Ask HN: What kind of whiteboard does not use dry erase markers?

[dandrew5]

I've been using a dry erase whiteboard for decades and am in the market for something different. Someone mentioned in another thread they were using some kind of magnetic board (maybe it wasn't magnets, I can't remember 100%) but I can't find anything like this online.

Anybody have any recommendations?

[seoulbigchris]

A long time ago, a colleague and I visited a supplier in another state. While we were waiting alone in a conference room, we noticed an unusual looking note taking device at the front of the room. It was a very large easel that looked like a white board, with a tray of markers and an eraser. But it was clearly electronic because it had stuff attached to the top and bottom, some buttons, and was plugged in. We walked up to the easel, drew a large circle on it, and pressed what looked like a COPY button, curious how it was going to perform that task.

The machine whirred into action, scrolling the white board material (which turned out to be a flexible plastic-like film) over the top of the easel, and paying out fresh whiteboard up from the bottom. A perfect duplicate of our circle on paper spat out of a slot in the machine, akin to a FAX machine. As the scrolling came to a stop, it revealed a previously hidden drawing -- someone had drawn a large "X" in the middle of the page. I guess we weren't the only ones who were curious how the machine worked.

[wrp]

In the 1990s, I went to a lab in Tokyo for a presentation, and they had me using a freestanding whiteboard. When the board got full, I grabbed the eraser but a few in the audience started going "wait! wait". I thought they needed more time to copy the writing, but then a guy came up from the audience and pressed a button at the side of the board. The writing surface scrolled off to the side and a printout emerged from a machine in the corner.

[RaftPeople]

We had a few of those years ago. It kind of worked but was also another device that you had to understand how to load paper or work through error conditions.

[creer]

Techies and magic - hours of entertainment. Like cats and string :-)

[vladsanchez]

I bought this 4'x3' Black Glass Board back in 2017 for $150! I write with white and neon colored liquid chalk markers and it's the best!

Here: https://a.co/d/hlrwPHQ

Enjoy it.

[ThePowerOfFuet]

Tracking-free link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JOW6EGY

[saurik]

Wow! Do you then use white board erasers, chalk board erasers, paper towels, microfiber clothes, squeegees ;P, or what do you use then to erase?

[myvoiceismypass]

Is there a particular advantage to getting the black version of this versus the ultra white version?

[aaron695]

Ditto, same size, same thing (different brand), cheaper pickup ~ $70 (2024) "Magnetic Glass Board", chose black since it seemed less NPC.

Lots of cool pens on Temu - https://www.temu.com/search_result.html?search_key=Liquid%20...

Also cool. Looks great under a UV light too.

[MathMonkeyMan]

In a previous apartment, I painted a wall with several coats of blackboard (chalkboard) paint and then used fancy chalk on it, and a chalkboard eraser. Worked pretty well. The landlord even let me keep it up when I moved out, because the next tenants liked it.

[hnbear]

We did this when we renovated. Had a kitchen wall section chalk board painted for notes, as well as a much larger section of the kids play room wall.

The notes was useful space on the kitchen and the playroom one the kids just loved to doodle. Their friends were always impressed and loved to be able to leave a tag or doodle on it when they came over.

We tried a layer of magnetic paint too, but it didn’t work nearly as well.

[creer]

I'm of the generation that had student labs (with eye-wateringly expensive computers) full of chalk dust. Chalk dust everywhere. I still have chalk dust trauma I guess and even with better housekeeping habits I'd think twice about it. Doodling opportunity so very tempting though.

[DAhelloNG]

I write directly on the drywall, it's a lifehack that forces you to accept your past ideas and thoughts.

[cf100clunk]

Once, long ago, I wrote some pithy, earth-shattering thoughts onto the wall while extremely high, and was self-satisfied at the gift I'd bestowed upon the world. The next day I had no idea or recollection of what it meant, and on reflection I wish it had been on a white board and not wallpaper.

[oldsklgdfth]

When I was renovating my kitchen, I left some notes on the wall before putting up cabinets. A little treat for the next renovator.

[yjftsjthsd-h]

...Permanently? You just keep everything indefinitely?

[snailmailman]

Different purpose than a whiteboard, because its much smaller and not really for sharing with a group. But I've used a Rocketbook 'reusable notebook' off and on for a while for any random notes at my desk. I used to just fill up a whiteboard by my desk with random notes instead of wasting paper, but now I scribble things in the Rocketbook instead. You write in it with an erasable pen, and can clean the pages off with a bit of water and a cloth.

I just flip to a blank page and write down anything i need. Then once in a while i go through and erase all the pages and start fresh again. I like that i can write very small and detailed - unlike with a whiteboard. But it also isn't a complete waste of paper. (and its still physical, unlike taking notes on an iPad)

[woleium]

there’s the one you can microwave too, the rocketbook wave iirc?

[firefax]

Slightly off topic, but if you ever write on a whiteboard with a sharpie, you can write over the text with an erasable marker and then wipe it away.

[LeoPanthera]

This works because the solvent base for the ink is alcohol, so a much simpler method that doesn't waste ink is to use a small spray bottle of isopropyl alcohol. Ideally 99/100%, if you can get it. (Try eBay.)

