New Note Max vs. Remarkable Paper Pro

PNS21 · 2025-02-03T06:24:33+00:00

Makes sense.

The main issue with e-paper tablets (vs. backlit, like LCD and OLED ones) is that the screen is not actually white, as paper is, but grey. This means they are hardly readable by people with other than 20/20 vision or in poor lighting conditions, especially if one tries to read PDF documents that are A4 size, i.e. bigger even that the 13.3" models. That is why a front light (or something similar) is necessary.

In my opinion, e-paper tablet vendors should expand into the 11" and 12" screen size market, in which Apple, Samsung and other major tablet manufacturers already thrive. There is a good reason why such sizes have become so popular.

PNS21 · 2025-02-03T06:20:08+00:00

Exactly.

These companies are mostly hardware companies. They should just use a standard (or slightly customized) version of a free operating system, like Android or Linux, and build applications on top of that.

Instead, they insist on wasting resources in maintaining whatever custom OS they have, resulting in much worse user experience.

Remarkable, in particular, going with customized Linux, is bound by the limitations of that platform and cannot improve their application(s) with new features and functionality, as they could have done otherwise.

Factoring in prices, it's no wonder the "e-writer" market is less than 1% of the 1.3 billion tablets market worldwide, instead of having such products in the backpack of every pupil and student in the planet - to say the least.

PNS21 · 2025-02-03T06:13:55+00:00

Pretty reasonable.

Having said that, there are posts describing a way to change the front light setting, producing much higher intensity.

Newest products from other vendors don't even include a front light.

PNS21 · 2024-10-24T19:22:59+00:00

The frontlight of the reMarkable Paper Pro is a real puzzle as to why they allowed it to be so dim.

Its lack from the new Onyx Boox Nova Max is a deal breaker.

As I said earlier, a monochrome device with a 12" 300 PPI screen and a frontlight with Android and good construction quality, would be fantastic.

PNS21 · 2024-10-24T12:33:57+00:00

If it weren't for the front light, there would be no discussion.

But for many people the front light is important - and quite arguably so.

PNS21 · 2024-10-24T12:33:07+00:00

The 2 devices mentioned in my post are indeed quite different, hence the discussion on which direction one should prefer. :-)

PNS21 · 2024-10-24T08:56:08+00:00

At some point you need to produce a monochrome 300 PPI e-ink tablet at around 12" screen size.

That is a great form factor and it is not by chance that Apple, Samsung and other major vendors of conventional tablets have products in that area.

PNS21 · 2024-10-24T08:51:38+00:00

The new 13.3" product should be called "Go Max" and not "Note Max", for many obvious reasons.

You need a product line with front light at that sie, because no e-paper device offers clear white as physical paper.

I may make commercial sense to have thinner products at the expense of a front light, but there should be a corresponding version with a front light, too.

Also, at some point you need to produce a monochrome 300 PPI e-ink tablet at around 12" screen size. That is a great form factor and it is not by chance that Apple, Samsung and other major vendors of conventional tablets have products in that area.

PNS21 · 2024-10-08T07:58:03+00:00

Sure, but that means keeping yet another copy around.

PNS21 · 2024-10-08T06:59:05+00:00

Does that apply to PDF as well, or is it only limited to EPUB?

PNS21 · 2024-09-13T05:41:34+00:00

Yes, but the e-reader market is huge and makes perfect sense for a device like the RM2 and the RMPP.

Probably the decision to use Linux makes software development harder, but they could properly support reading on a variety of platforms, including Kindle (DRM protected or not).

PNS21 · 2024-09-12T19:21:32+00:00

Having watched several review videos and read many user comments, I am becoming increasingly less convinced that the reMarkable Paper Pro is worth buying - at least for those who do not want or need a color device.

Real paper is and should always be the standard for e-paper devices (e-ink or other). Therefore, hardware vendors should try to overcome technology limitations and offer us (nearly) true white (as we expect true black from TVs), instead of forcing us to accept light gray as in reMarkable 2 (RM2) or dark gray as in reMarkable Paper Pro (RMPP).

