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Best Tablet for taking notes using OneNote

Anonymous
2013-11-18T03:12:16+00:00

I am looking to purchase a tablet for the primary purpose of taking notes with OneNote. I'm looking for a tablet with:

  1. Windows 8.1 OS (not RT!)
  2. Active digital pen / digitizer capable (Not a capacitive stylus)
  3. Capability to  will convert handwritten notes to text in OneNote
  4. A current processor - either Intel Bay Trail, 4th Gen Intel, or equivalent from another mfr
  5. Reasonable price - I will use this tablet primarily for taking notes
  • Surface Pro 2 appears to be the best option, but it seems too expensive for a tablet just to take notes
  • Surface 2 does not convert handwriting to text, so that doesn't work for me. In addition, I want to avoid Windows 8 RT operating system
  • ASUS Transformer fits most of my requirements, but uses a capacitive pen - I desire an active digital pen / digitizer
  • Dell Venue Pro meets most of my requirements and has an active digital pen, at a reasonable price point. This is a new tablet. The initial reviews on the active digital pen are unfavorable. Does anyone have experience with it?
  • Samsung ATIV Tab 3. Is the S-Pen an active digitizer pen?  Does it work well with OneNote? Wish it had the Bay Trail Z3770 processor and not the old Z2760.

Does anyone have comments on the above alternatives or suggestions on another tablet that meets my requirements?  Can I expect better options to come on the market in the next month or two?

Microsoft 365 and Office | OneNote | For home | Windows

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  1. Anonymous
    2014-01-11T10:38:37+00:00

    I've been using Samsung ATIV Tab 3 since November, and got it primarily for OneNote and the Wacom stylus. It works beautifully. 

    Sure, I wish it had a Bay Trail processor, and will upgrade when available, but there is nothing wrong with the current model for handwriting in OneNote, launching embedded Word, PDF, etc files.

    For me, Wacom is a better digitizer than N-Trig, and means I can use my old Toshiba, Cross, etc digitizers with the Samsung.

    My reason for updating to a new processor would be for reading my magazines using Windows-based Zinio (not the app), as now the page turns are slower than I want. It does work, but I'd hope Bay Trail is better. But, that's a secondary need. The first, using OneNote fully, is well-met with the current setup. Handwriting with the stylus is important to me, and Samsung's Wacom/S-Pen has that nailed.

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  1. Anonymous
    2013-11-23T15:25:46+00:00

    I've been trying to track down the same thing.  I'm avoiding the Core i# processors mainly because the price is high, the battery life is short, and they weigh about 30% more (I had a Surface Pro 2 for about 48 hours and returned it for these reasons.)  Currently the only Atom tablets with active digitizers (that I've found) are:

    Wacom: 

    • Samsung Ativ Tab 3 (S pen is just a branded Wacom apparently)
    • HP Elite Pad 900
    • Lenovo Thinkpad Tablet 2
    • Asus Vivotab

    Other:

    • Fujitsu Stylistic Q584
    • Dell Venue 8/11 Pro

    Only the last two are Bay Trail yet, and as you noted the Dell has some bad reviews re. digitizer (it also requires a battery in the pen itself, which is a bit odd.)  I'm going to wait for the next iteration of the Samsung Ativ Tab 3 or the Vivotab myself.

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  1. Anonymous
    2014-07-01T13:44:33+00:00

    I now have the MicroSoft Surface Pro 3, and it is great with OneNote, etc. Exactly what we are all talking about. It is expensive however.

    I am planning to sell my Samsung ATIV on eBay, hoping for around $275. If anyone in this thread is interested in buying it, please let me know. It is slower than I want, due to the slower processor, but works fine with full OneNote capabilities: handwriting, launching embedded files, etc. Battery life is good.

    I will also sell my Samsung Note Pro 12.2. It is great for an Android tablet, but is limited in OneNote ... you cannot take handwritten notes in OneNote, or launch embedded files. But the S-Pen works great with its own applications.

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  2. Anonymous
    2014-06-15T12:07:21+00:00

    The new Microsoft Surface Pro3 looks like the best option, but may be a little pricey, and doesn't deliver until June 20. If the price is not too much (see Microsoft Store online), I would buy the Surface Pro 3.

    If you need something now at a lower price, I would try either: 1) ASUS VivoNote 8.  The downside is the 8" screen size, but it's inexpensive; or 2) Surface 2 or Lumia 2520.  They only have Windows 8 RT, so you don't get full access to programs and OneNote does not convert writing to text.

    There are rumors of more tablets with stylus being introduced in the next month or two. If you buy a tablet for using a stylus, make sure the stylus is either N-Trig or WACOM.

    Please let us know your decision and experience.

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  3. Anonymous
    2014-01-11T14:21:19+00:00

    Larry,

    Very useful to know the Samsung Wacom/S-Pen works great with OneNote - I look forward to it.

    Asus just announced a new tablet with a Bay Trail processor, the VivoTab Note 8, which has a Wacom stylus that stores inside the tablet. The initial reviews on the tablet AND stylus from CES are great. While the release date hasn't been set, this $299-$349 tablet should be on the market soon.

    I hope Samsung will upgrade its ATIV tablet with a current processor, and would like to consider an updated Samsung tablet as an alternative. I have trouble buying a tablet or PC today unless it has the new Bay Trail processor or the Haswell 4th gen processor.

    Randy

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