This doubles up as an effective whiteboard cleaner.

[brudgers]

If you want to remove Sharpie, use IPA...isopropyl alcohol...India pale ale remains useless.

[fahrnfahrnfahrn]

You can do the same with a Sharpie. All inks contain a solvent for their pigment, so you can use the same marker to remove the same ink. Just mark over it and immediately wipe it off.

[BleakButBold]

Even better, sunscreen (I just use old, expired ones). Don’t know why, but it does a great job.

[Avshalom]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackboard

[hartator]

What would be the fancy modern buyable version of this?

[dandrew5]

Keeping it classic, nice. How do you manage the dust?

[wombatpm]

Crayola make dry erase crayons. No fumes, cool colors

[BrandoElFollito]

Last year I discovered big crayons for children that you erase with water. They are awesome.

I do not know brands in the US but in France this would be something like https://amzn.eu/d/7L7p2Cd

I use them on various surfaces, they work best on whiteboards but are all great on windows (and you look cool then).

The only small drawback is that you cannot erase a small mistake with your finger (out au least it is not that great).

I love them and got some for all my teams.

[hiAndrewQuinn]

I have a bunch of these kinds of kid's drawing tablets lying around. They're the closest thing I have find do far to digital paper. https://amzn.eu/d/4gsa3pc

[thex10]

I recently learned whiteboards can also use wet erase markers. This has the benefit of not getting utterly destroyed if you graze it slightly.

[mindslight]

Me too! Also, whiteboard tape exists: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00NBL3UMU . I've started using it on storage bins (easier to get over the mental hurdle of labeling when I don't have to worry about the label changing later), and homeprod network switches (I'm terrible at recording port assignments electronically).

[bickfordb]

If you use glass, whiteboard material / laminate (formica eg) you can use any kind of marker and then dissolve it with alcohol or acetone.

[solardev]

> some kind of magnetic board

Sounds like a giant Etch-a-sketch?

There are these small electric blackboards that you can push a button to reset: https://myboogieboard.com/pages/blackboard-smart

I wonder if they make a giant wall mountable version?

[seoulbigchris]

I have a product labeled Boogieboard that I bought on a whim at Costco years back. I want to say it was less that $10? Really simple, no connectivity, it does really seem like an etch-a-sketch with a stylus instead of knobs. Stuck it on the fridge with tacky-tack and it’s been going strong for many years. About the size of A5 (or half an 8-1/2 x 11 piece of paper).

EDIT: looking at the link above, it is called the Jot and sells for $18. Still made apparently.

[gharper]

I have a couple boogie boards, and they're very handy for making notes or single-session scribbles, but their major drawback is the "all or nothing" reset.

I don't think I realized how often I need to erase or update a small section of a list or diagram without erasing the entire thing until using these.

[totetsu]

https://smartboardandbeyond.com/products/boogie-board-55-wal...

This is 55inch one

[tlb]

Get a real blackboard made of slate and quality chalk. Much higher resolution than markers.

[ipdashc]

I'm glad they work for you, but out of curiosity, does anyone else find... just about everything about blackboards unappealing? The feel of chalk scratching on the board, the sound, drawing the characters (making curves feels awkward to me), even the chalk dust. I prefer whiteboards in almost every way except for markers drying out. It's one of those things I've kinda never understood why so many people prefer chalkboards.

[tbrownaw]

We have electronic touchscreen+stylus boards on the walls in some meeting rooms at work.

[johnea]

Of course, you could always use a black board instead.

They do still make chalk...

Or, you could go with the $50,000 IoT board so Amazon and Goggle can scrape everything you draw in your meetings (they're already scraping your email anyway).

[berbec]

I used a piece of plexiglass spray painted white on the back with Sharpie markers. Nail polish remover and towels cleans it. I didn't like being able to accidentally rub off parts

[3dsnano]

in my experience, there are whiteboards... and there are ceramic whiteboards. anything non-ceramic is going to gunk up over time and will never become completely clean.

the ceramic ones are awesome because they erase effortlessly and resist the inevitable ghosting and staining that will happen with the cheaper ones. they are super durable and will last a lifetime.

the only downside is they are reallllly heavy and require a more thoughtful installation.

[kazinator]

How about a glass panel with the back painted white? You can write with any kind of marker on that, including permanent, and it will come off.

[Rotundo]

White boards, or rather the markers, are barely legible.

I'm using a glass board with glass markers. Good contrast, good colors and the board lasts forever.

[the_clarence]

Ipad pro as well as pen and paper.

If you can do VR whiteboard it's probably the best option.

I dont understand why anyone would use chalk.

[CaffeineLD50]

I recommend chalk. Its a little dusty but works great.

Seems to be nontoxic and low in the chemicals and plastic department.

Chalk. Even comes in colors.

I'm not joking.

[everyone]

Also it's actually gypsum. Same material plaster and plasterboard is made from.

[1970-01-01]

I wouldn't put it in my home office because of the dust. After a week, you're leaving footprints around the house.