I No Longer Use My Old iPad or Kindle for Reading—Here’s What I Use Instead

For years, the familiar glow of an iPad and the crisp e-ink display of a Kindle have been staples in our pursuit of portable reading and productivity. We’ve consumed countless novels, devoured industry reports, and even drafted entire business plans on these devices. However, in the ever-evolving landscape of technology, a new contender has emerged, prompting us to re-evaluate our reliance on these once indispensable gadgets. We discovered a device that’s basically the iPad and Kindle rolled into one.

The Limitations of Dedicated Devices: Why We Needed a Change

While both the iPad and Kindle excel in their respective domains, their limitations eventually became apparent, hindering our workflow and overall reading experience.

• iPad Drawbacks: The iPad, with its vibrant display and versatile app ecosystem, initially seemed like the perfect all-in-one solution. However, prolonged reading sessions often resulted in eye strain due to the backlit screen. The constant distractions of notifications and the temptation to browse social media also hampered our ability to focus solely on the task at hand. Furthermore, the iPad’s battery life proved inadequate for extended travel or long days of meetings.

• Kindle Shortcomings: The Kindle, on the other hand, provided a superior reading experience with its e-ink display, which mimicked the look and feel of paper. This drastically reduced eye strain and allowed for hours of uninterrupted reading. However, the Kindle’s limited functionality beyond reading became a significant drawback. Its black and white display made it unsuitable for viewing documents with color illustrations or browsing websites with rich multimedia content. The lack of app support also restricted its utility for productivity tasks.

We realized that carrying both devices created a burden, and neither fully satisfied our need for a single, versatile device that could seamlessly transition between reading, note-taking, and other essential tasks. The search for a better solution began.

Enter the Remarkable 2: A Hybrid Device for the Modern Reader

After extensive research and experimentation, we stumbled upon the Remarkable 2, a digital paper tablet that bridges the gap between the iPad and Kindle. It offers a unique blend of features that caters specifically to readers, writers, and creative professionals.

• E-Ink Display Technology: The Remarkable 2 boasts a 10.3-inch monochrome e-ink display that provides a paper-like reading experience. The high resolution and exceptional contrast ensure crisp and clear text, minimizing eye strain even during extended reading sessions. Unlike the backlit screen of an iPad, the Remarkable 2’s display is easy on the eyes, mimicking the natural look and feel of paper.
• Focus on Simplicity: The Remarkable 2 is deliberately designed to minimize distractions. It lacks the bloatware and constant notifications that plague tablets like the iPad. Instead, it offers a clean and minimalist interface that encourages focused work. The device’s primary function is to facilitate reading, writing, and sketching, without the temptation to stray into the realm of social media or entertainment.
• Handwriting Experience: The Remarkable 2 excels as a digital notebook. Its highly responsive e-ink display and pressure-sensitive marker create a writing experience that closely resembles pen on paper. The marker offers exceptional precision and control, allowing for detailed notes, annotations, and sketches. The device also supports handwriting recognition, enabling users to convert handwritten notes into searchable text.
• Organization and Collaboration: The Remarkable 2 seamlessly integrates with cloud services, allowing for easy synchronization of notes and documents across multiple devices. Users can create folders, tag notes, and search for specific information with ease. The device also supports collaborative work, enabling users to share documents with colleagues and clients.

How the Remarkable 2 Replaced Our iPad and Kindle

The Remarkable 2 has effectively replaced both our iPad and Kindle by combining their core strengths into a single, streamlined device.

Reading Experience:

• Superior to iPad for Reading: The e-ink display of the Remarkable 2 provides a vastly superior reading experience compared to the iPad. The lack of glare and the paper-like texture reduce eye strain and allow for longer, more comfortable reading sessions.
• Comparable to Kindle, with Added Functionality: While the Kindle excels at displaying text, the Remarkable 2 offers additional features that enhance the reading experience. Users can easily annotate documents, highlight passages, and take notes directly on the screen. The larger display size also makes it easier to read PDFs and other complex documents.

