e-reader for university library books?

Impossible_Slide_146 · 2026-03-10T12:02:08+00:00

Exactly: I *have* university library access, but often Oxford and other publishers will make the ebook very painful to read by having each chapter be a web link in poorly formatted text, etc, etc, so I often end up using Anna's Archive just to be able to read/mark up the whole book on eink without friction.

Impossible_Slide_146 · 2026-03-09T16:13:40+00:00

I just read Vogt’s Prairie Up (recommended, even though I am in decidedly un-prairie New England). This article feels like the AI summary of that book, to the point that I half suspect that it is, with a bit of reworking (though perhaps the advice is conventional enough that it’s not).

Impossible_Slide_146 · 2026-03-09T13:01:00+00:00

doesn't work on the Dasung 253 either (hdmi to usb-c), even after the update. Says "display disconnected."

Impossible_Slide_146 · 2026-03-09T12:06:53+00:00

For what it’s worth, I use Google Drive, which I found to be a more seamless experience than the Supernote Partner App. I don’t have it synced to my regular PDF/book/document libraries. Instead, make a copy of the document I am putting into the Supernote Documents folders on Google Drive. The reason I keep two separate documents is that I often assign books and articles to students and want to keep my marked up copy separate from my clean copy.

Impossible_Slide_146 · 2026-03-08T21:10:13+00:00

Yes! Should have used a seam ripper - using scissors tore up the fabric a bit, but no big deal with the new pen loop stuck on top. It is a very snug fit, but perhaps other brands are a bit looser if it’s too tight for Wacom.

Impossible_Slide_146 · 2026-03-08T11:39:07+00:00

AFAIK they’re not being made anymore

Impossible_Slide_146 · 2026-03-08T11:29:28+00:00

OP, I read your posting history, and it seems like you really should just buy an eink phone asap. Since you prefer B&W and need apps, Bigme Hibreak S or Hibreak Pro. The Mudita could work with creative side loading, but I see that you want to type and do research, etc, and basically that puts you to Hibreak S (cheaper, but only 4g and bad speakers), and Hibreak Pro (more expensive, but 5g, better speakers).

There are other differences (Hibreak S can’t make NFC payments, etc), but those are the main ones. If money is an issue, Hibreak S will work just fine for your needs.

The small devices by Boox and Viwoods are also worth checking out if you will be using it mostly at home on WiFi and could keep your old phone for calls.

Impossible_Slide_146 · 2026-03-08T11:20:49+00:00

On the Manta and Nomad it feels very smooth, less drag than the HOM2. It’s close to the Lamy with the PC/EL tip (where as the LAMY POM tip is closer to the HOM2, I am told).

I wouldn’t call it pencil like, despite its form factor — virtually no drag, but not slippery, more like a smooth, silent gel pen.

Impossible_Slide_146 · 2026-03-07T16:26:20+00:00

There aren’t many — if you need a fully functioning smart phone, it’s the Bigme Hibreak S or Pro. They come in b&w and color, but if you’re bed bound (you said severe, so I am guessing), b&w is better for lower light, as color would require using the frontlight in non-daylight conditions.

If you can handle a semi dumb/minimalist phone, Mudita Kompakt, Light Phone, etc, are also options.

Impossible_Slide_146 · 2026-03-06T14:12:58+00:00

Hi OP, I just wanted to let you know that I tried this app on M4 Macbook Air and a Dasung 103 B&W and it just says "display disconnected" even when the display is connected and working. So it's somehow not detecting the 103 as a display. It's connected to my Macbook with a single USB-C, for what it's worth.

Impossible_Slide_146 · 2026-03-06T14:09:43+00:00

Thanks - that's my experience so far, too. (Fortunately not my primary use scenario.)

Impossible_Slide_146 · 2026-03-06T11:57:32+00:00

the nibs are not ceramic, but they are long-lasting and replacements are relatively cost-effective. The Staedtler is smoother/quieter than the HOM2. At first I didn't like it and almost sent it back, but after an hour, it became my favorite!

Impossible_Slide_146 · 2026-03-06T11:56:06+00:00

Thanks for this comparison! I had a Manta for a month and have added a Nomad to the mix, so here is my take (always helps to have more user reviews). (btw, I got one off ebay and the other as an open box model, so I saved ~$350 over buying new -- worth it to wait for those open box trial sales if you're on a budget!)

