I appreciate this is a concept rendering, but if the NoteSlate uses the Kent Display technology, then the promised sub $100 price point should be achievable, after all, the BoogieBoard, which uses the same screen technology retails for only $40… although the lack of a save function on the BoogieBoard is a major drawback, but at that price you can’t exactly complain, it does what it says on the tin, it replaces small white boards or that notepad beside your phone.
But the NoteSlate is proposing more than that, it’s trying to replace the notepad once and for all… and there’s a good chance it could succeed.
It offers a 180 hr battery (that’s over a week of continual use! So a month of practical use between charges), unlike the BoogieBoard it can save multiple notes, has a USB, an SD card slot, a 3.5 jack for audio playback and even WIFI. A promised future (free) firmware update will allow PDF viewing.
They’re also planning to roll out a coloured version (although limited to a few basic colours, but useful for highlighting sketches)
I think being able to erase parts of a drawing, thus editing mistakes and allowing development of an idea or drawing, would be a major add on, making the use of the NoteSlate more akin to using paper and pencil, rather than paper and pen.
But the real killer add on would be being able to record audio while making notes! That would make the NoteSlate the perfect boardroom and meeting device!
At under $100 a piece, I can’t see a facility offering conference or meeting services, or a live events organiser not wanting or having these sitting in every meeting, breakout or symposium room, not to mention too numerous other sectors or industries. Plus if they offered an automated centralised storage system locked down by device MAC address they’d be no stopping them (of course we may be able to help them there!).
So are we closer to the day of no paper notepads, absolutely!
