The digital age is making life more productive and efficient. Most of the time I utilize my phone or laptop for the majority of my daily grind. However, whether by preference, habit, or convenience I still find myself handwriting meeting notes, random ideas on the go, and calendar plans. This often results in me juggling multiple devices and papers to keep everything straight. This leaves me feeling scattered and inefficient. I’m not the only one facing this dilemma. A plethora of companies have joined the mix to solve the collision of digital and analog work integration. Enter the Rocketbook Fusion.
The Rocketbook Fusion arrives on my doorstep in a sleek package bag. Inside is the notebook, cleaning cloth, and a FriXion pen. (Note: according to Rocketbook, “Pilot FriXion pens are normal, erasable pens that bond to the proprietary page until moisture is applied.” I like this feature because it means that it is easy to replace pens from most stores and online. Also, I can choose from a variety of colors and sizes.) The notebook comes with planning and calendar pages, as well as dot grid and lined pages. The pages are waterproof, tear-resistant, and reusable. So no matter what task is at hand I have a viable option.
Experience:
As I open the Rocketbook Fusion for the first time it looks like a glossy daily planner. I jot down my thoughts and meeting notes on the page as if I am using regular pen and paper. The FriXion pen writes smoothly and clearly. Similar to a regular ballpoint pen, it has a tendency to smear if touched or bumped before it dries. However, the FriXion pen comes with an attached eraser. I easily use the eraser to make a quick correction. It erases well enough that the marks won’t show up in a scan, but I can still faintly make out the original. Amazingly, with a few wipes of the damp cleaning cloth it looks like the Fusion notebook has never been used! Once my page is full I mark one of the seven symbols at the bottom of the page. Each symbol can be assigned to correspond to a cloud service. I use my phone and the free Rocketbook app to scan the page and it automatically sends my handwritten notes to OneNote. Just like that, my handwritten notes are digital, accessible, and saved for future use. After updating the calendar for the week (including a gazillion kid’s activities), I mark one of the preset symbols and scan the page with the app. Whoosh! Now a copy of the calendar is in my wife’s email.
Features:
I appreciate that the handwriting recognition (OCR) allows me to set up Smart Titles for greater organization of documents. Additionally, the Smart Search feature searches my handwritten text so I quickly find exactly what I am looking for when trying to locate important details. I can even send a full text transcription via email. The Fusion also gives me the ability to bundle scans and group pages together in one file. I like that I have up to seven symbols which I can each assign to a specific destination. With a glut of cloud-based supported services (i.e. Google Drive, Slack, Evernote, etc.) I simply check the symbol at the bottom of the page and scan. The Rocketbook app does the rest and sends my note to the destination I assigned to the symbol.
Analysis:
Overall, Rocketbook is fairly straightforward, intuitive and great for creating handwritten documents. The app is easy to use, and I have a ton of flexibility. I essentially use it like a normal notebook and planner, but get digital copies of my handwritten notes sent where I want them stored. However, since it is a non-digital notebook I am unable to use it to edit existing documents. This limits its usability to primarily content creation. The scanning step is an extra step compared to some of the more digitally based products available on the market. Which isn’t overly burdensome, but lighting and shadows can be an issue when scanning. Overall, the Fusion is ideal for those who lean heavily towards notebooks and handwritten documents, but want the accessibility and longevity of technology.
Note: Our reviews are always 100% independent but Gearadical receives a small affiliate amount if you purchase the product on Amazon.
