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Comment by charlieyu1 | Hacker News Reader

But it costs as much as a tablet computer.

It costs even more, because they force you to sign up for their cloud service to get its signature advertised features, like handwriting recognition.

$400, and then another $80 for the "marker", which does not have replaceable tips like every other company that makes a pen-tablet device. Apple, Wacom, Samsung, etc.

So the opex is about $100/year, plus however often you need to replace the 'pen'. That's hitting $800 TCO for three years.

Or you can buy a previous generation iPad Air and Apple Pencil and get a device that is far more capable, has replacement tips, a stylus that supports pressure and angle, etc.

It baffles me that people start frothing at the mouth about Apple "forcing" people to use iCloud when damn near nothing on the device requires a paid iCloud account and there's pretty decent integration with open standards based systems...

...but the ReMarkable is basically PDF reader without their cloud subscription and HNers just can't shut up about how awesome it is?

Oh, and then there's the shady-as-shit return policy. They basically don't have one...unless you buy the cloud service. Which you have to buy in a minimum 3 month block, and is non-refundable.

Edit: apparently there are replacement tips.

reMarkable generation one owner here, that at some point sang praises. You are right that the whole cloud integration stinks and was introduced in a shady fashion. Yes, those of us that bought it early get the cloud service for free, but I have just halted my device a few versions prior to when it was introduced and will never again connect it to any WiFi. My personal pet peeve is the touch swiping feature that frankly 9/10 activates when I do not want it to – introducing it was a regression. Needless to say, I am not buying another reMarkable despite loving the hardware and having been promised that the second generation is accessible via SSH.

It is not fair to compare it to an iPad though. The surface and pen has a feeling of resistance (in part thanks to the replaceable tips) that makes it feel like you are writing on a surface rather than sliding on a piece of glass.

While the first generation has a budding pure Linux port [1] and is somewhat hackable [2]. I am holding off any purchases or changes until the PineNote [3] becomes a reality and hopefully my old reMarkable will survive until that point. Note taking on a digital device has become essential to me to scale with more people and projects in my work, so I need a device like this. The PineNote also rocks Wacom technology for that matter. ;)

[1]: http://www.davisr.me/projects/parabola-rm

[2]: https://github.com/reHackable

[3]: https://www.pine64.org/pinenote

There are multiple choices for various non-glossy screen protectors for the iPads, some specifically designed for more natural writing/drawing feel.

On-device handwriting (and speech) recognition, and if it's a new enough device...on-device Siri.

Optional cellular connectivity.

GPS.

Top-notch high resolution color screen.

Probably the best device security in the entire marketplace...versus a tablet that is forced to sync with a cloud service located in a nation controlled by the chinese communist party, who considers extensive economic and industrial espionage, as well as 'thought policing' and human rights abuses, to be something of a sport.

Massive accessory and app ecosystem, including most major cloud services.

Works with self-hosted sevices like Nextcloud.

Superb integration with other Apple devices, including functioning as an external monitor.

Fast charging.

Cameras and microphones for video recording, conferencing/calling, and biometric unlock.

Firstly, as I hope was clear from what I wrote previously and you are responding to, I am not defending the stupidity of the reMarkable cloud service and keep the WiFi off in the same way that I do with my Kindle. To me, fewer features and a “simple” device is not a negative but a positive as I want a device that only does note taking. If you are happy with the Apple ecosystem – like plenty of my colleagues are – there is nothing inherently wrong with an iPad as an option. It is however arguably less hackable and less supportive of FLOSS, which to me were things I cared about when I got my reMarkable about three years ago.

Do you work on comission at Apple?

It's like you're trying to sell someone who wants a small electric vehicle for single person 5km daily trips a family van. Yes, the van fits more people but that's completely irrelevant because the need is different. Remarkables and similar ( Boox) have e-ink screens which is great for eye strain, and get a near paper like feeling when writing. You get them for those, not for their camera or whatever.

> It baffles me that people start frothing at the mouth about Apple "forcing" people to use iCloud when damn near nothing on the device requires a paid iCloud account and there's pretty decent integration with open standards based systems...

Mind to elaborate on that? I just surrendered and started to shell out 4€/month for extra GBs in iCloud because I couldn't find another way to easily and OTA backup iPhone/iPad photos to my local Linux NAS and then my cloud of choice. With Android I do it easily with SyncThing.

> does not have replaceable tips

Huh? Then what are these [https://support.remarkable.com/hc/en-us/articles/36000676301...]

My bad.

When I went to the store and added a remarkable 2 to my cart, they tried to upsell me on a more expensive "marker" and a breathtakingly expensive premium case, but not tips...when they didn't try to cram at least one package of those down my throat as well, I just assumed that's because they didn't have replaceable tips.

Clearly someone in their marketing department needs to be disciplined for this missed opportunity.

$130 for a cover! That's $30 more than a fucking Logitech case with keyboard for an iPad. Fool, money, parted, etc.

It's an awesome PDF reader too. I just got one and it's nice, large, a pleasure to handle. I opted out of their cloud though, I don't need any of the functionalities.

And let's not forget to mention that their OCR is borderline useless. This does not render the whole device useless though, but if you buy it for that feature, then better don't.

Wouldn't recommend buying it anymore, got a ReMarkable2 myself, but the cloud subscription stuff was just not cool. But at least you can connect it via USB to your desktop and transfer your drawings directly, instead of getting them mailed.

HN likes it because you can SSH in and do linuxy things.

Weird then that HN doesn't jizz its pants over Boox devices. Android OS, backlight (remarkable doesn't have a backlight), even color screens available.

Edit, as noted by another commenter, they seem to be violating the GPL, and possibly engaged in shady logging practices: https://www.reddit.com/r/linux/comments/hl09g7/onyx_boox_chi...

Are Boox not GPL violators though? Random link documenting it [1] as I could not find a canonical one.

[1]: https://teddit.net/r/Onyx_Boox/comments/hsn7kx/onyx_using_re...

Shady looking Chinese device

https://foundation.mozilla.org/en/privacynotincluded/onyx-bo...

The GPL violation is a real shame, because the devices are very good.

I have one, the use case is different from a tablet.

I use calibre to load it with ebooks and they are outdoor readable.

(I don't do general tablet kinds of things)

That doesn't really matter. It's doing a different job and if it provides enough value doing that job then people will buy it.

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