Review: ReMarkable Paper Pro(amandariu.com)
amandariu.com
Review: ReMarkable Paper Pro
https://amandariu.com/review-remarkable-paper-pro/
48 comments
I tried RMPP for a weekend and decided not to stick with it. Honestly, it doesn't even come close to how good my Note Air 3C* is. Being an Android device allows you to perform customization especially regarding setting accessibility features beyond the basics.
* I understand that some people have concerns about the brand's security practices and affiliations, but I went further and completely locked it down from public cloud features.
* I understand that some people have concerns about the brand's security practices and affiliations, but I went further and completely locked it down from public cloud features.
This is the debate I'm having internally. I like the RM2, but the appeal of a full Android tablet is hard to get past.
How hacker-friendly is the Note Air? Is it heavily locked-down or is it more on the open side?
How hacker-friendly is the Note Air? Is it heavily locked-down or is it more on the open side?
I think the remarkable is better because it's not a full tablet.
It's an incredibly good scratchpad and is fine for reading papers. The epub reflow and layout is incredibly slow though, and PDFs suck because you can't resize them.
If I didn't have kids/made more money I'd probably buy the Pro but that's not my life now.
It's an incredibly good scratchpad and is fine for reading papers. The epub reflow and layout is incredibly slow though, and PDFs suck because you can't resize them.
If I didn't have kids/made more money I'd probably buy the Pro but that's not my life now.
I have a boox note air, and if you use it as a "full tablet" then you're doing it wrong and will not enjoy it. It shines as an ebook reader (it runs kindle and kobo as well as epub readers and calibre companion). I run file sync on it so it always matches my library. I take notes (using the remarkable pen which is better than the boox note one and works great with it). But I don't use it for browsing or anything like that, the slow screen refresh just makes that sort of thing miserable.
My experience largely mirrors the OP's. I find reading and writing in darkness to be very pleasant with the new backlight, but YMMV. Lack of backwards compatibility with my existing RM2 styli is somewhat annoying, but I'll deal. The RM2 was a huge improvement over the original Remarkable; the RMPP is a smaller, but still substantial, improvement over the RM2. If you can afford it, I recommend it.
While I really like the color, and IMHO the back-light works quite well in my eyes, there are a couple of shortcomings of the RMPP and reMarkable in general which are barely mentioned, but which you should know if you consider buying one:
- while the total resolution is slightly higher on the RMPP (229 PPI) compared to RM 1/2 (226 PPI), the effective resolution is lower, especially for ebooks/PDFs. When you have text on say grey background you can barely read the text on the RMPP while there is no problem on RM 1/2.
- starting with RMPP there is coil whining (not loud but you hear it in quite settings)
- while the advertising sais "Can render 20,000 colors", you have actually a very limited number of colors when it comes to one pixel. Colorful images or highlighted text is being rendered quite coarsly as on those cheap 7-color e-ink devices (but faster and with higher resolution)
- you can't use the (quiet expensive) pen which works for RM 1/2
- the software feels quite unfinished in a lot of aspects. This is hard to summarize of course but includes very slow processing of and poor interaction with ebooks/pdfs or the close to non-existing integration of typed text.
- without the cloud it's hard to get documents on your device. The web interface is fiddly and for some documents it simply doesn't work.
On the plus side you get root access on a relatively native Linux system and there is a community providing cool stuff [0]
[0]: https://github.com/reHackable/awesome-reMarkable
- while the total resolution is slightly higher on the RMPP (229 PPI) compared to RM 1/2 (226 PPI), the effective resolution is lower, especially for ebooks/PDFs. When you have text on say grey background you can barely read the text on the RMPP while there is no problem on RM 1/2.
- starting with RMPP there is coil whining (not loud but you hear it in quite settings)
- while the advertising sais "Can render 20,000 colors", you have actually a very limited number of colors when it comes to one pixel. Colorful images or highlighted text is being rendered quite coarsly as on those cheap 7-color e-ink devices (but faster and with higher resolution)
- you can't use the (quiet expensive) pen which works for RM 1/2
- the software feels quite unfinished in a lot of aspects. This is hard to summarize of course but includes very slow processing of and poor interaction with ebooks/pdfs or the close to non-existing integration of typed text.
