mimio

Electronic whiteboards that let you print out your notes or transfer them to a computer are popping up all over–but many models either lack full Mac functionality or force you to pony up thousands of dollars. Enter Virtual Ink’s mimio, an electronic capture bar that fastens to your existing whiteboard. It’s a great way to turn a classroom or office whiteboard into an electronic note-taker without scrapping the equipment you already have.

Setting up and using mimio is easy–just install the software, attach the plastic bar to any whiteboard, connect it to your Mac (a USB cable is included), and start scribbling. The capture bar transmits your notes to your Mac screen, where you can save, edit, and replay pen strokes. You can export whiteboard sessions as JPEG or PICT files, or drag and drop images from mimio into another application. Unfortunately, mimio’s editing capabilities are limited, and the Mac version doesn’t yet support the plug-ins available for its Windows counterpart.