yes, it's larger than usual, but the grip area is comparable to a highlighter. It's also textured and curved, making for a delightfully comfortable writing experience (even for this woman with very small hands). On the down side, I wouldn't place it in a shirt pocket, for the same reason I've learned not to place loose change there. The pen can be clipped to the pocket for stability purposes, but the size of the bottom portion overwhelms the smaller top part, tending to unexpectedly detach itself. Undiscovered, that's a recipe for battery drain. There's only one other "grrr", but it too is of minor concern: there's a "keyword" deal with the software-- I suspect it's a hold-over from the initial version. Complete pain in the skleeboop, as you have to add the keyword to a list first, rather than on the fly. Thankfully, we can avoid the whole hassle, now that the full-page recognition/conversion capability is available, obviating the need for discreet searchable keywords.
That brings me to the issue of revisions, after the recognition process kicks in. I can't imagine an easier process. Your handwritten notes appear in one pane, post download. A nicely sized popup box shows the plain text translation. Thus, a quick comparative glance tells you whether you really "need" to correct anything. Personally, I purchased the pen with the goal of searchable notes, not letter- or brief-writing. Hence, as picky as I am (attorney- so I truly require precision in most instances), I rarely "need" to make revisions, since the accuracy is good enough to permit the searchability I've long craved. If there's a question later, I have the luxury of a backup via the handwritten notebook-- with no extra strain whatsoever. (Huge sigh of contentment!)
You can view very precise discussions at the Logitech IO Pen users' forum: I found it especially enlightening to learn there that many user comments were taken to heart by Logitech, as most have been incorporated into the upgraded software. One cautionary note though-- on my XP/SP1 machine, I couldn't get the version 2 software to install. My stupidity, as the materials tell you that version 1.1 of the .Net Framework is required. I failed to focus on the fact that my long ago installed version was merely 1.0. Duh! A quick scurry to the MS site to download v 1.1, and I was set. Once that requisite was satisfied, I elected to install the CD version, and immediately thereafter, the newer version 2 downloaded package. Smooth as silk during installation, and every day thereafter. (I've been a notetaking little demon for the past 10 or so days straight, so if there were glitches, trust me, I'd have bumped into them by now.)
You'll likely fall in love with this beauty. But, since a writing utensil is such an intensely personal choice, an Amazon.com purchase would be wise.......
In the box:
-- pen
-- 5 pen refills **
-- 50 or so sheets/notebook (regular = 80 pages/160 sheets)
-- little post-it note pad
-- well-shaped cradle, with physically attached USB cord
-- power adapter (read: brick) ( probably can leave it at home for 4-5 day trips though)
-- munchkin how-to booklet -- READ IT :-) for install specifics before you touch anything, to avoid snafus
-- 20% off coupon
You'll wanna grab the new software while awaiting your package:
...Digital pen & paper >> IO Digital pen (NOT MyScripts)
** The refills: you'll notice that the clip segment of the pen (silver) has a small hole. You situate the current ballpoint into that hole, then twist to remove it. Nice touch.
The software is for Windows XP, Windows ME, Windows 2000, Windows 98.

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Using MyScript Notes software, the io Personal Digital Pen transforms handwritten notes into computer readable files, including text, tables, and drawings. It recognizes natural handwriting, numerous geometrical forms, arrow and tables. With the Logitech IO personal digital pen, your handwriting becomes an effective tool for the digital world--without changing the way you work. Write or draw on special digital paper and your words and images are both inked on the paper and stored in the pen's memory. To transfer these handwritten documents to your PC, place the pen in its cradle and download them. Then, easily share, store, organize, and retrieve them.
The Logitech IO digital pen remembers everything you write when you are away from your PC. In addition to a regular ink cartridge, it includes an optical sensor that captures your words and drawings. A built-in processor digitizes your handwriting, storing up to 40 pages in memory between downloads. Based on functionality from Anoto, the Logitech IO digital pen encodes on the basis of microscopic dots printed on the paper. Since it always knows exactly where you are, you can even accurately edit the original page at a later time. Use Post-it Notes and Cambridge Limited notebooks enabled with the Anoto functionality to capture your thoughts.
Protect your information with electronic copies, so you'll never forget or lose handwritten documents again. Find the information quickly with your PC's indexing and searching functions. Even have your handwritten notes available on the road. Simplify your organization by writing calendar entries into your electronic organizer and adding handwritten tasks to your electronic to-do list.
Improve communication by circulating hand-drawn sketches and drawings and meeting or class notes without photocopying. Write e-mail when you're away from your computer for automatic sending on download. The Logitech IO digital pen comes with a rapid-charging USB cradle, an AC adapter, helpful software, five ink refills, one Mead Cambridge Limited Notebook, one 3M Post-it Notes Pad, and a two-year limited warranty.
How it works The Logitech io digital pen looks and feels just like an ordinary ballpoint pen and you use it in the same way. There are no keys to press and no display. You activate the pen simply by removing the cap and deactivate it by replacing the cap. Then you write on digital paper the same way you write on regular paper. The main parts of the digital pen are a digital camera, an advanced image-processing unit, and a communication unit. It also contains an ink cartridge so that you can always see what you have written or drawn.

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