- without the cloud it's hard to get documents on your device. The web interface is fiddly and for some documents it simply doesn't work.
On the plus side you get root access on a relatively native Linux system and there is a community providing cool stuff [0]
[0]: https://github.com/reHackable/awesome-reMarkable
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As someone trying to move away from dead tree paper and towards digital (but hasn't quite found a cozy spot with those e-readers like kindle). What is so good about ReMarkable? I would never use it for writing only reading white and black text with no images
IMHO the best thing about the ReMarkable is that it's an "open" device rather than a locked-down uber proprietary system like Kindle. They give you the root password to the device and you can use or write third-party tools if you don't want to pay for their cloud subscription. They have a browser extension that makes it super easy to send articles/web pages to the Remarkable for later reading, and it has built-in integration with Google Drive (which doesn't require the subscription!) so it's pretty easy to get content off and on to the device. I also use rcu[1].
I love using my Remarkable as an e-reader. I've never been one to "write in the margins" because I like to keep my books clean, but this has been a surprising great feature of the Remarkable to me. I can write all over the PDF or epub and it saves as a copy (instead of overwriting the original).
If you're only going to read on it, and only white and black text, I'd recommend a Remarkable 2 instead as it's much cheaper.
An important caveat: I refuse to buy DRMed media, so all my e-books work on any device. They are almost entirely epubs or PDFs. If you buy stuff from the Kindle store then you won't be able to read them on the ReMarkable unless you strip the DRM.
[1]: https://www.davisr.me/projects/rcu/
I love using my Remarkable as an e-reader. I've never been one to "write in the margins" because I like to keep my books clean, but this has been a surprising great feature of the Remarkable to me. I can write all over the PDF or epub and it saves as a copy (instead of overwriting the original).
If you're only going to read on it, and only white and black text, I'd recommend a Remarkable 2 instead as it's much cheaper.
An important caveat: I refuse to buy DRMed media, so all my e-books work on any device. They are almost entirely epubs or PDFs. If you buy stuff from the Kindle store then you won't be able to read them on the ReMarkable unless you strip the DRM.
[1]: https://www.davisr.me/projects/rcu/
For what it's worth, Kobo is similarly open with tons of hacks and add-ons for their devices. They do have a store but you can just not use it and even sync books from your own server running Calibre-Web if you want.
Thank you, that's worth a lot! Definitely gonna check it out
Before I got my rM2, I carried two paper notebooks with me everywhere - one for work and one for everything else. I also carried a nice fountain pen in a sleeve for note-taking.
After getting the rM2, I carried it. All of my notes are there, they're sharable from "the cloud", and I screen-share with it on Zoom calls for work when there's a need to diagram.
> What is so good about ReMarkable?
All of their products are, first and foremost, an "electronic paper notebook". They're designed to replace physical pen/pencil-and-paper. If that's what you want to use it for, you'll be happy with it.
> I would never use it for writing only reading white and black text with no images
I'd steer you toward an rM2 then, unless you absolutely need the backlight. They seem to be going for about $300 in like-new condition on the used market, so now is a good time to buy.
As for using it as an eReader, they work well in some cases and adequately in others.
PDF support is excellent - >90% of my eBook collection is uploaded to my reMarkable account in PDF format. It looks exactly the same on the device as it does printed, navigation works, and documents are easy to "mark up" using the pen.
EPUB support is... well, adequate. I think it's running a script in the backend the first time you open an EPUB file that converts it to PDF. Changing the font size does the same. For the rM2, this process could take a second or so for most documents and up to about 15 seconds for 500-ish page books. I've not empirically tested this, but the RPP seems to be much faster in this regard.
