Pros & Cons
The Bamboo Slate (starts at $129.95; $149.95 as tested) is one of Wacom's new entries in its analog-to-digital note-taking line of input devices. It uses the same general method and technology as the recently released Bamboo Folio, and the earlier Bamboo Spark, but shifts the form factor from notebook to clipboard. It comes in two sizes, a plus since some potential buyers will want to take real notes while others may want to doodle or sketch, and it's simple and well made. There are some issues, however, with the matching apps, which are required for syncing to your devices, and these shortcomings hurt the overall experience. The Folio is slightly more enjoyable to use, but the feature set offered by the Editors' Choice Moleskine Smart Writing Set still makes that my preferred method of digital note taking.
Design and Setup
The Slate takes both its form and function cues from clipboards—it's a large gray rectangle, measuring 0.27 by 10 by 12.9 inches (HWD). We reviewed the larger Slate A4 unit, but it's also available in half-letter size, the Slate A5 ($129.95), if you'd like something smaller. The A4 size is big, but there's good reason to want the larger surface, particularly if you draw or sketch. The Slate is made of polyurethane on the front, and has textured nylon fabric on the back. The fabric adds a pleasing aesthetic touch to an otherwise basic design. There's rectangular stitching to outline the Wacom-enabled smart surface, which is the majority of the front panel.Instead of using a clip to keep your paper stable, you can tuck the back cover or page of your notepad into a slit along the top. There's a circular button on the left side, which doubles as the Power button and the method for syncing to your device. The Slate is charged through a single micro USB port on the bottom, and a USB–to–micro USB charging cable is included. Like the Folio, the Slate works with any paper, but you'll need to use a Wacom-enabled pen (one is included). It takes special ink refills (one comes with the Slate, and more can be purchased—a three pack is $9.99), which are about half the size of standard pen ink.
Syncing the Slate to your tablet or smartphone is very easy. After downloading Inkspace (available for both Android and iOS), instructions tell you when to hit the Slate's only button to sync your device. The two devices are quickly paired, and since the pen doesn't have a connection of its own, that's the extent of the setup required. As long as you keep the two connected and have paper and the pen on hand, you're ready to send your apps from the page to your phone.
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Features and Testing
The Slate tracks any input onto the paper on its panel, so note taking or doodling is no harder than writing on the page. When you're ready to save the note, the Inkspace app is waiting to sync your input to your device and display your notes as a digital image. There are several options for exporting, allowing you to choose from multiple file formats and a list of installed apps compatible with each file that can be used for sending the note out.Post-sync editing options are limited, though, and adding any color requires a second app, Bamboo Paper, which is one of my biggest complaints. Considering the process already involves sending files between devices, adding another transfer step to add colors confuses the process. Even in the Paper app, color and tool choices aren't extensive, so your notes will remain fairly basic. That's not necessarily the gravest misstep—paper notes are often just text or some bullet points—but the apps are not robust if you're looking to do more than annotate and share.
Given that the Slate uses the same technology and apps as the Folio, the experience of writing, editing, and sharing on both devices is nearly identical. As such, for full details on the Inkspace and Paper app features, exporting, and cloud storage, read my review of the Bamboo Folio.
Conclusion
The Slate takes the concept of the Spark and Folio and but replaces the notebook form and cover with a clipboard. Whether that's a better experience for you is entirely a matter of personal preference—I liked the Folio's look and feel more than the Slate's, but the functionality is almost exactly the same. Aside from the fact that the Slate is a little pricey, my main issue lies with the app, or really, the apps. The fact that there are two apps for editing the same file is more cumbersome than necessary, though not a deal breaker. The apps just aren't chock full of features, either, which makes them a little too simplistic, and thus less appealing to use. If making your physical notes shareable is of high importance to you, the Slate is worth considering, but I prefer the Folio, and my experience with the Moleskine Smart Writing Set and its app was the most enjoyable and intuitive overall.Final Thoughts
