Notability and a Stylus Make Paperless Notes Easy
By Geri L. Dreiling, Esq.
I prefer to have my notes in electronic form rather than on paper but there are times I feel like writing rather than typing. Notability is an easy-to-use iPad app I’ve been testing in a variety of settings for a few months that allows me to jot down handwritten notes.
My field tests included client meetings where I’ve pulled out my iPad and taken notes with my Boxwave stylus. When I spent an afternoon observing Probate Commissioner Pat Connaghan as part of my research for the post, “iPad Use on the Bench,” I penned my observations using Notability. And I used Notability to scribble last-minutes comments I didn’t want to forget before speaking at two recent technology-related CLEs.
The Notability app offers several advantages:
- Hand write or type notes
- Append a recorded message
- Organize notes by subject
- Email, upload and save as a PDF
As an added bonus, Notability is currently selling on iTunes for 99 cents. (Affiliate link)
Note taking Options
Notability allows the user to choose between handwritten and typed notes. To take notes by hand, just tap the pencil with your stylus.
To set the thickness of your stylus marks, press the pencil icon again with your stylus and a menu appears. Notability offers 12 tip widths and several ink colors.
To change the background color, press on the paper icon along the top.
To erase your writing, tap the eraser and then swipe your stylus over the mark. Unlike a pencil eraser, you don’t have to meticulously cover each mark on the screen in order to make it disappear.
Do you want to highlight specific passages in your notes? Just tap the highlighter.
Record a Message
If you like to add recorded messages to your notes, Notability offers the capability. Simply press on the microphone and a recorded message is appended to the note. Unfortunately, it won’t transcribe the message.
Organize Notes by Subject
Notability contains a library which allows you to file your notes by subject.
Upload, Email or Open in New Application
With Notability, you can upload your note to Dropbox, email it or open it in several different PDF readers. On my iPad, that means iBooks, iAnnotate, DocsToGo and even in my Kindle app.
Notes Without the Paper Fuss
Notability has become an important app in my paperless toolbox. Of course, it isn’t the only handwriting app but at just 99 cents it is one of the most affordable ones.
Do you use Notability? Let us know what you think of it. If you prefer a different note taking app, let us know which one you like and why in the comments section below.
Also in Lawyer Tech Review:
I love using my iPad for note taking and have spent a small fortune trying different ones. I agree about Notability – I think it is the most features, although I like Penultimate because it’s so simple to open and use. UPAD also is quick to open, and it has the capacity to organize notes into files, which Penultimate lacks; still think Notability and Penultimate meet my needs best.
I have a question, though, and am not sure where to ask it, so I’ll start here. For the past two or three days, when I try to use any of the handwriting apps, there are places on the screen where the writing doesn’t stick, leaving me with gaps in the midst of a note. Do you have any idea what I should do about this?
It seems to be a problem with the iPad itself, an iPad 2 which I’ve had since December. I find Apple support is impossible to use – can’t figure out where to find anything helpful, and feel like I go in circles with it. So I’d appreciate any advice you might have.
Thanks.
Nan Evans
Hi Nan –
Thanks for your comments about Notability, Penultimate and UPAD.
I haven’t encountered the problem of gaps in which the writing doesn’t stick while using a handwriting app. Perhaps some of our readers have had this happen. If so, please weigh in with your thoughts.
Right now, the only possibility that is coming to mind is that possibly there is a problem with your stylus. Have you checked it to make sure there are no cracks or issues with it?
Geri
I used to use Notability but have switched to Notes Plus – more expensive, but very fast for note-taking, has all of Notability and adds a couple more. There are several good ones out there – each one has it’s strengths so often it is just personal preference…