Note that DRM is not supported. That means you'll have to do the import/strip/export dance with Calibre if you have a collection of Kindle books to transfer.
There are also no integrated "stores", so you'll have to acquire your files elsewhere. I use Kobo for a lot of things. If Kobo doesn't have it - or if they don't have it DRM-free - I try to buy directly from the author. Failing that, I'll buy it on Kobo or Amazon then go download a PDF from libgen or similar.
After getting the rM2, I carried it. All of my notes are there, they're sharable from "the cloud", and I screen-share with it on Zoom calls for work when there's a need to diagram.
> What is so good about ReMarkable?
All of their products are, first and foremost, an "electronic paper notebook". They're designed to replace physical pen/pencil-and-paper. If that's what you want to use it for, you'll be happy with it.
> I would never use it for writing only reading white and black text with no images
I'd steer you toward an rM2 then, unless you absolutely need the backlight. They seem to be going for about $300 in like-new condition on the used market, so now is a good time to buy.
As for using it as an eReader, they work well in some cases and adequately in others.
PDF support is excellent - >90% of my eBook collection is uploaded to my reMarkable account in PDF format. It looks exactly the same on the device as it does printed, navigation works, and documents are easy to "mark up" using the pen.
EPUB support is... well, adequate. I think it's running a script in the backend the first time you open an EPUB file that converts it to PDF. Changing the font size does the same. For the rM2, this process could take a second or so for most documents and up to about 15 seconds for 500-ish page books. I've not empirically tested this, but the RPP seems to be much faster in this regard.
Note that DRM is not supported. That means you'll have to do the import/strip/export dance with Calibre if you have a collection of Kindle books to transfer.
There are also no integrated "stores", so you'll have to acquire your files elsewhere. I use Kobo for a lot of things. If Kobo doesn't have it - or if they don't have it DRM-free - I try to buy directly from the author. Failing that, I'll buy it on Kobo or Amazon then go download a PDF from libgen or similar.
> EPUB support is... well, adequate. I think it's running a script in the backend the first time you open an EPUB file that converts it to PDF.
I agree I think this is what it's doing behind the scenes. If you use the pen to mark up the book, it will be also saved as a PDF.
I agree I think this is what it's doing behind the scenes. If you use the pen to mark up the book, it will be also saved as a PDF.
The main advantage is just focus. ReMarkable is an eInk tablet that's only really good at writing and passable at reading so you're not going to wander off to the web or something. This model has some uniqueness from the kind of color eInk display it has but if you don't care about that you're probably better off with a Kobo Elispa, some model of Boox or the Kindle Scribe.
But for READING I would not go for a ReMarkable. They can't do Adobe DRM'd ePubs, they can't do library books and ePub support in general seems really subpar. Makes way more sense to get an Elispa or Boox model.
But for READING I would not go for a ReMarkable. They can't do Adobe DRM'd ePubs, they can't do library books and ePub support in general seems really subpar. Makes way more sense to get an Elispa or Boox model.
My understanding is that it is excellent for handwriting notes, which feels like writing on paper (and not like on glass). I read books on my Kindle because RM is too expensive for me and I don't like the idea of having to pay their subscription fees.
What's behind your move away from dead tree paper?
Cost, space, searchability, backup-ability...
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I have been really interested in this device, but the proprietary stylus really turned me off. In addition to not working on any other e-ink reader/notepad, it is a mystery to me why they went with a stylus technology that requires charging.
It may be marketed as bespoke, but it does seem to take USI stylus (styli?), at least for basic inking purposes, https://youtu.be/4peCXY7duxI?t=486
and USI seems to be about interoperability https://universalstylus.org/ , at least within that ecosystem.
and USI seems to be about interoperability https://universalstylus.org/ , at least within that ecosystem.
I think you've been misinformed - ReMarkable pens have replaceable nibs (tips), because they get worn away as you use them, but they are not powered at all (unless there's a new aspect to the Pro's market that I'm not aware of?)
