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

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.

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.

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.

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

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)

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.

Crayola make dry erase crayons. No fumes, cool colors

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.

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

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

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

> 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?

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

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

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).

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.