NAVIsis adds Tablet PC function to any notebook

We've seen digital pens that capture your paper notes electronically, but the NAVIsis LaptopTablet is a different approach. You attach the $130 clip to your notebook monitor and use the included pen to ink on your screen, just as if you had an active digitizer Tablet PC. The LaptopTablet reads your pen-strokes through ultrasonic waves and infrared, per the product page. The ink input is then sent from the clip to your PC via a USB connection to complete the "Tablet experience". This isn't much different from adding a digitizer tablet to a computer, but I wonder how well it actually works.

The NAVIsis LaptopTablet supports Windows 2000, XP and Vista; included with the hardware is the NAVIboard 2.0 software. I'd love to try this and see what native Tablet features are and aren't supported with the device.

(via Laptoping)

Comments

[Bob Russell]

When I saw this, at first I thought it might be a really great compromise solution. I had visions of getting a nice Lenovo laptop and converting it. But then I realized it's pretty crazy to try writing on a laptop screen when you can't fold it over like a convertible. Much of the benefit of a tablet is the form factor, not just the digitizer.

I suppose this product would be best for touching large controls in programs that have a simple interface.

Has anyone actually found a use for this, or do people not mind writing on the screen in laptop positions?

[Chris]

I'd be a bit worried about using something like that on a standard laptop screen since the screen is not protected and tapping on it continuously with a pen can't be good.