Livescribe 4GB Titanium Pulse Smartpen

Bought this and was (due to unforeseen circumstances) unable to use it, aside from initial functional testing, until several months after it was received. Shortly after I did start using it in earnest the OLED display dimmed to the point where it eventually became unreadable. Searched the web and found this was a documented fault with the device so contacted Livescribe to ask for a repair or replacement unit. They denied any responsibility and refused to repair or replace it. They did, however, ask if I wished to buy a new pen at a slightly reduced price. Decided not to throw good money after bad. My advice is "do not buy from this company" their attitude towards this known fault was deplorable and asking me to buy another pen was simply taking the P**s.

I'm adding a long-term user's experience, having owned my Livescribe pen for coming up to five years now. It has provided excellent service over that time. However it has now completely stopped working and I suspect the internal battery has failed. The battery cannot be replaced and I have contacted Livescribe who say they provide no repair facility. So potential purchasers should be aware that their pen is likely to last no longer than 5 years.

Bought this product for my sons 18th birthday for him to use at university after seeing it in use by a college at work. Product works really well and is well worth the price.... He is using it now daily for the final months of his A Levels and the help it gives with revision is without a doubt the edge that could gain him another grade

The Livescribe system is next-door to useless.

i recently bought the livescribe 4GB titanium pulse smartpen. i have used it regularly ever since. I updated the software on the site before using it and that was rather easy, then i followed the tutorials on line to learn to use it more efficiently. I would have preferred to have had a note on the pen saying that it required updating from the start rather than finding out as i tried to use it. the pen records clearly what is being said and even more so with the earphones on. The earphones catch better the conversation in a group setting. i find it easy to use, and locating the parts of the conversation you want to replay is also easy, and so so helpful. the download to the computer works very efficiently and it is possible to upload the files to a private site and you can give access to the site if you want to share with others. i have tried this as well, and it works pretty well. My friend was so excited that she bought herself another pen! the drawback is that the ink cartridges run out quite quickly so you need to have a back up one with you and printing your own dotted paper requires a very good quality printer so i find it preferable to buy their own make paper. the pen is a bit chunky to write with and it is important not to scratch too much the paper when you write so you don't get the sound of the writing on the recording. i find it works best if you write lightly rather than hard on the paper. i love my pen and i use it most days, even to simply record audio. it really is a great tool.

I am amazed by this technology and what it does, but the reality is that I don't use it......

I bought his for work and have used it a few times. It does exactly what you expect and is very clever and useful idea. I particularly wanted it for recording notes in meetings where lots of people have great ideas but we can't get them all down. Tfe only draw-back I have is that I'm rubbish at remembering to charge it - and to do so when my pc is actually on. I tend to charge it overnight - forgetting my pc goes off when I go hom fom work. But I'm sure I'll get used to it. A dyslexic colleague got one at the same time and says it is invaluable for use at college in lectures.

I too resisted being an early adopter on this item as the initial price was a tad daunting. Finaly took the plunge after revieweing it on Youtube (4GB Titanium) and can quite honestly say i am stunned at its performance. I am an avid note taker in meetings and this little device has transformed the way i operate for the better. I love the ability to see my notes on the PC via the desktop software Well done livescribe and well done amazon for a perfect and seamless transaction.

