Targus iNotebook iPad concept embraces pen and paper
Targus talks up the iNotebook concept for iPad at CES. Due in June, the system will beam pen and paper notes directly onto your iPad for editing and sharing.
This is just a rough concept to give you an idea of what the iNotebook will look like. Note the RF receiver above the paper.
(Credit: Amanda Kooser/CNET)LAS VEGAS--It's hard to the kick the notepaper habit. There's something comforting about sloppy handwriting and pens that run dry. Targus is embracing that nostalgia with the iNotebook concept.
The iNotebook is halfway between a light bulb over someone's head and reality. The concept shown during CES is just a sketch of what's to come. The idea is that you will be able to scribble notes on real paper and have it instantly transferred to your iPad.
Check out the photo for a vague idea of where this is heading. Targus promises that it will look much more awesome when the actual product arrives around mid-year with a $150 price tag.
The system will consist of a case, receiver, and a special pen. The receiver will track the pen and beam the information over to an app on your iPad via Bluetooth. No special paper is required. You can use any old notepad or even a cocktail napkin.
The receiver will have some built-in storage, so you don't have to have your iPad present. There is no optical character recognition. Your notes will be just as indecipherable as you make them.
You can edit your written ramblings to your heart's delight once transferred. There will be plenty of social options built into the app for sharing with friends or colleagues.
The typewriter may be obsolete, but pens and pencils have staying power. The iNotebook could be an intriguing bridge from the old to the new.
