Forum Posts Feed
reMarkable Paper Tablet
< Next Topic | Back to topic list | Previous Topic >
Posted by Dr Andus
May 24, 2017 at 10:59 AM
It sounds like they save everything on their proprietary cloud?
“All your work is automatically backed up securely with reMarkable’s cloud service”
That might mean some subscription costs down the line, and being locked in one way or another.
An alternative development to keep an eye on is Chrome OS + Android, which is pointing towards upcoming tablet or two-in-one devices with stylus support. An early example is the Samsung Chromebook Plus and Pro (apparently the Squid android app works well with it).
That is more of an all-in-one type of device (I understand the appeal of specialist devices - I’m a Boogie Board Sync user after all), but there is something to be said about the benefits of an existing cloud service (if you use Google Drive already), and the associated Chrome OS + Android ecosystem.
Posted by Hugh
May 24, 2017 at 11:05 AM
Paul Korm wrote:
Bill—save your pennies for a “real” computer that isn’t an island,
>and get that iPad Pro + Pencil you know is what you really want.
Yes, indeedy. I have the same ambition, and hope to satisfy it in the next few months (either with a “remaindered” first-generation Pro, or with a new second-generation one, rumoured to be launched very soon. I hope to use it primarily for proof-reading, so avoiding having to lug around a big pile of drafts…)
On OCR-ing handwriting, and the reluctance of the creators of the device in question to allow it to be used for this technology (yet). It does seem to me that they’re probably wise. In development terms, handwriting machine-recognition on “pro-sumer” tablets appears to be ten to fifteen years behind voice recognition. Enough for search with a sufficiently powerful tablet like the iPad Pro, and enough, probably, for the sort of handwriting-to-text functionality that MyScript Nebo can now successfully carry out on the iPad Pro and MS Surface Pro 4, but no more. Given the research publicised within the last eighteen months suggesting the superiority of handwriting over typing for brain engagement, I’m itching for faster development. But there’s little or no evidence of it yet.
Posted by Franz Grieser
May 24, 2017 at 12:22 PM
@Hugh
>more. Given the research publicised within the last eighteen months
>suggesting the superiority of handwriting over typing for brain
>engagement,
That sounds interesting. Can you give us some sources on the net?
@All
Am I the only one for whom the price point of the reMarkable Tablet seems ridiculous?
I bought the Slate vs2 (iskn.co) for 170 Euro. It’s “only” an enhanced graphics tablet without OCR. But I could (if my handwriting was more legible) feed the image file to a OCR software that I already have. The Slate allows me to draw on ordinary paper and turns the lines I draw into a digital bitmap or vector graphic so I can edit it on the PC/Mac. It’s not perfect but more than good enough for me. Did I mention that I prefer drawing with pen on paper to drawing with plastic on plastic?
Have a fine day.
Posted by MadaboutDana
May 24, 2017 at 02:10 PM
Aaaaaargh! Paul and Hugh, you are, of course, right, I’ve been dreaming of my very own iPad Pro to hold and cuddle and whisper warm things to since they first appeared.
As an inveterate CRIMPer, I suppose one of the things that appeals about the reMarkable tablet is that it’s so much cheaper… (yes, I’m a sucker for last-generation equipment at knock-down prices, which probably explains why I have a couple of Psion-Ericsson 5mxs at the back of a drawer somewhere! Great machines, mind; Nokia, alas, really wrecked the fantastic Psion EPOC operating system when they turned it into Symbian). But Frank’s right, too; the reMarkable may be cheaper than an iPad, but it’s not exactly cheap.
And yes, if I won the lottery tomorrow, I would rush out and get a 12.9-inch iPad more or less immediately. After giving away suitable amounts to worthy causes, of course, ahem!
Sad, sad, sad…
I’ll start saving.
Posted by Paul Korm
May 24, 2017 at 02:38 PM
Sony had an E-ink device a few years ago—Digital Paper—and discontinued it. Though reportedly they will be selling a similar, new product in Japan soon. I believe Digital Paper was configured to sync with WebDAV. It was also very large—greater than 13” diagonal. The price was about $300 U.S. more than reMarkable.
One can buy lots of really nice paper notebooks and writing instruments for $700.