Livescribe 2 GB Pulse Smartpen

This is an excellent pen in its own right extremely reliable right up until the cartridge runs out of ink, but additionally adds a great deal of utility in terms of being able to do voice recordings and get what is essentially a movie of yourself writing while recording sound. The pen is tremendously under-marketed by Livescribe and (in my opinion) most people are not really made aware of its full potential. The only way to really get what it's capable of is to watch some of the video reviews on Youtube.

Features I would like to see on future pens include better battery monitoring (currently, the meter is a little inaccurate), ink level monitoring and a small, compact tool for removing spent ink cartridges. Also, it would be nice if I could charge the pen with something more common like micro USB rather than the proprietary dock.

After using the pen for a week or so (and loving it), the battery would no longer hold a charge. I contacted Livescribe customer support and for several times over a period of 3 to 4 weeks they kept telling me in different ways that I need to make sure it is plugged in right. I would respond to each suggestion with all of the steps that I had done using different computers and configurations just to wait 3 for 4 days for another email suggesting that I make sure it is plugged in properly. Not once during the month or so did anyone suggest that Livescribe actually repair or replace the unit. While it was 'alive' I loved it, but be warned if you have a problem with it, you might be out of luck.

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I was looking for a digital-notepad that I can use while attending meetings, etc to take notes. I looked at a number of different solutions, and came across this product at J&R store. Purchased it, and figured I would return it if I didn't like it.

Let me tell you, I am amazed at the technology and the thought that has gone into building this product. You have two options: taking notes, and taking notes with audio.

You can start writing, and it will "record" and transfer your writing into documents once you sync with your PC. You need to your their paper, and that is probably the only downside. To be honest, I do not know how they could provide some of their features otherwise.

You can "click" on record, and start writing. Their paper has a record button at the bottom of every page, and when you move your pen over it, it recognizes it and it starts recording.

Now, start typing, and it will record as you type. Stop recording, and it will remember what was recorded while you typed. So, if you tab the pen somewhere on the paper and it will replay that exact time of the recording. Simply amazing, and it words flawlessly.

Connect the pen to your PC, and it will synchronize your documents and recording. You can do the same replay on your desktop, convert to PDF, print, save, etc. You can upload and convert the entire session into a flash to be viewed by anyone!

The icing is the applications that you can purchase for the pen. The pen is a small computer that you can install applications such as a dictionary, calculator, etc. You install the English-Spanish dictionary, and write a word down on paper. It will translate it you Spanish!

There are a whole slew of applications for this pen. If you are a developer you can write applications more it, and like iPhone, sell it!

I highly recommend. The price is higher than I would have liked, but I am sure that I will come down once more and more people buy it.

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I've owned the Pulse 2GB pen for about a year now and have used it heavily for note-taking, so I do have some experience with the product at this point. It's a great idea, and when it works, it's definitely a four-star device (not five for reasons I'll mention in a moment). Problem is, it's so unstable and so likely to lose your data/handwriting/recordings that it's at best a 2.5-3 star device.

Big Cons:

The software is really, really, really unstable and slow

It's based on .NET and ONLY works with particular .NET versions/service packs

The frequent software updates tend to directly erase your data/recordings/pen

Or they cause your pen to stop being recognized at all or cause immediate crashes

And customer service will then erase your data/recordings/pen with "special" fixes

In short, each time you dock the pen, it may take all your data with it

Thus totally useless for critical work, at least under Windows XP or Windows 7

Minor Cons:

Very fat; hurts your hand to write with it too long

Silly design: No cap, no clip, round so it rolls and falls to the floor

Uses a nonstandard USB "dock" that you can't carry with you

Uses a nonstandard headphone jack that isn't compatible with normal headphones

Runs out of ink very quickly and requires expensive LiveScribe-only refills

Paper is also rather expensive

Doesn't quickly/easily archive to any standard format

To get common file formats, you must click/export one page at a time

Searching/indexing takes a VERY long time (like 3-5 minutes per page)

Basically, this device is a great idea but what we see from Livescribe is poor execution. Another company with great design and software engineering skills (i.e. Apple or IBM) could take this and make it into a fabulous, killer app sort of tool. There is so much potential here. The device is portable and pen-shaped and records and plays back audio and uses a USB port on your computer. It could have been a combination handwriting recognizer, flash drive (using a standard USB cable), MP3 player, etc. with gigs of storage that fit easily into your shirt pocket, was a joy to write with, felt safe and secure, and used ink refills available at any Staples.

Instead, it's a totally proprietary (down to the USB and audio cable connectors) device whose storage you can't directly access (not even to copy your data out) that's bulky to use, requires ink that takes weeks to arrive after mail order, doesn't have a clip or a cap and thus won't fit into your pocket, is too fat to write with and too round to leave sitting on a table, and that loses your data every five minutes.

Idea: Excellent. Execution: Epic fail. Composite score: 2.5 stars.

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I am currently using my third pen. My first defective, would not charge. Worked great for one lecture, uploaded easily, I fell in love with the product. Went to the next lecture, all battery life was gone and was unable to recharge it due to some error. Those previous notes are only notes now; any new pen does not read your old notes. That lecture nice hand written notes, but that is it.

New pen #2 worked great for one lecture, upload no pen will not communicate with the computer. Unlike most people commenting here, I think the only thing this company has going for it is the nicest customer service staff. I think they went and interviewed for Miss Congeniality, not that this helped me in any way get my pen to work.

They sent me pen #3, same error message. "Oh, you think maybe it's the cable?" "Oh no lady, we must go through hours of on the phone time with you and solve NOTHING." Next lecture pen didn't work at all. "Oh, it just needs an update!" "Really, that would be great if it could connect to the computer!" 15 days later I have still not received the new cable they are sending me.

I want to love this product. The only thing keeping me from the satisfaction of pitching this against a brick wall and watching it smash is that it would make my warranty void. I think in five years this will be standard technology. I think I jumped on the bandwagon a little too soon.

Keep an eye on this, but don't buy it yet unless you have lots of free time to invest in case yours doesn't work.