The Smartpen Gets a Memory Boost

By Ethan Lee on October 19, 2009

Executives and previously flustered note-takers across the corporate America are sporting the Pulse Smartpen by Livescribe.

The pen is essentially a device that acts as a recorder of both notes and audio and ties the two together.

Think of it as a live version of the Leapfrog where the penholder writes the story (Note that Livescribe’s CEO is a former Leapfrog exec). For those not familiar with the learning console for kids, Leapfrog, then just think of it as elf magic.

Since its release in April of 008, the Smartpen has been dazzling executives with its technology that enhances productivity while not missing a verbal beat. One CEO of a Virginia-based marketing firm has even gone so far as to offer the pens to company managers.

Today, Livescribe has released new versions, doubling memory from 2gb to 4gb.

Customer reviews of previous models on Amazon have been strong although mixed with a few upset customers – as is the norm on Amazon. Common complaints are that the pen is too bulky and has poor audio quality. One reviewer complained that the round pen “rolls away very easily.”

It’s unlikely that Livescribe will produce a square smartpen but owners are encouraged to either use level desks or place the pen in a pocket when not in use. This would alleviate the need to leave semi-stupid comments on Amazon.

In addition to Amazon, Livescribe has increased its distribution to Best Buy, Staples, and even Apple Stores (yes, it’s Mac compatible) in time for holiday shoppers.