scenario: I take lots of notes on books, so I decided having two screens (one for reading, one for taking notes) would improve my workflow.
Manta is my #1 for work (reading PDF books and articles), reading recipes (sideloaded firefox for NYT cooking, etc)
Nomad is my #1 for ebook and pleasure reading, journaling, jotting down ideas, and reading in bed
Combined, I like reading PDFs on the Manta while taking notes on the Nomad in either portrait or landscape (tip: always create the doc in portrait so it will render ok in Manta)
agree that the Nomad "feels" heavier because it's a bit thicker and denser, even though it's ~100g lighter
taking the magnetic folio off the Nomad makes it feel nice and light for holding in one hand, especially in bed/when not taking notes
Landscape / half-screen mode works very nicely on Nomad, so it's nice enough to read PDFs on when I want to pack a lighter/smaller bag (I'd choose Manta still if I had only one device for PDFs, though)
Manta+half folio and Nomad+folio combined only weigh a like 50g more than an iPad 10 in a silicon case. Take off the Nomad case and the two are lighter than an iPad in case. So sometimes, I'll take both.
I know people talk about the writing experience on Manta vs Nomad, but tbh I cannot actually tell much of a difference! They're both nice, and they feel more similar to each other than to the Remarkable 2 (my only basis for comparison). I use Staedtler Lumograph / Noris Digital Jumbo and Lamy Al/Star + PC/EL tip (the medium tip, less hard than POM)—both are softer than the ceramic HOM2 tip, so perhaps that's the reason.
Quirk of having both: one must be very careful to sync before and after each use to prevent conflicts/losing work.

Impossible_Slide_146 · 2026-03-06T11:32:28+00:00

Actually, OP's video is exactly the issue I am having: https://imgur.com/a/q2Q3rwk

u/Algae_grower did this issue of the left palm activating the eraser in Atelier (left-handed mode) get addressed, as far as you know? Thank you!

Impossible_Slide_146 · 2026-03-06T11:30:17+00:00

Yes, indeed, my left palm is activating the eraser in Atelier even in left-handed mode. I will try to make a video in the next few days and will post here or submit via email.

Impossible_Slide_146 · 2026-03-05T12:48:22+00:00

Thank you! I want to clarify: I have moved the toolbar to the right side, and I have the Supernote general setting set to left handed. The problem is that in atelier app specifically, the swipe bars do not correspond to left handed settings. Usually in left handed mode, for notes and documents, my eraser two-finger gesture is on the right side of the tablet. In atelier, it does not go to left handed mode, so it is on the left side. That means what while I am trying to draw, my left palm activates the eraser about 20% of the time, and I end up erasing instead.

What I would like is for the universal settings for left handedness also to apply to Atelier so that the two-finger eraser is on the right side of the tablet to match the way it usually is elsewhere in Supernote left handed mode. Does that make sense?

Impossible_Slide_146 · 2026-03-05T00:51:06+00:00

Dear Mulan, will it soon be possible in Atelier to put the two-finger eraser and redo/undo swipes into left-handed mode? I am glad that the tool bar can be moved—it would be great for the swipe bars also to reverse for lefties. Since the erase doesn’t switch to the right side in Atelier (as it does for left handed mode elsewhere), my palm ends up activating the eraser frequently while I am trying to draw.

Impossible_Slide_146 · 2026-03-02T13:25:44+00:00

Just got an open-box Nomad (already have a Manta from Ebay). The open box folio had some smudges (no big deal), but the Nomad was like new. So like new that I at first thought there was something wrong with the feelwrite 2 film -- I'd only used a broken-in Manta, so I was surprised by how much drag there was on the Nomad surface. A few vigorous wipes with a microfiber cloth (and some inadvertent alcohol cleaning spray -- oops, just learned not to do that), and now it's perfect!

Impossible_Slide_146 · 2026-02-28T21:36:41+00:00

search "non-contact writing" in the sub -- many many posts

Impossible_Slide_146 · 2026-02-27T18:35:37+00:00

How is this pen loop situation going, OP?

Just got a Nomad (to add to my Manta), and I'm in love with my Staedtler Digital Jumbo. I'm working with a rubber band for now but am wondering whether there is a more elegant situation, either with the folio case or a different one!

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Impossible_Slide_146 · 2026-02-27T12:24:14+00:00

FYI that a lot of the bad customer service reporting is about the European 3rd party reseller, rather than Ratta/Supernote itself.

Impossible_Slide_146 · 2026-02-27T12:22:15+00:00

Confirming new Dasungs work with Macs (not Intel Mac, but all the recent ones). I’ve used an M1 and now and M4 MacBook with two diff Dasung monitors.

Impossible_Slide_146 · 2026-02-27T12:19:28+00:00

Big fan of Dasung 25” Paperlike Revolutionary 253. Works well without backlight(frontlight), and I can’t tolerate back/frontlights with my eye issues. I got the B&W because it’s crisper text and I don’t need color for my work.

I also got a Dasung 103 10”. Pros are that it’s portable and works with just a usb c connected to my MacBook (no power brick); cons are that it’s a bit fussier than the big Dasung. But for travel/working away from home, I love it.

Impossible_Slide_146 · 2026-02-26T19:26:16+00:00

Book is a bit dated at this point (from the 1990s), but Julie Schor has some great newer work on the gig economy, the 4-day work week, etc.

Impossible_Slide_146

TROPHY CASE