Note-Taking and Productivity:

• Digital Notebook Functionality: The Remarkable 2’s exceptional handwriting experience makes it an ideal digital notebook. We use it to take notes during meetings, brainstorm ideas, and sketch out concepts.
• Document Annotation and Markup: The device’s ability to annotate PDFs and other documents has streamlined our workflow. We can easily review contracts, provide feedback on design proposals, and mark up research papers.
• Reduced Distractions: The Remarkable 2’s minimalist design and lack of notifications allow us to focus on the task at hand. We can work for hours without being interrupted by distracting emails or social media alerts.

Workflow Integration:

• Cloud Synchronization: The Remarkable 2 seamlessly synchronizes notes and documents with cloud services like Dropbox, Google Drive, and OneDrive. This ensures that our work is always backed up and accessible across multiple devices.
• Email Integration: The device allows us to email notes and documents directly from the device, making it easy to share our work with colleagues and clients.
• Screen Share Capability: Using the desktop app, it is now possible to use screen share functions, which can be beneficial when teaching or doing presentations.

The Specific Use Cases That Made the Difference

To illustrate the Remarkable 2’s versatility, let’s examine some specific use cases where it has significantly improved our productivity.

Reading and Annotating Academic Papers:

As researchers, we spend a significant amount of time reading and annotating academic papers. The Remarkable 2’s e-ink display and handwriting capabilities have transformed this process. We can now easily highlight key passages, take notes in the margins, and sketch out diagrams, all without printing out the paper. This has saved us countless hours and reduced our paper consumption. The ability to easily search our annotations makes it simple to find specific information within a document.

Brainstorming and Mind Mapping:

The Remarkable 2’s digital notebook functionality has become an indispensable tool for brainstorming and mind mapping. The pressure-sensitive marker allows us to sketch out ideas, connect concepts, and create visual representations of our thoughts. The device’s infinite canvas provides ample space for expanding our ideas and exploring different possibilities.

Meeting Notes and Action Items:

Taking notes during meetings is crucial for staying organized and tracking action items. The Remarkable 2 allows us to take handwritten notes quickly and efficiently. We can easily organize our notes into folders, tag them with relevant keywords, and convert them into searchable text. This ensures that we never miss important details and can easily follow up on action items.

Project Planning and Task Management:

The Remarkable 2’s versatility extends to project planning and task management. We can use it to create Gantt charts, Kanban boards, and other visual representations of our projects. The ability to easily move and rearrange elements on the screen makes it simple to adjust our plans as needed.

Creative Writing and Drafting:

For writers, the Remarkable 2 offers a distraction-free environment for creative writing and drafting. The e-ink display and minimalist interface encourage focused writing, allowing us to immerse ourselves in the creative process. The device’s lack of notifications and distractions helps us to avoid writer’s block and stay productive.

The Drawbacks and Considerations Before Switching

While the Remarkable 2 has proven to be an invaluable tool, it’s important to acknowledge its limitations.

• Monochrome Display: The Remarkable 2’s monochrome display may be a drawback for users who frequently consume content with color illustrations or multimedia elements.
• Limited App Support: The device’s lack of app support may limit its functionality for users who rely on specific apps for productivity or entertainment.
• Price Point: The Remarkable 2 is more expensive than a basic Kindle or entry-level iPad. This may be a barrier for some users.
• Learning Curve: While the device is relatively easy to use, it may take some time to get accustomed to its handwriting recognition and organization features.

Conclusion: A Focused Tool for Specific Needs

The Remarkable 2 is not a perfect replacement for every iPad or Kindle user. However, for those who prioritize reading, writing, and focused work, it offers a compelling alternative. Its e-ink display, exceptional handwriting experience, and minimalist design make it an ideal tool for students, researchers, writers, and creative professionals.

While the iPad excels at versatility and the Kindle provides a dedicated reading experience, the Remarkable 2 strikes a unique balance between the two. It offers a distraction-free environment for focused work, while also providing the functionality needed for reading, note-taking, and document annotation.

Ultimately, the decision to switch to the Remarkable 2 depends on individual needs and preferences. However, for those seeking a dedicated device that prioritizes reading, writing, and focused work, it is definitely worth considering. We have found it to be a transformative tool that has significantly improved our productivity and overall reading experience. It has become an indispensable part of our daily workflow, and we highly recommend it to anyone who values focus, simplicity, and a paper-like reading and writing experience.