Windows 11 Note taking app for collaboration

• Microsoft OneNote — solid all-rounder: full typing + handwriting support (OneNote on iPad supports Apple Pencil), real-time syncing/collaboration via OneDrive and native Windows apps. Great if your university already uses Microsoft 365. more of an “infinite canvas” collaborative workspace (blocks, boards) that’s designed for real-time group work and brainstorming; useful if you want a free-form shared screen for mixed typed + drawn content. (Loop integrates well inside the Microsoft ecosystem.)
• GoodNotes 6 — excst app on iPad (top-notch Apple Pencil experience, handwriting search/AI features). Best used when iPad users lead the handwritten notes; Windows users can still access exported PDFs or use any shared cloud folder. If handwriting quality is your priority on iPad, GoodNotes is one of the best.

1. Pick a primary shared space (web-based) so both Windows and iPad users can join without installs.
   • If your school provides Microsoft 365: start with OneNote + Whiteboard/Loop.
2. For heavy handwriting sessions: iPad users take notes in GoodNotes (Apple Pencil), then export/share the page or PDF into the shared folder so Windows users can view/annotate.
3. For synchronous brainstorming: use a collaborative whiteboard (Miro or Whiteboard) so everyove sticky notes in real time.
4. Keep a “master” typed summary (OneNote or Notion) after sessions so typed + searchable notes exist for future reference.

• Want best Apple Pencil handwriting + iPad-native experience: GoodNotes for iPad, export to st everyone to edit live in the same file (typing + handwriting/drawing in one place): OneNote or a web whiteboard (Loop/Whiteboard/ tell me:
• Do you have Microsoft 365 through your university?
• Which iPad app(s) the iPad users already have (GoodNotes, Notability, Apple Notes)?

• Microsoft OneNote — Best overall cross‑platform notebook
  • Pros: Free, Windows + iPad + web apps, live co‑editing, good Apple Pencil ink support on iPad, good file/embed support, syncs via OneDrive.
  • Cons: Ink collaboration can feel not as instantaneous as a dedicated whiteboard during fast sketch sessions; long documents can get messy if you don’t organize sections/pages.
• Notability (iPad + web)
  • Pros: Excellent handwriting experience and Apple Pencil features, smooth inking, great for lecture‑style note capture and audio sync.
  • Cons: iPad‑first; Windows support is limited (web is improving but not parity). Paid app.
• Google Jamboard
  • Pros: Very simple, immediate web whiteboard — great for quick brainstorms and non‑technical contributors.
  • Cons: Very basic (limited export/organizing features and handwriting toolset).

• Microsoft Whiteboard — better than OneNote for real‑time collaborative whiteboarding (sticky notes, templates, live cursor). Works across Windows, web, and iPad.
• GoodNotes — rival to Notability with similarly excellent handwriting (iPad + web client).
• Miro / FigJam — if you need persistent, multi‑user whiteboards with templates and integrations (better for bigger teams/workflows, paid tiers).
• Nebo — if handwriting→text conversion is a high priority.

• If you want the smoothest cross‑platform all‑round solution: OneNote as primary hub.
  • iPad users ink in OneNote (or Notability/GoodNotes if they prefer), Windows users use OneNote or Surface pen.
  • Store notebook in OneDrive, share the notebook with Edit rights for real‑time collaboration.
• If handwriting quality (Apple Pencil) is the top priority and Windows users only need read access:
  • Use Notability/GoodNotes on iPad for capture → Export pages as PDF → Drop PDFs into a shared OneDrive/Google Drive folder or import into a shared OneNote page.
• If you run fast sketch/brainstorm sessions with many simultaneous cursors:
  • Use Microsoft Whiteboard or Miro during the session, then export the board as PDF/png and paste into OneNote for persistent notes.

1. Create the notebook in OneDrive (or create from OneNote app and choose OneDrive).
2. In OneNote: File → Share → Invite people or Get a share link (Give Edit permission for collaborators).
3. On iPad: install OneNote, sign in with the same Microsoft account, open shared notebook and use the Draw tab to ink.
4. Tip: Create a page template (agenda / sketch page) so everyone starts on the same canvas.

• If you use Notability/GoodNotes + OneNote combo, export the master notes as PDF after each session and paste into OneNote so Windows users can search/annotate them later.
• For meetings, open the Whiteboard (Microsoft Whiteboard) for the live session, then “Export to OneNote” or PDF for record‑keeping.
• Check storage & permissions up front (OneDrive vs Google Drive) so sharing is seamless for all participants.

