E-ink tablet for reading and note taking

[SGMCF328]

Anyone using e-ink tablet specifically for note taking? Any feedback or recommendation? I always find e-ink display easier on the eye than conventional LCD / LED screen, and having seen people taking notes on such devices during a seminar I have attended recently, I started to do some read up and is toying with the idea to get one, to better organize my physical notes.

2 models I am particularly interested are the Kindle Scribe and Boox Note Air 2 Plus. Both spotting a 10.3" screen and are priced in the $600 region, which are not cheap honestly (many choices of tablet with that kind of budget), but it may be able to improve my productivity if they serve the purpose.

Kindle Scribe https://www.amazon.com/Kindle-Scribe-the-first-Kindle-for-reading-writing-journaling-and-sketching/dp/B09BS26B8B

Boox Note Air 2 Plus https://shop.boox.com/products/noteair2

Primary usage of the device would be note taking and reading in pdf format, and I don't need fanciful add-ons such as speaker, mic, ability to play music or video. Please share your opinion. TIA.

Edited August 24, 2023 by SGMCF328

[Stratovarius]

I have tried my friend's kindle before and the display is really easy on the eyes for reading. I feel the scribe is quite overpriced considering the whitepaer is less than half of that. 

It's not comparable but I will top up a bit more for the iPad 10 which is more versatile. But whatever floats your boat. 

[Rayleigh]

On 8/24/2023 at 4:12 PM, SGMCF328 said:

Anyone using e-ink tablet specifically for note taking? Any feedback or recommendation? I always find e-ink display easier on the eye than conventional LCD / LED screen, and having seen people taking notes on such devices during a seminar I have attended recently, I started to do some read up and is toying with the idea to get one, to better organize my physical notes.

2 models I am particularly interested are the Kindle Scribe and Boox Note Air 2 Plus. Both spotting a 10.3" screen and are priced in the $600 region, which are not cheap honestly (many choices of tablet with that kind of budget), but it may be able to improve my productivity if they serve the purpose.

Kindle Scribe https://www.amazon.com/Kindle-Scribe-the-first-Kindle-for-reading-writing-journaling-and-sketching/dp/B09BS26B8B

Boox Note Air 2 Plus https://shop.boox.com/products/noteair2

Primary usage of the device would be note taking and reading in pdf format, and I don't need fanciful add-ons such as speaker, mic, ability to play music or video. Please share your opinion. TIA.

How does it handle documents with images?

[Hosaybo]

E ink has a certain lag though it has improved over the years. If for simple taking notes and reading, it is pretty good, esp if it can be connected to the library (Android base type and kobo etc) for borrowing books. The issue is always the tendency to compare to a full fledge tablet and that make them like not worth it. However, they are good for what they are...easy on the eyes and if that's the primary reason, e ink is default choice.

The pic on such tablet is also like low resolution compare to those from iPad. So for those wanting nice pic, it is still not there yet,esp the coloured ones. The coloured e ink also has quite a fair bit of limitations.

[Adrianli]

I was a student for 3.5 years just months ago. The best note taking device is an iPad with Microsoft Note. Besides writing in Microsoft Note, you can even convert your handwriting to typed text, can add screenshots, can use camera to take photo and annotate on the photo, can add web link, can solve maths equations and can share your notes with everyone and view it from various devices like your hp, home desktop, laptop or android tablets.

Best of all, Microsoft Note is free.

I take notes during lecture, attach my pdf tutorials handouts, do my tutorials in it and present it in class with it. iPad is a student’s best friend in school. Besides the school work, can watch Netflix, Amazon Prime, YouTube, play games, online shopping and surf MCF. Typing this reply on my iPad 4 Air.😆

[Hosaybo]

On 8/24/2023 at 10:13 PM, Adrianli said:

I was a student for 3.5 years just months ago. The best note taking device is an iPad with Microsoft Note. Besides writing in Microsoft Note, you can even convert your handwriting to typed text, can add screenshots, can use camera to take photo and annotate on the photo, can add web link, can solve maths equations and can share your notes with everyone and view it from various devices like your hp, home desktop, laptop or android tablets.

