iPad - How I love Thee...

Cast your mind back to the day of those graphics tablets that you connected to your PC so you could draw rather than try to create with mouse movements and clicks - what, you didn't use them?  Nah, nor did I - too hard with the connections and software.  I asked my friends what're the best apps for getting the most out of my investment (which has been significant - let me tell you!) and there were crickets... chirp, chirp, chirping in the background ... then a couple piped up and told me that it was no good asking them - I am who tells them all the cool stuff!  <eyeroll> I told them all that they're sacked!  I need new friends! ​​

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 ​Blogging The "Old Fashioned" way
 
So today I was thinking & reflecting on the busy week I have had. I'm just home from a conference in the city. It will be my last as a delegate representing the Kununurra CRC. But while I was there, among "my people" , you know the ones? Similar interests & aspirations. Running a CRC in little towns across regional WA can be great fun, and often we're the only tech support for miles! So we develop a keen interest in the latest & greatest in tech to help keep our community connected. 

I didnt really need one, I was just being indulgent, I kept telling myself, failing miserably at dissuading my impending purchase. After all, I have a large enough phone & the MacBook. That's enough to do what I need to do. Surely. 

Nope, I didn't manage to talk myself out of it!  Ah well, I tried! 
​So once it arrived, I put the call out to my similarly inclined 'friends' for their tips on the best apps for the iPad Pro & Apple Pencil. Specifically converting handwriting to text.... 
Crickets. Nada. Zip. Zilch! 
Insert eyeroll! a couple of (not quite luddite) friends responded incredulously, "Why're you asking us? That's a question we usually ask You!" Double eyeroll! Ha! 
Off to good old Google it was for me. There were a few reviews from various geek sites. I read through two or three different review sites. There were a few apps that kept getting a mention. So off I went to read the reviews in the AppStore. That is where I made the rash decision to fork out the whole $4.49¢ for Nebo Notes. OH. MY GOODNESS! Best $4.49 I have spent, well this week anyway! 

I love, love, love what this is capable of! I have written this blog post through Nebo. With a pencil. On my iPad. And got writer's cramp! Just like the olden days, when you used to sit at write in your paper diary! 
I have found other uses for it. I am on my way to being able to have a truly paperless office! Woo hoo! 
I had a client in on Saturday. She was my guinea pig. I had paperwork that needed her signature. I generally would print the document out & have her sign it, then scan it & file it. Instead, I gave her the pencil ¢ iPad, asked her to read & sign the documents, then & there. 
I could then file & email them from right there! 
How much time will this save? How many trees? I love it! 
So in the interests of a field test or end user review I have written this blog I decided to convert it all in one-hit. There are a few little things that can be a little bothersome, but my handwriting isnt always the most legible, 
I mean I'm not in the league with Physician s or anything like that. But being a leftie has always had its own set of challenges. But this is handling my script really well! 
​I won't make any corrections post conversion, so if you can follow the story, then I am claiming the win! 
If you have any apps you find particularly useful, I'd love to hear from you!
As you can see from my conversion, the biggest issues are the capitals & the ampersand for me. You can change as you go with the preview being very helpful. But overall as a note taking app its fantastic for the things I need it for! And it saves me carting multiple notebooks around.