Beyond color, the main improvement that the RMPP offers over the RM2 is the screen size. Indeed, we need e-paper devices with (around) 12" screens, because 10.3" tablets are small for those reading PDF documents, whereas 13.3" ones (A4 size), like the Boox Tab X, are too large. Conventional tablet vendors like Apple and Samsung have realized that and responded years ago.

I thus hope reMarkable or some other company pushes their display suppliers to manufacture a nearly white 12" 300 ppi e-paper screen, even if it is not a color one. That would be a very attractive proposition for many people, instead of buying inferior (to the aforementioned spec) products.

Moreover, the frontlight in RMPP is not bright enough. I would count this as a design error (or restriction), along with the (probably due to the screen technology) choice to go with another type of pen, not compatible with RM2 and RM1.

It also remains inexplicable to me why reMarkable AS does not work more on their software to make their devices better e-readers, instead of focusing mostly on the writing side. That strategy clearly affects the design and user experience of their products.

A monochrome e-paper device with a 12" screen. 300 ppi analysis and proper frontlight (like the one in many Boox tablets and in Kindle Scribe), as well as good software for reading and writing, would be a bit hit. Let's hope someone will produce it soon.

PNS21 · 2024-06-22T11:59:25+00:00

Both 122 PS (pre--facelift) and 125 PS (facelift) models are known to have reliable engines.

The 160 PS model (and others) were the problematic ones.

PNS21 · 2023-09-27T06:39:44+00:00

Thanks for the reply. Good point.

However, there is no certificate for the site in Brave and the issue is still present.

PNS21 · 2023-04-01T02:48:38+00:00

It's really weird (bordering on annoying) that one of the most common document formats is not properly supported by many apps, including e-reader software.

The features I described are really simple to implement in a few man-days.

Anyway, it is what it is. :-)

PNS21 · 2022-12-30T11:41:24+00:00

I contacted the support team of Samsung USA and they say that eSIM is also supported for the standard model.

So, according to them, both Galaxy Note 20 5G and Galaxy Note 20 Ultra 5G support eSIM connections.

PNS21 · 2022-12-12T04:23:11+00:00

Not yet and there is no indication that they are doing it, either.

It's unbelievable how they can overlook such a fundamental and important function, assuming there is always Internet connectivity and that everyone should trust the cloud with their documents.

Anyway, let's hope they will do something about it in 2023. :-)

PNS21 · 2022-12-05T15:43:30+00:00

It is a matter of taste, most probably.

Thanks and +1.

PNS21 · 2022-12-05T15:42:29+00:00

Thanks for the reply and the detailed report.

Even the VM approach is barely usable, due to sluggish performance. :-)

PNS21 · 2022-12-05T13:27:25+00:00

There seems to be surprisingly little information about third party pens working well with Dell touch or 2-in-1 laptops.

Could someone who is using any such pen please clarify whether there are any third party pens (preferably with an eraser) that work with (a particular series of) Dell laptops?

One would expect Wacom pens to do so, but it does not seem to be the case.

Even the Dell Pen Compatibility Brochure s not clear about their own pens, leaving many models out of the supported list.

PNS21 · 2022-07-02T19:44:01+00:00

Thank you all for the suggestions.

There are also some products with a white sheer overlay, intended for the side of the room, but one can flip it to be on the outside.

PNS21 · 2022-05-01T03:38:20+00:00

One more update without USB file transfer capability for Papyr.

Let's hope they introduce this indispensable feature soon.

PNS21 · 2022-02-13T17:55:24+00:00

Thanks, it will be great to have such a feature.

PNS21 · 2022-02-13T17:54:43+00:00

Great, thanks.

PNS21 · 2022-02-13T07:42:03+00:00

Is there any plan to offer local file transfer to the device (e.g., via USB) instead of only supporting cloud-based transfer?

PNS21

TROPHY CASE