I looked into the two items you mentioned.

MathJournal sounds like a viable solution. However, but I just tried their lower-cost "calculator" version that only does simple math and it didn't recognize my writing most of the time. I don't think my writing is the issue, since windows journal does recognize my writing very well.

MathType may meet my writing needs, but after seeing what else is possible, it doesn't sound attractive.

Magic Paper was a project from MIT. Microsoft is now distributing it as "Physics Illustrator" with their tablet power toys. Basically, you can draw shapes, and then with a stroke indicate a force vector. Hit play, and the items you made are animated based on the forces and colision detection. Unfortuntely, you really can't edit things much, nor specify units of force and can get some really wierd behaviors. I doubt it is of any pratical use, but, it is a fun toy to play with.

Finally, the software I am waiting for.; Mathpad2 From Brown University. Is not currently available, but supposed to be out real soon. Basically, it is like a merger of "Magic Paper" and "Math journal". Articles speculate that this may be the "killer app" that tablet PCs are waiting for. It looks like a very pratical engineering tool.


Joe Dunfee