Hi! I want to buy the remarkable for my wife. She takes a lot of notes (handwritten) and then need to put these into an online secured platform (she’s a psychologist). She’s already an Apple user (laptop and phone) and thinks it would be an easier process to go with the Ipad.
I’ve only heard great things about Remarkable, but she does have a point: she’s already (locked) with Apple products. It’s a plug and play environment. The marketing stuff from Remarkable seems to focus on the lack of distractions (ok… ). That’s not convincing her. I think the “paper feel” and handwritten-to-text are the best-known selling points, but it’s hard to understand if you can’t try one in a store.
What am I missing? Should she really go with Apple (again)?
Thanks!
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Listen, I love my iPad Pro, and I am also fully ensconced in the Apple ecosystem, but I use and love my remarkable. Your brain works differently when using it for notes and using it for brainstorming, design, scribbling ideas… it’s really a different experience.
This, 100%.
Moreover, the feeling on the iPad for writing is not good, and it needs a few upgrades (Paperlike screen protector, maybe Paperlike Apple Pencil grip, to make long-time use more comfortable) which is another $60 on top.
This. I own every Apple product except their lights and I also have a remarkable. It’s a game changer.
The Ipad is not a paper replacement. Yea, you can do more with an ipad, etc. But then you are buying a graphics device, not a writing device.
I am psychotherapist and use Ipad, Mac and note book for the same. I use Rm2 for a week now and love it as it is secure and have a lot of options how to organize written notes. Tomorrow i will try to export the transcript into my files.
I work in mental health as well and have ALL things Apple. IMHO, for me, the single most important discriminator has been the writing experience on the screen on RM2. Sheer joy. My iPad is now redundant I use my MacBook and iMac for all things computer and RM2 for think, write, note, franklin planner etc. tried to go back to iPad just to see if that ‘one device fits most’ use-case. My need to write things down to process has we all and truly established RM2 as the device for that purpose. I do not use the sync function and use the usb c transfer for documents. Clunky but fits my use-case fine. BTW I have spent enough on the boox devices as well RM2 has won me over.
I think that your wife should go with the iPad. If she’s “not convinced” by reMarkable’s selling points, then she’s right - it would be easier to stick with what she’s knows.
Because yes, the biggest selling point of the reMarkable is that it’s a distraction-free device that truly feels like writing on paper - the experience of writing on one is just blissful.
But she’s not looking for a device to bring her joy while writing - she’s using it for work. As much as I love the reMarkable, it sounds like your wife would be happier with an iPad.
The folks I see in this subreddit that are most disappointed with the reMarkable are folks who expected it to do a bunch of things, like an iPad does. But the reMarkable’s strength is that it does one thing really well: provides a high-class, luxurious writing experience, for people who love the tactile feeling of putting pencil to paper.
If she’s just using it for work, sounds like an iPad would be best.
I’m Apple all the way but I absolutely love my remarkable. I teach online so it’s perfect for taking notes, screen sharing, keeping student folders etc. wouldn’t be without it
Many people come from the Apple ecosystem and find the RM very underwhelming. Users need to want the minimalistic approach the company takes.
Don’t be this guy. Joking of course… but the 100 day money back guarantee might just be long enough for your wife to figure out if it’s for her.
If you would be on Microsoft, I would say get Remarkable or Boox. As Apple user you might be too overwhelmed and as Apple is closed ecosystem and you never know what they turn off next the iPad is imho better idea. Just get that paperfeel screen protector on it. On upside, Apple has fantastic ecosystem where you can use iPad with your macbook.
I’m a psychologist and just switched from rM2 to Supernote for a variety of reasons. I tried to use my iPad but writing on it was terrible and the battery consumption was awful.
What was the reasons for moving from the rM2 to supernote? Am weighting up some options in the same way for what to move to.
Remarkable remarkable remarkable
i am fully in the apple ecosystem and love the remarkable. I take a lot of written notes and liked my iPad, but the Remarkable is another level. Considered going back to the iPad a couple weeks ago and hated the writing experience now that I have remarkable. your wife will love it
I tried using a 12.9” iPad Pro for work but didn’t like the writing experience or how I was forever wiping smudges from the screen, and fatigued my eyes would be at the end of the day from always looking at an LCD screen. A part of me also disliked carrying it around the office into meetings, I kind of felt like a douchebag. Part of this is likely because I was the only person in the office using a digital note taking tool.
I got the reMarkable on a whim to see if it would help and I really enjoy it. The writing experience is quite nice, the screen is matt so whilst it can be a little reflective under certain lights it doesn’t smudge too easily, the eink screen is nice to look at all day, and I don’t feel like a douchebag using it in the office or bringing it to meetings.
At the end of the day the only thing the remarkable beats the iPad at is the actual note taking experience and the screen is a big part of that. Personal opinion, but I think the remarkable feels more professional than taking notes on an iPad.
Happy to answer any questions you have.
Fwiw I noticed my therapist was using the RM2 the other day and she went on about how much she loves it.
I don’t think the remarkable is hippa compliant of that is a concern because you have to use their servers to transfer documents
The problem is the reMarkable cloud, which is actually hosted on google’s EU cloud. If you never connect the tablet to a cloud account, paid or free, then the data never leaves the tablet.
With that said, reMarkable claims that their cloud service is compliant with GDPR, and is willing to execute a BAA with you, and assume shared liability in case of a data breach in their cloud servers. That doesn’t guarantee that a breach will never happen - only that if a breach does happen, and it turns out to be because of an issue with their cloud service, they agree to split the liability with you.
I don’t know if reMarkable also has a BAA in place with google, in case a breach is caused by an error on google’s part. For me, the fact that the data isn’t encrypted is enough to make me not connect to the cloud in the first place, so I have no reason to ask them about it … however if you do ask them, I’d be very interested in their response.
RM is HIPPA compliant. Follow these steps.
https://support.remarkable.com/s/article/Terms-and-Conditions-for-Connect
That’s good to know. I stand corrected!
You don’t have to use their service to transfer documents. You can turn off sync and transfer to your computer via direct wired connection.
This is true. Just less convenient.
I’ve had both, and iPad Mini 6 and now an rM 2. I wouldn’t get rM 2 if she needs something speedy, or she needs to multitask like search up the web on her device. An iPad Air with paperlike would be more appropriate for multitasking.
rM 2 is more of a notebook replacement.