The Writing Tablet is a 12 inch thin plastic slate that will remind us 40 somethings of the Magic Slates from our childhood. Remember the waxy black cardboard tablets with a thin layer of grey plastic that you would draw on with a plastic stylus? When you wanted to make a new drawing, you would just lift the plastic to erase the ‘screen’. The Writing Tablet has taken that concept and modernized it.

The Writing Tablet does not need an on or off button because it does not require any power to continue displaying what has been written on the LCD. In that way, it is similar to e-ink ebook readers like the Kindle and Nook. According to an article in the March 2010 article of Popular Science:

The Writing Tablet sandwiches trillions of liquid crystals—tiny modules that arrange themselves in spirals—between two sheets. At rest, the screen appears dark because the spirals lie in a way that lets outside light pass through to the black plastic below. But direct pressure causes the spirals to stand upright. Light then bounces off them, naturally creating a bright Whitish color, no energy-hogging light needed. The image stays put without power, unlike a traditional LCD, because polymers mixed in with the liquid crystals help keep them in place. To erase, you press a button that sends a charge between the plastic sheets (which are coated with conductive film) and re-scatters the spirals.

It’s always ready for you to write or draw on it. Just take the included stylus and write on it the way you would with a pen and paper. Since the board does not have a spongy surface, it feels surprisingly similar to writing on paper. It almost feels magical the way the ‘ink’ flows out of the stylus on to the screen. I know that sounds crazy, but it sort of feels that way. Like you’re writing with a super smooth magic marker.

When you want to clear the board for a new drawing, you press the Erase button at the top. The board flashes (like a Kindle) and then turns Black again, ready for new notes and scribbles that will stay there till you press the Erase button again.

The Writing Tablet does not have a back light and unlike the images shown on Writing Tablet’s own site, the ink is not neon Green. As you can see (click on the images for a larger view), it’s more of a light Grey.  You won’t be able to read the board in the dark, but you’ll have no problem viewing it in a normally lit room.

Writing and drawing on the table is a lot of fun. I found myself doodling like I haven’t done in years. But that’s where the bummer comes in… you can’t save anything that you write or draw on the board. I guess you could take a picture of it with a camera, but that isn’t too convenient.

Other than the fact that this product has a somewhat limited lifespan, the only other complain I have is that there isn’t a clip or tether for the the stylus.

I hope there will be a version 2.0 of theWriting Tablet that somehow allows image saving and maybe even other ink colors. But until then, this is a fun little product that I’ve enjoyed testing and using.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B076BCDBMC

http://www.amazon.ca/dp/B076Z87JKV

http://www.amazon.com.mx/dp/B0784SLHR5

These items are available on Amazon.

Product Information

Price: $24.9  CDN$28.9   $421

Package Contents

12 Inch LCD Writing Tablet

Writing Pen

Pros:

Smooth to write and draw on

Feels like paper

Fun

Cons:

Can't save drawings