Remarkable!
Private ePaper?
When I am brainstorming or trying to flush out an idea, I like to write and draw on paper. I grab a notebook, pen, or pencil and start scribbling. It seems the only way to get the ideas out of my head is to let them flow through the stylus to paper and the thoughts drive me crazy until I get them onto paper.
The problem is that I seem to use a different notebook every time a have a new thought. So instead of my thoughts only being scattered in my head, they are scattered among various notebooks at home and at the office.
There must be an app that can help! Technology save me from my disorganization!
I went on a mission to find digital paper. I wanted a tablet, thin computer, or an app that could hold all my thoughts securely and privately. First, I looked at what my kids use to capture notes at university. One of my sons uses an Apple iPad to write down all his notes and my other son uses a Surface Go.
I have used various Surface products since they came out and have tried Evernote, OneNote, and various other apps with a stylus but they never captured the feel of cursive writing and doodling. I borrowed the iPad for a bit but the glossy screen and the backlighting did not give me the paper notebook feel. Also, any Windows, iOS, or Android based tablets can still have a wide range of apps installed and would be consistently bugging me to respond to email, social media, system events, etc. Bottom line, none of these form factors felt right and did I want to put my most private thoughts and ideas into these systems.
A remarkable thing happened! Using the power of the Internet (using private browsing of course), I found an assortment of ePaper devices. The one I finally bought … you guessed it … a the Remarkable, “ePaper tablet —- a digital notebook designed for tasks that demand focus”. (I am not affiliated or get commission on any sales). The company is located in Norway.
What I liked about this product was:
Writing on it felt like paper. It really does!
There are no apps on the device except their note taking app.
Once setup is completed, I disconnected it from Wi-Fi. You can sync/backup your notes in the cloud, but that is up to you. I have sync turned off.
It has a nice leather case and quality stylus, and its the size of a paper book. Premium feel.
No distractions while using it. Just create, write, draw and doodle.
This product was not in my privacy or security categories but digital wellness. I find I can sit in a nice chair, with a dim lamp, and be creative without the distractions and discomfort of a mainstream tablet. Battery lasts for 2 weeks on stand by!
They have sold a million (really) of these so there are many people looking for a digital way to capture their creative thoughts in a focused manner.
If you like to put pen on paper and are looking for a way to do it digitally without the distractions, check it out.