Nun, ich muss zugeben ich war skeptisch. Ein Pen mit eingebautem Computer, Papier mit Pünktchenmuster und Handschrifterkennung (bei meiner Sauklaue)..? Die Erwartungen waren gering. Völlig zu unrecht! Ob man den Stift gerade oder schräg hält, langsam oder schnell schreibt, es funktioniert ! Selten wird mal ein Strich oder ein Schlenker nicht erkannt, aber die Ergebnisse waren bisher immer brauchbar. Selbst meine krackelige Handschrift wird weitgehend erkannt. Das zeitgleiche Aufzeichnen von Ton und Schrift ist etwas gewöhnungsbedürftig, aber mit etwas Übung hat man den Bogen raus, das der Ton und die Schrift halbwegs syncron sind. Ich habe mir den Pulse gekauft, da er deutlich günstiger ist als der Echo. Technisch ist er praktisch baugleich (Gewicht, Größe, Prozessor, Speicher (4GB), Display, Firmware und Apps). Das einzige was fehlt ist der "Tablett-Modus". Ob man den aber braucht? ein Tablett mit Stift am Kabel? Der Pulse sieht m.E. auch edler aus, (Metall statt Plastik) und das Headset wird mitgeliefert. Zum Laden und Symchronisieren wird er einfach auf eine kleine Dockingstation gelegt und muss nicht erst "verkabelt" werden. Das Geld was man beim Pulse gegenüber dem Echo spart, kann man besser in die Blöcke stecken. Größe und Gewicht, entspricht in etwa einem edleren Füllfederhalter, wenn auch das Schreibgefühl "Kuli" ist. Die schwarzen Minen haben einen angenehmen dünnen und gleichmäßigen Strich. Der Akku ist leider fest verbaut, er hält (neu) locker einen guten Arbeitstag und hat dann noch Reserve. D.h. die Haltbarkeit des Stift dürfte so bei max. 2-3 Jahren liegen - wenn man die Haltbarkeit von Handy-Akkus zugrunde legt. D.h. also ca. 30-40€/Jahr zuzüglich Papier und Minen. 4 statt 5 Sterne, weil die Blöcke recht teuer sind und ab und mal ein kleiner Strich nicht mit gescannt wird. Es funktioniert aber viel besser als erwartet!

I have been a Livescribe user for many years and the product is fantastic when it works. However, the last two pens that I had (the last being the wifi model) both had the screen fail where the instructions were no longer visible making it unusable, and the issue was not related to the brightness feature. I contacted Livescribe customer service which was useless since they told me that it is my problem since the warranty has expired. Since I still wanted to use the technology (and also make use of the many supplies I still had), I asked a price reduction for a new or refurbished pen given my experience with the last two. They granted me a discounted price but to my surprise, it was more expensive than Amazon's regular price (that is why we love you Amazon!). So my advice is to go ahead and buy one of these pens if you want a great product but be prepared for it to mechanically fail if your experience is similar to the last two pens I purchased.

This product is no longer supported by livescribe and does not work with current software. It should be available for purchase at this price. it is nothing more than a simple pen.

I was charged $110 duty for a product that did not work! Don't waste your time! Amazon thankfully was wonderful in making the situation right!!!!!

Nachdem ich mich über diesen Stift ausgiebig informiert hatte habe ich mich dazu entschlossen diesen einmal zu testen. Bedenken hatte ich u.a. wegen der Handlichkeit. Tatsächlich ist er natürlich dicker als ein konventioneller Stift, aber liegt trotzdem noch satt in der Hand. Die hochwertige Haptik durch das Metallgehäuse tut sein übriges dazu. Die Software basiert auf Java, und ist deswegen auch auf aktueller Hardware etwas träge, wie auch die Server von Livescribe. Funktionieren tut sie aber perfekt. Die Durchsuchbarkeit der Notizen hängt sehr von der Handschrift ab. Teilweise wird eine, meines Erachtens nach saubere Handschrift nicht oder nur schlecht erkannt, andere wider rum, eher unsaubere Handschrift dafür wieder perfekt. Mit meiner gibt es zum Glück keine Probleme. Das eingebaute Mikrofon liefert Aufnahmen in erstaunlich guter Qualität. Das mitgelieferte 3D Headset mach auch das nachträgliche anhören einer Konferenz/Besprechung mit mehreren Kollegen in Nachhinein zu einer sehr faszinierenden Erfahrung! Ich habe mich dazu entschlossen des Stift zu behalten, da er genau das tut was es soll!