Review: Adapx Capturx For Microsoft Office OneNote

Many people prefer to use a tablet PC because it allows them the liberty to write freely instead of being tied down by the keyboard. Recently, there's been an emergence of digital pens and specially printed paper, which let them forego carrying a computer around altogether. The Test Center spent some time with one such product, Capturx by Adapx, to see how well it performs.

Also available in versions for Excel, Autodesk Design Review and ArcGIS, we tested Capturx for Microsoft Office OneNote 2007. The box includes a software CD-ROM, the PenX digital pen, a holder for the pen that fits into an included docking stand, a USB cable and five additional ink cartridges. There is also a small, digitally enabled all-weather notebook.

Based on the Anoto platform, Capturx comes with what they call the PenX. This is really a Hitachi Maxell DP-201 (Anoto acquired Maxell's digital pens last summer). Although a thick barrel shape, it is quite comfortable to hold. After charging the pen in the docking stand and installing the software, reviewers grabbed the journal-like notebook and removed a warning sticker reminding us to check the "New Notebook" box before using.

At this point we need to explain how the system works. The pages of the book are printed on paper with microscopic dots arranged in a pattern (in this case, the Anoto pattern) that allows the pen to identify where it is. Below the pen's nib is a sensor that digitizes and stores the handwriting. When the pen detects pressure associated with writing, this sensor reads the dots and allows the pen to keep track of its location. By checking the "New Notebook" box, the software knows to start a new OneNote folder.

In testing, the Capturx system worked extremely well. Writing is no different than using a regular ball-point pen, and uploading the data involves simply inserting the pen into the dock. The unit also supports a Bluetooth connection. Reviewers tried writing in normal print and script and drew sketches. The system transferred everything into OneNote quickly and, more important, correctly. Furthermore, if text is later added to a page in the paper notebook after the initial upload, the software only transfers the new data and appends the digital page. Using Microsoft's handwriting recognition plug-in for tablets, OneNote was even able to index what we wrote.

Selling for around $300, the Capturx system is priced a little high but, once you get over that hurdle (and the additional cost of OneNote), it can make life much more productive.