'Microsoft OneNote For iPad' Doesn't Do The PC Version Justice

I was initially excited to see Microsoft OneNote for iPad hit the App Store since the PC version is really helpful. OneNote is essentially robust note-taking software with search functionality, to-do list management and online storage. But upon further inspection, the iPad app version lacks some of the most important defining features found in the PC version, and is basically reduced to a word processing format. Herewith are all the iPad app's shortcomings versus the PC version: 1. One of the great things about OneNote for the PC is it allows users to type anywhere they want on the page—no set lines or other restrictions. The iPad version has no such freedom. 2. OneNote for the PC has a feature to draw and write by dragging the cursor, a feature which the iPad app lacks. 3. On OneNote for PC, users can copy and paste from the internet, and OneNote will automatically copy the URL of the source site. OneNote for iPad does not include the URL. 4. A perfect feature for college students, OneNote for PC allows users to take notes while recording audio, and automatically links the two. So you can play back the recording and OneNote will hi-lite the notes you were taking at any given point in the recording. No such convenience on the iPad, not even an audio recording feature. 5. One of the strangest drawbacks is on OneNote for the PC users can create password protected sections which then show up with the error message “No Pages Found” on the iPad version. This effectively eliminates what for many users might be the most important information they store on OneNote. 6. Heavy users will also be disappointed to learn that after creating 500 notes, you have to pay to upgrade to limitless notes.

Microsoft OneNote for iPad is missing a lot of what made OneNote on the PC useful and unique. Its greatest strength is you can sync to your computer using SkyDrive, and therefore view your work when you don’t have your PC with you. But the absence of major OneNote features from the PC version leaves much to be desired. OneNote for iPad will be a much more useful app when all of the aforementioned features are integrated. AppPicker Rating: 2 / 5 Stars Pick It Up in the App Store: Microsoft OneNote for iPad Other apps by Microsoft To read our other app reviews, click here.