It's the word processor your parents used. Your grandparents too. And sometimes, it is a lot more convenient and faster to write things down on paper than to type them into a computer or tap them into a handheld organizer. An interesting new way to bridge the gap is with a gizmo called a SmartPad from Seiko Instruments. It transfers what you write on paper... into any Palm III or above handheld device. Seiko's Mike DelVecchio... .

"This is a digitizing tablet that captures everything exactly as you write it. We have a smart pen that has a magnetized coil inside. It does physically put ink on paper and as you're writing, captures everything in exactly the format you do it in."

In our tests, it has worked flawlessly. What you write can be saved as a memo, or attached to contacts or appointments. The SmartPad gets around the small Palm screen by letting you magnify the size of your notes by up to four times. The handwritten notes get transferred to your PC when you HotSync as well...

"Now, from your PC then you can take it to a bigger format, bigger size format and email it or do lots of things with it."

The drawbacks... the size, with the SmartPad the Palm is no longer a pocket sized device... .and also the price... .about 199 dollars. But it does take the Palm computing platform to a whole new level. You can find more info at Seikosmart.com. You can find us at Bootcamp.com. Bootcamp, I'm Fred Fishkin for CBS News.