Best of all, Microsoft Note is free.

I take notes during lecture, attach my pdf tutorials handouts, do my tutorials in it and present it in class with it. iPad is a student’s best friend in school. Besides the school work, can watch Netflix, Amazon Prime, YouTube, play games, online shopping and surf MCF. Typing this reply on my iPad 4 Air.😆

This is what I meant.... If one is looking at those 包山包海 tablet, go for the iPad. No need think liao 😊

 

[Lala81]

On 8/24/2023 at 4:12 PM, SGMCF328 said:

Anyone using e-ink tablet specifically for note taking? Any feedback or recommendation? I always find e-ink display easier on the eye than conventional LCD / LED screen, and having seen people taking notes on such devices during a seminar I have attended recently, I started to do some read up and is toying with the idea to get one, to better organize my physical notes.

2 models I am particularly interested are the Kindle Scribe and Boox Note Air 2 Plus. Both spotting a 10.3" screen and are priced in the $600 region, which are not cheap honestly (many choices of tablet with that kind of budget), but it may be able to improve my productivity if they serve the purpose.

Kindle Scribe https://www.amazon.com/Kindle-Scribe-the-first-Kindle-for-reading-writing-journaling-and-sketching/dp/B09BS26B8B

Boox Note Air 2 Plus https://shop.boox.com/products/noteair2

Primary usage of the device would be note taking and reading in pdf format, and I don't need fanciful add-ons such as speaker, mic, ability to play music or video. Please share your opinion. TIA.

I thought about this before. 

But I would say a writing app with infinite canvas is superior to do mind maps etc. 

For more budget writing tablets (android), consider a xiaomi pad 6 or samsung s6 lite (updated version) for truly budget. 

If got more money can go for Samsung s8+. 

Ipad otherwise. 

Edited August 24, 2023 by Lala81

[Watwheels]

On 8/24/2023 at 10:13 PM, Adrianli said:

I was a student for 3.5 years just months ago. The best note taking device is an iPad with Microsoft Note. Besides writing in Microsoft Note, you can even convert your handwriting to typed text, can add screenshots, can use camera to take photo and annotate on the photo, can add web link, can solve maths equations and can share your notes with everyone and view it from various devices like your hp, home desktop, laptop or android tablets.

Best of all, Microsoft Note is free.

I take notes during lecture, attach my pdf tutorials handouts, do my tutorials in it and present it in class with it. iPad is a student’s best friend in school. Besides the school work, can watch Netflix, Amazon Prime, YouTube, play games, online shopping and surf MCF. Typing this reply on my iPad 4 Air.😆

Machiam Apple advertisement siah.

[Lala81]

On 8/25/2023 at 8:30 AM, Watwheels said:

Machiam Apple advertisement siah.

2-3 years ago i would say apple tablet win hands down.

But samsung has made it much closer now since apple is hesitant in making high end ipads replace the macbooks. 
Especially if u are going high end. then Dex is probably on the trend of replacing MS surface tablets, though windows still have usage for productivity. 
MS as usual is weak with any hardware offerings. 

But if u have the $$, then apple is pretty seamless.

[Hosaybo]

We are getting sort of off topic. 🤔Think TS ask more about note taking and reading using e ink tablet.... Most start rec the non e ink type for all sort of use. The non e ink type will do the job, not just that, do it better than any e ink tablet.

 

Only key advantage  is e ink reduces  eye strain, no doubts about it. Think contribution should be more of whether eink can meet his intended use and whether any usage issue that he should know before investing in one. 

 

 

 

 

[Lala81]

On 8/25/2023 at 11:16 AM, Hosaybo said:

We are getting sort of off topic. 🤔Think TS ask more about note taking and reading using e ink tablet.... Most start rec the non e ink type for all sort of use. The non e ink type will do the job, not just that, do it better than any e ink tablet.

