Microsoft debuts notepad software

NEWS

Microsoft unveiled on Sunday new software intended as an electronic replacement for the standard paper notebook. OneNote, a new PC application introduced during a keynote address by Microsoft chairman Bill Gates, is the Redmond, Washington-based company's attempt to make it easy to transcribe quick notes, preserve URLs and easily find information on your hard drive. (For full Comdex coverage from the show floor see ZDNet UK's Fall Comdex 2002 News Focus.) Conceptually, OneNote, expected to debut by the middle of next year, is similar to word processing, but it is intended for quick handling of short notes as opposed to long multipart documents, Microsoft said. "Think of it as an electronic notebook," said John Vail, a director of product management at Microsoft. OneNote is primarily designed to be used with keyboards on desktops and notebooks. However, the application will also be compatible with Tablet PC, which already comes with a notepad for taking handwriting notes. OneNote, formerly code-named Scribbler, largely tries to emulate the world's most enduring communications medium by adopting its look and feel. The interface resembles a notepad. Tabs located on the fringe of the data input area of the "writing" surface provide a visual navigation system for stored notes and resemble dividers from school binders. A beta version will go to testers in the first part of 2003, Vail said, while a commercial version will be released in the middle of the year. It is not yet determined whether OneNote will be included in the Office suite or delivered as an independent application. Notes or Web data preserved in OneNote can also be saved in word processing documents or in email messages. Saving short notes in word processing, however, is impractical as each document has to be given its own name and fit into a growing document file, Vail said. Navigation through visual memory is also not as practical in traditional file systems, he added. As with word applications, OneNote users can look for documents through term searches. Microsoft in recent years has targeted its software as a replacement for standard paper-based notetaking. Earlier in the month, the company released the Tablet PC, a new version of Windows with built-in handwriting recognition.

For full Comdex coverage see ZDNet UK's Fall Comdex 2002 News Focus. Have your say instantly, and see what others have said. Go to the ZDNet UK News Forums.

Post your comment

In order to post a comment you need to be registered and logged in.

You can also log in with Facebook. Log in or create your ZDNet UK account below

By signing up for this service, you indicate that you agree to our Terms and Conditions and have read and understood our Privacy Policy. Questions about membership? Find the answers in the Community FAQ

ZDNet UK Live

ike fuelband is great for every healthminded person ! to work out! theres this website called textme4free.com that you can use to text anywhere in...

5 hours ago by bordero on Nike's FuelBand wristband gamifies exercise

> I'm told it's somewhat annoying when people have their Macs stolen > and Apple stores treat the thief as the owner, but there you go. Ouch,...

8 hours ago by BrownieBoy on AMD Ultrathins to challenge Intel Ultrabooks

@kevinmchapman. OK, I acknowledge that 'most' was a gratuitous throwaway comment as an afterthought and too presumptuous. As to proof, as you...

12 hours ago by Moley on A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint

@BrownieBoy > Works really well for thieves.... >> Nice attempt to deflect the argument by tossing in a point that's totally >> irrelevant, even...

13 hours ago by Jack Schofield on AMD Ultrathins to challenge Intel Ultrabooks

fantastic that the so called piracy bills have been withdrawn. however, these anti-democracy supporters are still in the shadows so lets be alert...

14 hours ago by raskolnikof on SOPA, Protect IP support wavers in face of online protest

Please God no; teach them anything you like - thinking rationally, the uses and misuses of data, what data is and what it's not - but leave the...

16 hours ago by Tony Douglas via Facebook on Kids are the future. Teach ’em to code.

@Jack, > Works really well for thieves.... Nice attempt to deflect the argument by tossing in a point that's totally irrelevant, even it were...

1 day ago by BrownieBoy on AMD Ultrathins to challenge Intel Ultrabooks

Make that 13 people now - I got refused today at Manchester airport. I thought I was up to date on this legislation - I knew of the EU ruling from...

1 day ago by bootlegger on UK airport body scans will not be opt out

Don't forget to check out apps like GoodReader or SlideShark either, they're indispensible for people on the go in presentation situations. Best...

2 days ago by tinycg on Four top iPad apps for people on the move

Well it seems there is something a number of us agree on. Why is the Ubuntu Unity launcher so ugly? I thought perhaps it was something to do with...

2 days ago by TerryRK on A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint

Duplicate comments are not made intentionally. Its very good to know that now you are keeping check on this problem because sometimes a commenter...

2 days ago by Freebies202 on Microsoft fixes blog comments, speeds up blogs with open source

"the very significant number of users" and "many (most) of us" - you have no evidence for these statements. It is a fact that most users are saying...

2 days ago by kevinmchapman on A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint