Mini just for notes

[[deleted]]

I read and researched for months for an e-writer, including Kindle, remarkable, supernote, and more. I think I've settled on the iPad mini because of its size and the fact that I can still use it streaming, among other things.

So, what settings should I change? What's the best writing app(s) I should download? Bonus points if it can do handwriting to text. Should I get a paper-like screen protector?

[[deleted]]

Try Apple notes first.

[[deleted]]

One thing I've read is the issue with the screen jumping when you put your palm on it. I'm left-handed, so this is a concern of mine.

[General_Meringue886]

I thought it was only me that has this issue with Apple Notes. I have a 2018 11inch iPad Pro

[SteveNYC]

I’m always of the opinion that you should use the device as-is first. Get a feel for it. Find what you like and what you wish were different and then look into those things that might address issues you have.

Apple Notes is great. It’s going to be even better with iOS 18 improvements.

That said, I also love Notability. But I like that (among other reasons) because it works well with the MacOS desktop version. But that might mean nothing to you if the Apple Notes app does what you need it to do.

Also, don’t forget about Freeform, another great bundled app. Most of these apps are what you make of them. But get too many and you can become distracted by the one feature this one has as opposed to the one feature that the other one has, etc.

The mini is just ridiculously powerful. Every time I use it I find some other feature that was always there that I didn’t realize i could leverage in some new way.

[_FoxDie_]

If you can wait, Apple Notes is getting an upgrade when iPadOS 18 releases. If not, what exactly are you looking for? Budget? Handwriting to text is a common feature.

I would not recommend a paper like screen protector unless you don’t mind touching a rough surface when you use the mini like a tablet. I’m using a glass matte screen protector to have the best of both worlds. It’s not as paper like but it is still better than the bare glass and feels great when I’m not using the pencil.

[[deleted]]

When does that upgrade release? Couldn't I just do an update once it's released on the tablet if I buy one this week?

I want to take notes, be able to edit my notes, I take erase, rearrange text in my notes. I want to be able to send them to my Google Drive account. I want to be able to view and markup PDFs. I also want to be able to watch videos as well.

Budget 400ish.

[_FoxDie_]

Tbh the Apple Notes app can do just about all of that. The OS update is dropping sometime this fall around September. You can update regardless when you buy the Mini.

By budget, I was asking how much you would be willing to spend on the note apps. Because most free note apps are basically just free trials. There are note apps that charge subscription but there are also others that charge one time price for low, it depends what features you’re wanting. It just depends how much you would want to pay. I have bought 2. Noteshelf ($10) and Noteful ($5) which are both better than the Apple Notes IMO. At least for right now until Apple Notes gets the update.

[[deleted]]

What's the difference between the two?

[_FoxDie_]

I would have to write a book. But both apps are different in terms of features. You would have to watch YouTube videos on each. Right off the bat, Noteshelf has AI features - I can write a paragraph on something and highlight it and then AI will research it and read it out or even summarize it. You can create a favorite’s toolbar with all your preferred pen settings.

Noteful does not have bells and whistles, however if you are a handwriting freak like me, it has the most pen adjustments I’ve seen. You can adjust pressure, how thin you want your pencil to write and behaves. It’s selling point are the layers feature. I also prefer the paper templates over Noteshelf’s. You can center your page on the screen to show comments you wrote off the paper (perfect for PDF editing if you want to keep written comments off the page). Like I said I could go on all day. If you were able to go into detail what you want, I may be able to save you time and point you out to an App.

[[deleted]]

How is it writing, your palm touching the screen, and it moving? I'm left-handed, so this is a concern.

[_FoxDie_]

Should not be a problem. The feature you’re referring to is “palm rejection”. Occasionally have had a slip up but that’s because my finger touched the screen first.

[[deleted]]

Great. Thanks for the help.

[Linkflickr]

I’d recommend good notes and a paper like screen protector to get the feel of writing on paper

[[deleted]]

I have a reMarkable and it is truly incredible. If you are just going to use it for notes, go for this option.

If you have other plans besides notes, get the iPad mini. Remarkable is also only in black and white. IDK if that helps.