• Give step‑by‑step screenshots for sharing a OneNote notebook and enabling ink permissions.
• Propose a 1‑week collaboration workflow (which app for what, who does exports, how to store final notes).
  Which would be most helpful?

datawizard0103 said:

For cross-platform collaboration that supports both typing and handwriting, Microsoft OneNote is an excellent choice since it works seamlessly on Windows, iPad, and web, allows real-time collaboration, and supports handwriting with the Apple Pencil. If your group prefers stronger handwriting features, Notability on iPad paired with its web version can work well, though it’s more limited for Windows users. For a simpler option focused on quick sketches and brainstorming, Google Jamboard offers an easy web-based whiteboard. Overall, OneNote is the most reliable and versatile option for your project.

Click to expand...

• Notability is traditionally an iPad‑first app; Windows support has historically been limited and Windows users often join via web or by importing exported PDFs. This can make live, two‑way collaboration with Windows users less seamless than OneNote.
• OneNote is designed as a cross‑platform, cloud‑first notebook (OneDrive) with real‑time co‑editing and an “infinite canvas” feel when you need it — it usually wins on parity for simultaneous Windows + iPad collaboration.
• Be careful about unofficial “Notability for PC” sites or third‑party installers. If a site or installer is not from the app developer or an official store it may be insecure or unreliable — the safe options are Notability’s official Web client (if available) or exporting/importing files.

• Real‑time collaboration: Do edits/ink from iPad appear for Windows users without delay?
• Two‑way inking: Can Windows users draw/handwrite and have iPad users see/edit the ink natively?
• Sync reliability: Are there conflicts, missing pages, or delayed uploads?
• Handwriting features: ink smoothing, palm rejection, ink→text conversion accuracy.
• Extra features: audio sync (Notability’s popular feature), PDF annotation fidelity, export/import ease.
• Offline behavior & recovery: Does app queue changes offline and merge correctly when online? Can you fully recover from a backup/export?
• Permissions & shared storage: Does the app use iCloud (Notability) vs OneDrive/SharePoint (OneNote) and does that match your group’s accounts?

• Day 0 — Prep
  • Create a short sample project (2 pages: one typed outline, one hand‑drawn diagram).
  • Make a shared location and ensure everyone has the same accounts ready (OneDrive for OneNote; iCloud or Notability web for Notability).
• Day 1 — Basic setup & account test
  • Each member signs in and opens the shared notebook/board. Confirm everyone can view the sample pages. Note any account or permission problems.
• Day 2 — Handwriting quality test
  • iPad users write a paragraph + draw diagrams with Apple Pencil. Windows users use stylus or mouse to draw. Rate ink fidelity and latency (0–5).
• Day 3 — Real‑time collaboration test
  • Everyone joins at the same time and co‑edit for 15 minutes (typing and inking). Note delays, cursor presence, and merge conflicts.
• Day 4 — Feature test
  • Test Notability’s audio sync (record a 1‑minute audio while writing) and export. Test OneNote’s audio/recording features and ink→text conversion.
• Day 5 — Export/import & cross‑platform fidelity
  • Export pages as PDF from each app and re‑import into the other. Check images/ink text/searchability and layout.
• Day 6 — Offline & recovery
  • Put one device offline, make edits, bring it back online. Check how each app handles sync conflicts and whether any edits are lost.
• Day 7 — Final scoring & workflow decision
  • Score each app on the earlier criteria and pick a primary workflow (for instance: OneNote as the shared master + Notability for iPad capture and export if you prefer iPad handwriting quality).

• If real‑time shared editing between iPad and Windows is essential: pick OneNote (or a web whiteboard like Microsoft Whiteboard / Miro for high‑speed sketch sessions) as the “live” workspace.
• If iPad handwriting quality + audio recording are most important and Windows users only need read/annotate access: use Notability on iPad for capture, export PDFs after sessions, and drop them into a shared OneDrive/OneNote place for Windows users.

• Always export or backup your master notebook before switching apps or testing migrations. OneNote has explicit backup/migration guidance; follow it if you rely on local notebooks.
• Agree on a single “master” location for final notes (OneDrive or an agreed folder). This avoids people editing different copies and losing changes.

• Produce a printable checklist you can use during each test session (quick checkboxes for latency, fidelity, conflicts, export quality).
• Or, if you prefer, give a concrete OneNote setup walkthrough (create notebook → share link → enable editing → test Draw tools) with screenshots.

slothbear101 said:

Hey, can we use Notability on Windows?

Click to expand...