For what it's worth: the reason it needs those tips is they are what helps it feel like writing on paper, but the tips can be put into third-party stylos - if you search Reddit or elsewhere you'll find plenty of people discussing alternatives.
For what it's worth: the reason it needs those tips is they are what helps it feel like writing on paper, but the tips can be put into third-party stylos - if you search Reddit or elsewhere you'll find plenty of people discussing alternatives.
I am aware of the replaceable nibs, and I don’t have a problem with those. I have a Remarkable 2 and I use it practically every day. I replaced the nib with a titanium one and it feels very similar to a ballpoint pen writing on a clipboard.
The new marker requires charging. It is not compatible with the Remarkable 2 or other e-ink tablets like the Kindle Scribe. Look at the features on the store page, both the Marker and Marker+ talk about wireless charging.
Also, from their FAQ about the Marker:
Will other digital pens work on reMarkable Paper Pro? No. The new Markers have been custom-built for reMarkable Paper Pro’s Canvas Color display. Other digital pens, such as the Markers for reMarkable 2 or those developed by third parties, aren’t compatible with reMarkable Paper Pro. For more details, see our compatibility guide.
The new marker requires charging. It is not compatible with the Remarkable 2 or other e-ink tablets like the Kindle Scribe. Look at the features on the store page, both the Marker and Marker+ talk about wireless charging.
Also, from their FAQ about the Marker:
Will other digital pens work on reMarkable Paper Pro? No. The new Markers have been custom-built for reMarkable Paper Pro’s Canvas Color display. Other digital pens, such as the Markers for reMarkable 2 or those developed by third parties, aren’t compatible with reMarkable Paper Pro. For more details, see our compatibility guide.
My bad, thanks for the correction!
Gives me another reason I'll be happily sticking with my RM2 and not considering an upgrade, though not 100% sure which I'd choose if buying new now (probably still the older one).
Gives me another reason I'll be happily sticking with my RM2 and not considering an upgrade, though not 100% sure which I'd choose if buying new now (probably still the older one).
You are correct about the previous ReMarkable stylus, but OP is correct about the ReMarkable Pro stylus.
They have introduced a new, proprietary stylus that requires charging. And it’s incompatible with any other device, including previous ReMarkables.
They have introduced a new, proprietary stylus that requires charging. And it’s incompatible with any other device, including previous ReMarkables.
One of the author's primary complaints about their prior ReMarkable was the poor pressure sensitivity while sketching. So there's an argument to be made that switching tech to make it better for sketching is worthwhile. The argument would land better if they actually succeeded at the goal -- the reviewer found an improvement, but not a great improvement.
My understanding is that the company is saying they went with the new stylus technology because the old tech was wacom and if they had stuck with that, as well as adding in front light, the pen-to-screen distance would have increased past where it is on the rm2. With the current tech they have made it essentially the same (maybe slightly smaller I believe), and since they heavily lean on the writing experience for these tablets I am guessing that distance was a deal-breaker with regard to sticking with wacom. Now is that the whole truth? I can't say as I don't have a full understanding of the engineering involved in these touch layers, but it at least sounds plausible to me.
Microsoft did a similar switch with their surface tablets, which were initially wacom based, and switched to a different tech that also required batteries in their pens, so this isn't without precedence.
Microsoft did a similar switch with their surface tablets, which were initially wacom based, and switched to a different tech that also required batteries in their pens, so this isn't without precedence.
My understanding is that the dialysis that are used for Windows tablets work with this, there was one reviewer who was talking about that. On YouTube.
I agree with your sentiments. Makes me think that they are going for vendor lock in. I don’t know if that’s true, but it does feel like it.
What are the options for spaced repetition systems (SRS, like anki or memrise) on the remarkable?
I used to use an iPad and a piece of paper, and really like the idea of writing on the device. I don’t need the program to check for me, I trust my self check.
I used to use an iPad and a piece of paper, and really like the idea of writing on the device. I don’t need the program to check for me, I trust my self check.
