## the reMarkable 2 [(00:00:00)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkYREXxIURY&t=0s) - The [[ReMarkable | reMarkable 2]] is being reviewed as part of a series on conscious Computing. [(00:00:00)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkYREXxIURY&t=0s) - The reMarkable 2 is likely the most popular e-ink tablet on the market today. [(00:00:02)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkYREXxIURY&t=2s) - The review is part of a series where devices are evaluated based on their ability to help lead a better life. [(00:00:10)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkYREXxIURY&t=10s) - The concept of conscious Computing is explored in more detail in a previous video, which is linked in the caption below. [(00:00:16)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkYREXxIURY&t=16s) ## Conscious Computing Scale [(00:00:21)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkYREXxIURY&t=21s) - The Conscious Computing Scale is based on five criteria, each existing on a scale from 0 to 10, where 0 means no technology and 10 means little to no human intervention [(00:00:27)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkYREXxIURY&t=27s). - The five criteria of the Conscious Computing Scale are: input, throughput, stay put, compute, and output [(00:00:43)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkYREXxIURY&t=43s). - The input dial is about getting information into the computer [(00:00:45)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkYREXxIURY&t=45s). - The throughput dial is about capturing and organizing information [(00:00:51)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkYREXxIURY&t=51s). - The stay put dial is about staying focused on the work [(00:00:55)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkYREXxIURY&t=55s). - The compute dial determines how much new information is created by the user versus for the user [(00:01:00)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkYREXxIURY&t=60s). - The output dial is about how closely the results match the user's intention [(00:01:05)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkYREXxIURY&t=65s). - At the core of Conscious Computing is a simple rule: purpose before product, which means getting clear about what needs to be done before finding the tools to do it [(00:01:11)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkYREXxIURY&t=71s). ## reMarkable at a glance [(00:01:24)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkYREXxIURY&t=84s) - The intention of using the [[ReMarkable | reMarkable]] tablet is to become a more prolific writer, as writing is a powerful way to develop thinking and communication skills [(00:01:25)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkYREXxIURY&t=85s). - Writing is also a way to organize life, stay mindful, and understand why certain actions are being taken, which is a key principle of the [[Bullet journal | Bullet Journal]] method [(00:01:43)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkYREXxIURY&t=103s). - The Bullet Journal method is an operating system for life that involves organizing, being mindful, and writing to achieve a better life [(00:01:46)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkYREXxIURY&t=106s). - The creator of the Bullet Journal method has traditionally used pen and paper for journaling, as it forces them to go offline and process life without distractions [(00:01:58)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkYREXxIURY&t=118s). - One of the challenges of switching from writing in a notebook to a laptop is the amount of friction and distractions that come with it, such as watching [[YouTube]] videos or being on social media [(00:02:21)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkYREXxIURY&t=141s). - The reMarkable 2 is a device that could potentially bridge the gap between the digital and analog worlds, offering a connected yet distraction-free writing experience [(00:02:36)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkYREXxIURY&t=156s). - The [[ReMarkable | reMarkable 2]] was provided by the manufacturer, but they are not sponsoring the video, and all opinions expressed are the creator's own [(00:02:49)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkYREXxIURY&t=169s). ## How Does It Access Information? (Inputs) [(00:03:11)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkYREXxIURY&t=191s) - The device in question has limited access to information, which is beneficial in avoiding distractions, with the user needing minimal access to information for their writing needs [(00:03:13)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkYREXxIURY&t=193s). - The reMarkable tablet cannot download any apps, and its features are limited to the device's custom and minimal OS, although the company offers external apps to add PDFs, ebooks, and files [(00:03:32)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkYREXxIURY&t=212s). - The user already uses Readwise's reader for articles and newsletters, and the [[Amazon Kindle | Kindle]] app for reading books, and tries to avoid reading PDFs whenever possible [(00:03:45)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkYREXxIURY&t=225s). - The user tried out the external apps offered by [[ReMarkable | reMarkable]] to add PDFs and ebooks to the device, but found that resizing text is not possible, and zooming and scrolling is not great [(00:04:04)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkYREXxIURY&t=244s). - Marking up PDFs with the stylus is a great experience, feeling like marking up a printed document, and reading on the device is a joy when the document is formatted correctly [(00:04:17)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkYREXxIURY&t=257s). - The screen is matte, with very little glare, and everything is sharp with high contrast, making it a great reading experience [(00:04:33)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkYREXxIURY&t=273s). - The user gives the reMarkable a score of 3 out of 10 for input, which is great for their needs, as they don't want to be tempted by irrelevant media on their writing device [(00:04:37)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkYREXxIURY&t=277s). - The user would love to have access to relevant articles on the fly, and suggests that reMarkable could partner with Readwise to create a minimal version of their app to sync relevant articles [(00:04:46)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkYREXxIURY&t=286s). ## How Does It Capture & Organize? (Throughput) [(00:05:11)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkYREXxIURY&t=311s) - The device in question is the [[ReMarkable | reMarkable]], an e-ink tablet that uses physical particles to create contrast on its black and white non-illuminated screen, giving it a tactile and analog quality [(00:05:30)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkYREXxIURY&t=330s). - Writing on the reMarkable is a joy, feeling more analog and satisfying than writing on other screens, thanks to the nib that comes with the great stylus and the screen's texture [(00:05:49)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkYREXxIURY&t=349s). - The lag is nearly undetectable, especially when writing at an average pace, and there are limited pen types, line widths, and colors to choose from in the software [(00:06:16)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkYREXxIURY&t=376s). - The reMarkable allows users to select and drag content around on the page, which is a useful feature for brainstorming or copying and pasting content [(00:06:26)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkYREXxIURY&t=386s). - The device is a joy to use in direct sunlight, reading like paper, and is easy on the eyes both aesthetically and practically due to the lack of a backlight [(00:06:41)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkYREXxIURY&t=401s). - Not having a built-in backlight requires users to be intentional about their environment, which can be a plus in terms of reducing eye strain and disrupting sleep [(00:07:06)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkYREXxIURY&t=426s). - The reMarkable's organization features are minimal, allowing users to organize content by tag, file, folder, and notebook, with the notebook feature being the most useful for primary use as a notebook [(00:07:52)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkYREXxIURY&t=472s). - The company behind the [[ReMarkable | reMarkable]], reMarkable, is intentional about the sustainability of their technology, which is an important part of the conversation around conscious computing [(00:08:13)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkYREXxIURY&t=493s). - The environmental impact of consumption at scale is a significant concern, with 100 million people buying a new phone and throwing out 100 million phones each year, highlighting the importance of buying technology that is built to last and repairable [(00:08:43)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkYREXxIURY&t=523s). - The reMarkable tablet can transcribe handwritten text well, but it cannot search handwriting directly, only typed text, including uploaded documents, making it necessary to use tags to find information in notebooks [(00:09:17)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkYREXxIURY&t=557s). - The device's screen is not as responsive or sensitive as a traditional tablet, making swiping and tapping around quickly to find things cumbersome, and it lacks a quick way to toggle between pages or have them side by side [(00:09:40)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkYREXxIURY&t=580s). - The reMarkable tablet has limitations in terms of traversal, making it difficult to move around and flip between pages quickly, which is a common behavior when using a notebook [(00:09:58)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkYREXxIURY&t=598s). - Despite its limitations, the reMarkable tablet has a clean and intuitive UI, and writing on it is "best in class," but its usability is hindered by its lack of responsiveness and sensitivity [(00:10:30)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkYREXxIURY&t=630s). - Using the [[ReMarkable | reMarkable]] tablet helped clarify what is actually important for organizing writing, creating a distinction between what is needed versus what is wanted, and highlighting the need for basic features like handwriting search and page-level toggle [(00:10:42)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkYREXxIURY&t=642s). - A wish list for the reMarkable tablet includes handwriting search, page-level toggle or bookmarking, spellchecking, and two-way document sync [(00:11:03)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkYREXxIURY&t=663s). ## How Does It Help Me Focus? (Stayput) [(00:11:16)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkYREXxIURY&t=676s) - The device being used helps reduce context switching, which can destroy focus and ideas, by minimizing notifications and allowing users to stay in one place while working [(00:11:16)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkYREXxIURY&t=676s). - The remarkable tablet offers infinite height pages, enabling users to keep adding to any page indefinitely and easily move things on that page, which changes the way content is organized [(00:11:50)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkYREXxIURY&t=710s). - The tablet's page feature can turn each page into its own folder when necessary, removing the need to flip between pages entirely [(00:12:03)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkYREXxIURY&t=723s). - The type folio case with an integrated keyboard is a game changer, allowing the [[ReMarkable | remarkable]] to transition seamlessly from a notebook to a typewriter and making context switching minimal [(00:12:14)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkYREXxIURY&t=734s). - The keyboard enables users to transition from journaling to writing articles without getting up from one platform to go to another, logging in, or accessing the internet [(00:12:31)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkYREXxIURY&t=751s). - However, the remarkable lacks spell and grammar check, making it necessary to use another platform for editing [(00:13:03)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkYREXxIURY&t=783s). - The device also lacks mouse functionality, making editing a long document difficult and better suited for another platform [(00:13:16)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkYREXxIURY&t=796s). - The absence of a browser and on-the-fly access to books or articles requires users to preload content or stop what they're doing to download a document [(00:13:34)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkYREXxIURY&t=814s). - The remarkable allows importing docs from [[Google Drive]] directly, but users cannot upload them, requiring a workaround to sync with [[Google Docs]] [(00:13:53)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkYREXxIURY&t=833s). - Despite some minor issues, the [[ReMarkable | remarkable]] paired with the keyboard feels revolutionary for writing, making it more focused and fun [(00:14:28)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkYREXxIURY&t=868s). - The device is ideal for getting first drafts out, especially for short and medium-length articles, keeping users focused during challenging stretches of generative writing [(00:14:51)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkYREXxIURY&t=891s). ## How Much Does It Do For Me? (Compute) [(00:15:10)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkYREXxIURY&t=910s) - The goal is to have as little work as possible done by technology, especially when it comes to writing and thinking, in order to maintain control and agency in the creative process [(00:15:12)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkYREXxIURY&t=912s). - The idea of "conscious computing" is to use technology to live a better life, and part of that is the process of growth, which requires resistance and consistency [(00:15:29)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkYREXxIURY&t=929s). - A great writer can make any topic interesting, and being a skillful thinker takes practice, with writing being one of the most powerful ways to practice that skill [(00:15:48)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkYREXxIURY&t=948s). - AI allows for shortcuts in thinking and writing, which can be beneficial for tasks like writing emails, but it's a slippery slope that can lead to offloading meaningful thinking to AI [(00:16:08)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkYREXxIURY&t=968s). - The risk is that people will begin to transition from offloading meaningless thinking to AI to meaningful thinking, which can lead to AI dependence and a loss of ability to think deeply [(00:16:41)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkYREXxIURY&t=1001s). - The ideal writing tool should not think for the user, but rather provide a means for them to express themselves freely, with minimal interference from technology [(00:17:01)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkYREXxIURY&t=1021s). - The "[[ReMarkable | remarkable]]" tablet is praised for its ability to get out of the way and allow the user to create freely, with minimal distractions or interference from technology [(00:17:30)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkYREXxIURY&t=1050s). - On a "compute scale," the remarkable tablet is given a score of 2, indicating that it provided the right technology at the right time to allow for creative freedom [(00:17:32)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkYREXxIURY&t=1052s). ## How Does It Match My Intentions? (Output) [(00:17:49)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkYREXxIURY&t=1069s) - The initial intention behind using the tablet was to utilize technology to amplify individual abilities and give users superhuman powers [(00:17:54)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkYREXxIURY&t=1074s). - The tablet has changed the user's perspective on the role of technology in the modern age [(00:18:02)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkYREXxIURY&t=1082s). - The tablet was given a rating of 4 out of 10 for output, as it strikes a balance between the user's writing ability and the capabilities of current technology [(00:18:08)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkYREXxIURY&t=1088s). - The tablet's rating would be a perfect 5 if the remaining items on the user's wish list were fulfilled [(00:18:22)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkYREXxIURY&t=1102s). - The tablet's current capabilities allow it to do things that the user cannot, making it a useful tool [(00:18:17)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkYREXxIURY&t=1097s). ## Who is the reMarkable 2 for? [(00:18:25)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkYREXxIURY&t=1105s) - The [[ReMarkable | reMarkable 2]] is designed to be specific things to specific people, unlike devices like the [[IPad | iPad]] that are designed to be many things to many people, and it has a strong opinion on what it is and what it isn't [(00:18:34)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkYREXxIURY&t=1114s). - The device can be seen as a modern typewriter, making it more compelling for tasks like writing, and it has helped increase productivity in writing [(00:18:58)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkYREXxIURY&t=1138s). - The reMarkable 2's lack of features allows users to think and write without distractions, making it a good option for people who want a distraction-free platform to organize their life and process their thoughts [(00:19:32)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkYREXxIURY&t=1172s). - The device provides some connectivity, but its main focus is on allowing users to focus on their work without the distractions of the digital world [(00:20:01)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkYREXxIURY&t=1201s). - The reMarkable 2 is for people who want a distraction-free platform to organize their life, process their thoughts, and have some connectivity, making it a good option for writers and those who want to work without digital distractions [(00:19:59)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkYREXxIURY&t=1199s). ## Sources - [website](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkYREXxIURY)