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Comment by stewbrew | Hacker News Reader

The rm2 is a really nice device but you also have to take into account the price for their subscription service. IMHO they totally ruined it with their subscription service. On the other, I assume this is the only way they could raise the money to keep going. Times don't get better for them with more and more e-ink devices that support note taking etc.

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Worth noting they actually announced changes to subscription that basically cancels the whole thing. Subscription still exists, it's cheaper, but basic functions that we (clients) were told comes with device itself are again not tied to subscription.

That move of theirs was insane, this change must be a direct reflections of clients correctly voting with their wallets.

I bought a Remarkable 2 just before they imposed subscriptions. It’s grandfathered into the old plan (free unlimited storage). Anyone looking to buy it with case, stylus, extra nibs, etc please contact me in my profile email address. Love it but don’t use it.

contacted

Unlimited subscriptions cannot be resold.

If you were told it comes with the device as a client then it comes with the device. They were transparent about the switch to subscriptions, anyone who bought before subscriptions has all these features for free, anyone who bought after would have been able to read about the subscription model before buying.

That is not exactly true, but they sure made it look that way.

First we (those before-subscription buyers) lost possibility to resell the device with same functionality. Before that they eagerly let switch an email and RM account to new users.

Secondly there was no clear information if free subscription will last. If it was permanent, then why not stating it clearly or replying to tickets about that issue.

Lastly warranty was suddenly limited to one year and users with subscription. If you resigned from subscription but later changed your mind, the warranty was lost anyway. How that even got through their legal team is a mystery to me.

>this change must be a direct reflections of clients correctly voting with their wallets.

This sentence irks me on so many levels...

"Voting with a wallet" doesn't work, doesn't exist and is never taken into account anywhere, except in the mind of the American Consumer. Not buying a Remarkable when the subscription was added means your opinion on the matter just never showed up during product decisions, planning or analysis.

Instead, it got changed because Remarkable listen to what its users say and EXISTING users actively disliked that subscription. It has absolutely NOTHING to do with potential buyers avoiding it.

Returns, on that matter, are active users expressing their opinions. Not imaginary buyers "voting with their wallet".

Sorry that it irks you but we misunderstood completely.

Never meant new people buying RM. Meant those who suddenly had to decide if they should go with subscription. I'm following several forums/subreddits and to be honest it looks like most people buy on impulse without checking what this device is at all. They think it's eink iPad and can do same things.

Also I hope you don't suggest that RM decided to lower subscription price by 60% and basically bring most functions to people without subscription anyway, because it was a massive commercial success?

My guess is that the handwriting translation (ICR) stuff requires cloud processing?

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