I've had a ReMarkable 1 for a few years (including doing a bit of hacking [0]). My advice is don't rely on doing anything it wasn't designed for. It's fun to make it do novel things, but software updates can introduce breaking changes. There are plenty of Android tablets with e-ink that do support running arbitrary code.
[0] https://blog.afandian.com/2020/10/pipes-and-paper-remarkable...
[0] https://blog.afandian.com/2020/10/pipes-and-paper-remarkable...
I don't own a remarkable so I can't relay any personal experience, but there is this project: https://github.com/stelzch/rm2anki
It sounds like it's more for authoring cards on the tablet than it is for reviewing.
It sounds like it's more for authoring cards on the tablet than it is for reviewing.
I wonder how the backlight works in total darkness. My use case would be to read or take notes in bed without having to turn the lights on.
I've been using mine in bed in total darkness - mostly to read - and it works just fine :)
The backlight isn't "bright" - it's "just bright enough to be usable". I wasn't expecting eye-searing anyhow given the overall character of the reMarkable product line. They're defined by what they do not include more than what they do.
The backlight isn't "bright" - it's "just bright enough to be usable". I wasn't expecting eye-searing anyhow given the overall character of the reMarkable product line. They're defined by what they do not include more than what they do.
Just got a new Pro... first impressions: Like the tablet, hate the subscription and cloud stuff. Onboarding could be quicker (definitely not the just open-and-start-scrawling experience of a traditional paper sketchpad).
Disappointed it can't even read text files. The flashing when there are colors on the screen is annoying, would prefer to simply turn colors off. The responsiveness is great, barely any perceptible lag. The UI isn't too distracting. Support is good (they answered a ticket on a long weekend and it were spot-on).
Intriguing device, and a growing hacker community... I want to play with it a bit more to decide if it fills the niche for me.
Intriguing device, and a growing hacker community... I want to play with it a bit more to decide if it fills the niche for me.
902 dollars. No thanks.
yeah, for a fraction of the price and as good of an experience (both reading and writing), I'm using the kindle scribe and have no fomo
This is the exact submission.
Odd. Listed as posted 3 days ago in the search, but pointing at this edition. This specific article must have hit the second chance filter.
There's plenty of other reviews dated a month ago however.
There's plenty of other reviews dated a month ago however.
It's interesting that HN seems to take steps to try to hide that an article is on its second chance.
For example consider the top level comment by jfim. Right now HN is telling me that it is 2 hours old when viewed from the main article view. It also says 2 hours old if I click on the comment's timestamp to view the comment separately.
But if I click "reply" then on the reply composition screen it says that comment is 1 day old.
The article itself says it is from 11 hours ago, but checking on search I see it was actually 3 days ago.
So first question is where does the 11 hours ago come from? Is that when the article was given a second chance?
How about the 1 hours ago for jfim's day old comment? If the article got its second chance 11 hours ago and I had looked at it 10 hours ago, what time would it have shown for that comment?
Are the fake times stored in the DB, or does it generate them algorithmically when it shows a second chance article? Why does the reply page show the original date?
For example consider the top level comment by jfim. Right now HN is telling me that it is 2 hours old when viewed from the main article view. It also says 2 hours old if I click on the comment's timestamp to view the comment separately.
But if I click "reply" then on the reply composition screen it says that comment is 1 day old.
The article itself says it is from 11 hours ago, but checking on search I see it was actually 3 days ago.
So first question is where does the 11 hours ago come from? Is that when the article was given a second chance?
How about the 1 hours ago for jfim's day old comment? If the article got its second chance 11 hours ago and I had looked at it 10 hours ago, what time would it have shown for that comment?
Are the fake times stored in the DB, or does it generate them algorithmically when it shows a second chance article? Why does the reply page show the original date?
[deleted]
When I bought the RM2 it was without subscription. I dislike their cloud pricing and the lack of any features in the web UI.
Ideally I would like to have LLM integration, they can send a screenshot of the scratchpad to the model as context, it would be able to parse text and mind-maps from image.