 

Only key advantage  is e ink reduces  eye strain, no doubts about it. Think contribution should be more of whether eink can meet his intended use and whether any usage issue that he should know before investing in one. 

Well there's Remarkable 2 if u have deep wallets, dont think its retailed here in SG. 

Boox Air etc like he mentioned. 

I don't really follow kindle scribe news anymore. I have 5 kindles/PW currently working in the family. 

With blue light filters on most devices nowadays, i dont think eyestrain is that big a deal TBH. Sometimes i just read on my phone for epubs. Lazy to convert. 

[Adrianli]

My main purpose of using ipad with Microsoft Note to take notes cos I am able to export my notes that I had written. Also able to annotate the pdf documents that I read and even sign on official pdf documents. 

Even for simple use of taking photo of your kitchen, then draw on the photo and send it to the contractor. Everyone will understand what your requirements. 

[Carbon82]

@SGMCF328 if you are looking at purely writing and some simple reading, nothing beats ReMarkable 2. My overseas boss has one and I tested it, the feel is unparalleled, really like writing on paper (well, 90% feel like). Normal tablet such as iPad and Galaxy S9 series can never match the writing feel for sure. 

The downside is that it has almost zero connectivity, which save you from distraction but at the same time severely restrict the sharing of notes among devices and others. 

@Lala81 it is now available in Singapore, as the company has extended the delivery to Singapore address. And with that, there are having some promo / referral code, and so the tablet + basic pen will cost "just" $511.

https://remarkable.com/?gclid=Cj0KCQjw_5unBhCMARIsACZyzS1JvG9df0LFX_S-kxKQthwEmIognXLD_NlpA2WEG8Yr5m1khZm-mCYaAhb7EALw_wcB

[Lala81]

On 8/25/2023 at 2:34 PM, Carbon82 said:

@SGMCF328 if you are looking at purely writing and some simple reading, nothing beats ReMarkable 2. My overseas boss has one and I tested it, the feel is unparalleled, really like writing on paper (well, 90% feel like). Normal tablet such as iPad and Galaxy S9 series can never match the writing feel for sure. 

The downside is that it has almost zero connectivity, which save you from distraction but at the same time severely restrict the sharing of notes among devices and others. 

@Lala81 it is now available in Singapore, as the company has extended the delivery to Singapore address. And with that, there are having some promo / referral code, and so the tablet + basic pen will cost "just" $511.

https://remarkable.com/?gclid=Cj0KCQjw_5unBhCMARIsACZyzS1JvG9df0LFX_S-kxKQthwEmIognXLD_NlpA2WEG8Yr5m1khZm-mCYaAhb7EALw_wcB

Remarkable 2 is supposed to be a more expensive when I looked at it. I definitely don't remember it at this price point. 

[Carbon82]

On 8/25/2023 at 3:08 PM, Lala81 said:

Remarkable 2 is supposed to be a more expensive when I looked at it. I definitely don't remember it at this price point. 

The price I quoted is just for the tablet and basic pen (no eraser tip), if you add a folio and opt for the better pen, the price will jump to $769 (and more if you choose a keyboard folio) 

[Lala81]

On 8/25/2023 at 3:22 PM, Carbon82 said:

The price I quoted is just for the tablet and basic pen (no eraser tip), if you add a folio and opt for the better pen, the price will jump to $769 (and more if you choose a keyboard folio) 

Yeah that sounds more like the price I remembered. There's also the cloud subscription. 

 

 

[Stratovarius]

no offense, but might as well get a notebook + pencil. less than 5 bucks. lol. jk.

 

[Hosaybo]

On 8/25/2023 at 4:57 PM, Stratovarius said:

no offense, but might as well get a notebook + pencil. less than 5 bucks. lol. jk.

 

Nothing beats the real thing! 😁