An Electronic Notebook Changed My Life

Jun 19, 2023

I’d never heard of electronic ink before trying the Remarkable 2, but I’m a convert

I’m one of those people who has a stack of notebooks, each a different colour and style, and all nearly empty. A few pages of scribbles are dotted in each, with a promise that I’ll come back to it and finish those notes for that story or return when I’ve got another interview to transcribe. The reality is that most of these notebooks will never see another pen, and they’re doomed to sit on my bookshelf for all eternity, or at least until my landlord has had enough of me and forces me to move out. No I’m not speaking from experience, why do you ask?

The truth is, I get a thrill from buying new stationery. I think it’s a good kind of retail therapy, where I buy something that is exorbitantly expensive for what it is (no notebook is worth a tenner, come on), but it’s ultimately not going to break the bank. I once worked with a guy who spent a hundred quid on a t-shirt, so I think a couple of deckled edged notepads is a respectable – and affordable – method of getting that sweet, sweet dopamine hit.

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The thing is, I have to transcribe anything I write in a notebook if I want to work on it from my computer or phone, or if I want to send it anywhere useful. I can’t send an editor a scrap of paper with a hand-written pitch on it, and typing up written interview notes only adds an extra layer to transcribing that I really don’t have the time to be doing. That’s what brought me to the Remarkable 2, which boasts an authentic penfeel on its touchscreen, and the ability to convert your handwritten notes to text, which you can then export to Google Docs, email to yourself, or access via the companion app. It’s writing by hand updated for the realities of modern work.

I entered the world of electronic ink tentatively. The Remarkable 2 is nicely packaged in recyclable materials, and it looks like a large Kindle, with that same kind of paper-ish screen. The Marker+, a pen-cum-stylus, is similarly neatly packaged, and everything works straight out the box. Unpack, set up an account, and you’re good to go.

It’s easiest to think of the Remarkable 2 as an iPad with no apps. It’s also got no camera, no messaging services, and barely an internet connection. I love that. It’s completely distraction free, and feels nearly as analog as a regular pen and paper. It’ll set you back the best part of 600 quid for the pleasure, but boy does it feel great to use.

The Marker Plus pen is slim and neatly magnetises onto the tablet’s edge when you’re not using it. It writes really well, feeling somewhere between a ballpoint and a fountain pen thanks to ingenious haptic feedback that is so subtle it’s practically unnoticeable, yet vital to making the Remarkable 2 feel good to use.

You can choose from a variety of ‘fonts’ to write in, from the likes of aforementioned ballpoint and fountain, to pencil, or any writing utensil you could ever need, and each looks roughly like the intended implement. Undoing mistakes is simple, either by tapping two fingers on the screen, circling the section you wish to delete, or – on the Marker Plus only – using the reverse of the pen as an eraser. This all works well and allows for seamless writing. What’s more, you can select passages to cut, copy, and paste if you want to rearrange your thoughts or make room for another paragraph. It’s a quality of life feature that simply isn’t possible on regular paper, and makes the Remarkable a joy to use.

Pages scroll forever, notes can be easily organised into folders, and the screen is generally responsive. There are also plentiful templates too, from the basic lined page for your everyday scribbles, to to-do lists with tickable checkboxes, or calendars to organise your week. I would have had a notebook for each of these things in the past, and Remarkable does it all.

Best of all, however, is the transcription software and Google Docs connectivity. Remarkable will transcribe your handwriting into plain text, which you can then export as a PDF, via email, or straight into a Google Doc. This is the feature I love most about using an electronic notebook, as it makes my handwritten scribblings useful. I can write my articles for work by hand, make notes on interviews, or write for fun, and export it ready to edit from anywhere in the world. I wrote this very feature using the Remarkable 2, and many others over the past couple of weeks. I bet you can’t tell which ones.

Sure, there are a few formatting errors and typos to correct, but the Remarkable 2 generally does a great job of interpreting my middling handwriting into coherent text. A little editing is a small price to pay for the freedom of writing my articles by hand. It’s worth noting that you do need a subscription for full access to this uploading system and software functionality, which is a shame.

I’ll admit that the Folio cover is a little wasted on me, as I’m a huge proponent of the analog vibe of the Remarkable 2, but sometimes you need a change, and that’s what this case-cum-keyboard is for. It’s a little cramped for my large hands, but gives me plenty of peace of mind in its functionality as a protective case, and clicks into place nicely when converting from generic leather case to laptop-esque keyboard.

The Folio cover turns the Remarkable from an iPad-like tablet to something more akin to a Microsoft Surface. While the Folio has its merits, it’s a pricey addition and to me almost goes against what I want from the Remarkable, so your mileage may vary depending on how you want to use the tablet. If you need to write up some emails on the train, the Folio may be a good option, but if you’re a pen-in-hand notetaker, it might be an add-on to skip.

The Remarkable 2 is an expensive bit of kit, but I quickly fell in love. It’s revolutionised my writing, and allowed me the freedom to work away from my PC and my office, which has been a godsend in recent hot weather. I’ve taken notes on games while playing them on the big telly, taken it to in-person interviews to jot down important quotes, and even written whole articles from my hammock in the garden. Much to the sorrow of my notebooks lingering on my shelves, I’ve been converted to electronic ink, and may never return. Farewell paper, we had a good run.

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Ben is a Features Editor at TheGamer. You can read his work in Eurogamer, The Guardian, IGN, Kotaku, The Loadout, NME, VICE, or on Twitter @BenSledge.