add instructions for notebook pre alpha testing (#243)

* add instructions for notebook testing

* vale

* fix image

* add images, rename file

* julias nits

* nits

* Update notebooks-alpha.qmd

Co-authored-by: Julia Silge <[email protected]>

* Update notebooks-alpha.qmd

Co-authored-by: Julia Silge <[email protected]>

* Update notebooks-alpha.qmd

Co-authored-by: Julia Silge <[email protected]>

* Update notebooks-alpha.qmd

Co-authored-by: Julia Silge <[email protected]>

* Update notebooks-alpha.qmd

Co-authored-by: Julia Silge <[email protected]>

---------

Co-authored-by: Julia Silge <[email protected]>

Author: cindyytong

images/positron-notebooks-open-with-options.png

@@ -0,0 +1,77 @@
+---
+title: "Positron Native Notebooks"
+format: html
+---
+
+::: {.callout-important}
+
+Positron Native Notebooks are currently in **pre-alpha testing** and are not yet available for production use. 
+
+We are targeting a public alpha in February 2026. 
+
+If you'd like to be an early design partner and help shape our future roadmap, please book time to chat with [us here](https://scheduler.zoom.us/cindy-tong/improving-the-positron-notebook-experience).
+
+:::
+
+## Our vision
+
+Positron Native Notebooks provides a familiar notebook experience for Jupyter (`.ipynb`) files. Positron IDE features work out of the box in notebooks, including AI assistance, data exploration, and debugging.
+
+![Positron Notebooks Pre-Alpha](images/positron-notebooks-pre-alpha.png)
+
+## Key features 
+
+* Batteries-included experience, with no extensions required for core features
+* Improved user experience for core data science workflows 
+* Notebook-aware AI assistance 
+* Integrated data exploration (Variables Pane and Data Explorer) 
+* Debugging that works out of the box 
+* Your idea here! We want to [hear from you](https://scheduler.zoom.us/cindy-tong/improving-the-positron-notebook-experience) about what features you want to see in Positron Notebooks.
+
+*These features are a work in progress, and we expect to regularly deploy changes as you are testing. *
+
+## How to test 
+1. Download the latest Positron release [here](download.qmd). Use at least version 2025.12.1-4.
+
+2. Update your user settings to enable Positron Notebooks and Notebook AI features::
+   a. Ensure Assistant is enabled: [`positron.assistant.enable`](positron://settings/positron.assistant.enable)
+   b. Enable Positron notebooks: [`positron.notebook.enabled`](positron://settings/positron.notebook.enabled)
+   c. Enable Notebook AI features: [`positron.assistant.notebookMode.enable`](positron://settings/positron.assistant.notebookMode.enable)
+
+4. Pick a notebook to explore:
+   a. Explore our demo [World Happiness Report notebook](https://github.com/posit-dev/positron-demos-notebooks/tree/main/notebooks/world-happiness-report) by following the **New** > **New Folder from Git** workflow, or 
+   b. Create a new notebook:
+      - Select **New** > **New Folder from Template** > **Jupyter Notebook** 
+      - Follow the instructions for folder creation and environment management 
+
+5. When you open a `.ipynb` file for the first time, you see the default VS Code notebook UI. To see the Positron Native Notebook view:
+   a. Right-click on the file in the Explorer 
+
+   b. Click **Open With** 
+   
+   ![Open with](images/positron-notebooks-open-with.png){width=400}
+   
+   c. Select **Positron Notebooks**
+
+   ![Positron Notebooks](images/positron-notebooks-open-with-options.png){width=600}
+   
+   d. (Optional) Click the **Set as Default** button to always open `.ipynb` files with Positron Notebooks in the future
+
+::: {.callout-tip}
+We recommend using the _View: Notebook Layout_ command for the best experience. Search for this command in the Command Palette. This layout displays the Variables pane by default.
+:::
+
+## Share your feedback 
+
+We’d love your feedback. Please book time to chat with [us here](https://scheduler.zoom.us/cindy-tong/improving-the-positron-notebook-experience) or:
+
+1. Complete [this short survey](https://forms.gle/2RjhZBMfMew2kbKVA) to help shape what we build. 
+
+2. File issues [here](https://github.com/posit-dev/positron/issues) for any bugs or improvements you want to see. 
+
+3. Upvote on features you want to see next:
+
+   * [Features we are exploring for post alpha](https://github.com/posit-dev/positron/issues?q=is%3Aissue%20state%3Aopen%20label%3Anotebooks-roadmap)
+
+   * [All open issues](https://github.com/posit-dev/positron/issues?q=is%3Aissue%20state%3Aopen%20label%3A%22area%3A%20notebooks%22%20-label%3Anotebooks-alpha)
+