Ask Slashdot: Digital Pens On Linux? 74
New submitter Gonzalez_S writes "There are many digital pens out there, but none of them seem to work on Linux; unless you combine them with a tablet. I have contacted many vendors (Lifetrons, Dane-Elec, ApenUSA, IntelliPen..) and only Intellipen responded that there is very limited support for Linux. Do any of you know of a digital pen that works fine using Linux on normal paper? Some options to explore: can the pen work in real time on my PC screen? Can it function as a mouse? Can the pen work offline? Do I need a tablet (preferably not)? I would be happy if anyone shares a success story here, as they seem a great tool."
Wacom Inkling (Score:4, Informative)
May be this can answer your question ? (Score:3, Informative)
I don't know so much about digital pen or digipen on linux, but you can get some info in here:
http://linuxwacom.sourceforge.net/index_old.php
Re:Non-existent beast (Score:4, Informative)
The linux Wacom driver project is maintained by a Wacom employee and has positive feedback
Re:Wacom Inkling (Score:5, Informative)
http://sourceforge.net/projects/linuxwacom/forums/forum/236871/topic/4686734 [sourceforge.net]
The Wacom Inkling shows up as a drive with WPI files on it. It should work just fine in Linux since the heavy lifting is all done on the pen. And I didn't spend very long looking either.
A REALLY cheap one, with linux support (Score:4, Informative)
I have a CHEAP digital pen (cost me 25$) called the "greenpoint mobile notetaker" (which i think is a pegasus notetaker rebadged).... its ultra simple. it works under linux and what the linux software gives you is a simple svg map of what you drew on a piece of paper. Its just a normal pen with a little tracking unit that somehow tracks everything you write... I dont use it too much, but the times i have its not failed me so far.
http://scratchpost.dreamhosters.com/software/Pegasus_Notetaker/ [dreamhosters.com] will pull svg's from the pens tracking device thing
but it looks very much like this http://www.gadgetvictims.com/2009/12/digital-note-taker-pen.html [gadgetvictims.com]
I find it works ok, but i've not really used any other digital pens, so i have no point of comparison - but at 25$ (which was on sale at the time) i just went "sure why not" and later found out it supported linux (which was a nice surprise).
I had previously looked at things like livescribe and went "no linux support, wont bother". There are one or two i can see on aliexpress http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Free-Shipping-USB-Digital-Pen-Digital-Mobile-Note-Taker-Digital-Handwriting-Capture-Device/519494331.html [aliexpress.com] but i dont know if they're based on the same thing (and they're twice the price i paid) and hence will still support linux