Ok, so I was watching my nighttime programs, namely any decent scifi or horror I can find, or anime, and I saw a commercial for a new gadget. Well, maybe not SO new, as it had a commercial, but new enough. It's called a Fly Fusion Pentop Computer. So, I went to the site and watched the demo. Way cool!

This thing works with it's special paper to digitize handwriting.  But it does more.....it's a calculator, an mp3 player, a translator, and more, with the help of additional proprietary programming. The device by itself is way cool, but two of the programs available for it are truly noteworthy. One is a program that will help you with algebra, and if I understand it right, it will even help you study for tests! The other is a translation program that works in a unique way, you write the word in english, and it speaks the word back to you in either spanish or french, depending on which software you loaded.

I am seriously thinking about getting this thing as a holiday gift! All the reviews I have read are positive...so far the only two limitations it seems to have within it's focus of functions is that the digitized handwriting in jpeg form can be a little "joggy", meaning that a straight line drawn on the paper is a little jagged on the edges on the computer. The other is that it only recognizes printing and not cursive....but most folks I know do most of their writing in printed form anyway.

None of the software is terribly expensive either...the average is about $13, and the notebooks with the special paper are around $8. The device itself sells for $80 plus shipping, and for that price the device seems to have good battery life as well, running for a full school day on one charge. The memory will hold many pages of captured writing until you get home and sync it with a USB cable to a  PC--sorry mac folk, not compatible. This thing is a must for anyone who takes lots of notes, or who writes by hand, but wants to store their work on a computer. While it is marketed to the middle and high school crowd, it doesn't look like a kid's toy, it looks more like a high-end gadget you'd find in Sharper Image. Leapfrog makes it, and seem to have done a good job.

Huh, maybe I should be writing their sales pitches!

I'm still deciding, but it looks like a strong contender for holiday gift this year!




Black Rose

BR, that gadget sounds sooo cool even if I am a confirmed Mac user and couldn't use it! lol I'd confuse the poor little thing anyway. When I write in longhand I use cursive (mine is very nice, thank you!) and when I'm writing for later transcription into the computer I don't bother with proper spelling. As long as I know what the word is supposed to be, it's cool and I'll stop and look it up later! Sometimes I'm so far off that the Spellcheck can't even figure it out and do you have any idea how hard it is to look up a word when you can't spell it?! Anyway, if you do get one, a gadget review would be good.

Thanks, Fury. What I'm going through right now is a bit unnerving but Skywise approves of the changes so it is all good as far as I'm concerned. The girls are a bit nonplussed but this is just another facet of their mom's "weirdness" so they will adapt.

Know that we are thinking of you all.

for you, Skywise and the girls.  It sounds like you could all use a few million of them at the moment.  I hope Maggie is able to hang in there, but if not, I hope everything is peaceful for her, and she's surrounded by you all who love her.  ((hug hug))

(((HUGS)))


Black Rose

Skywise is home and I'm going offline for the night. Everyone be safe.

It is the "Political Season."
It is a good thing that I have a high tolerance for hypocrisy....

*sad smile* Spirit is watching her "Smurfs" DVDs in her room and Moonie is watching "Young Frankenstein" in hers.
Life goes on......

Afternoon all! I'm getting a very late start due to sleeping in and spending what time I could with Skywise before he left for work. In fact, I've yet to eat so I've got to get on that before I try anything more complicated that "Hi!"
hehehehe The Lord of Samhain is doing his best to distract Spirit. He's doing a good job too!

I'm back! Thanks the Gods for my "in house" research library! Skywise asked me a question before he left for work and I've been hunting the answer since I got up from my nap! hehehe I think I've found enough to get him started...

Skywise just came home. What he just did to my neck is indescribably delicious. I'm outta here! Everyone be safe.

I'm back. Actually we've been back for a bit over an hour but I've been buzzing around like a hummingbird on speed and as soon as I take care of a little business here, I'm gonna give the comp back to Moonie and dive back in. I'm playing a bit of catch up with the household chores. I let things slide for a few days there.... 
I'll be back in two or three hours, look for me then.