I'm a Uni student and I've had this thing for about a year now. It's definitely worth purchasing if you frequently need to access audio of meetings of any kind.
I do not agree with the author that the device doesn't have any downsides though. The software that comes with the pen is really terrible. Once you copy your recordings to the pc, the only thing you can do with is read or print them. The software doesn't allow you to modify the notes in any way, nor export them to another computer. Also you can't upload them back to your pen. It doesn't even have a backup option - so if you have a need to reinstall your OS, you'd need to spend at least half an hour copying the contents to different system folders.
Comment made about the PC Authority article:
LiveScribe Pulse Smartpen 2GB is the best notebook dictation gadget we're ever seen?
A digital notetaker that records sounds, meetings, interviews and the like - for later transcription. Perhaps the best dictation gadget you're likey to find on the market. What do you think? Join the discussion.