Note taking for class: Calligrapher or Stowaway?

[iblade]

I'm a college student, and I'm seirously considering buying a PDA and using it for note taking during class. Now I'm talking about extensive note taking for 2 - 3 hour lectures.

The 2 solutions I've come accross are the following.

1- Stowaway foldable keyboard
2- Calligrapher handwriting recognition software

The prices range from 40 to 90 dollars for both solutions (keyboars or software packs).

What in your opinion is the best solution for taking extensive notes? I must say I'm really more encline to Handwriting recognition...

I've just read about Fitaly, and I'm even more confused...

http://www.fitaly.com/fsinfo/fitaly3ppcnote.htm

[dave99]

I use a Stowaway, and it works very well. Beats writing on the screen hands down, it's an order of magnitude faster (and more importantly, more accurate). I've had only one prob, and it may be a one-off. The stand for the PDA has broken in every way possible (in 6 places, belive it or not) It's currently held together by sellotape!

DT

[dafuse]

I use both Calligrapher and a stowaway. Hands down, the keyboard is better. If I'm in a meeting, I bring it. Calligrapher is good, but you always end up fighting it and correcting mistakes a bit, no matter what. Numbers mixed with letters, capitalization, acronyms, etc. always cause a problem or two. And even one problem can be too much if you're trying to go fast. Your requirements are even worse than mine (I remember uni!), so I would definitely recommend the keyboard.

I didn't get the IR or Bluetooth keybords. I got the plain, plug-in model, because it was much lighter, and landscape mode while note taking isn't important to me.

And forget Fitaly for your requirements. It's pretty cool, but I doubt that you could match the speed of a real keyboard with it.

[strickjh05]

The keyboard can feel akward at times. I do suggest getting it though. Or at least a thumb pad keyboard.