If You Tried or Used a SuperNote and Stopped, Why?

Hardware
1

If you have tried or used a SuperNote device, but subsequently returned it or stopped using it, may I ask why? I’m thinking about getting one, but before I make a purchase, I’d appreciate any insights you may be able to provide.

Thanks!

2

I didn’t have a SuperNote but a couple of years ago I got a 13’33 e-ink Boox Tab X. The device itself was ok but I returned it because I could not avoid comparing it to an iPad. Also, being an Android powered device it was not easy to integrate into my Apple centric ecosystem. For example, having to manually enter the wi-fi password made me realize how much I depend on the affordances that Apple gives. So I finally got an iPad Pro.

As a counterargument, I have many work colleagues that swear by their Remarkables.

3

Thanks for the response.

If I recall correctly, @MacSparky has tried a SuperNote several times only to return it. Am I recalling that correctly?

There is something intriguing about an e-ink note-taking device, but I’m concerned that because they do not integrate well with the Apple ecosystem (as I understand it), I’d be introducing unnecessary friction into my workflow.

4

Usually with these Notetaking tools you’ll need to find a cloud option that works in Apple land. My 10 inch Kobo has native DropBox and Google drive support. Or you can just drag and drop USB style when I plug it into my Mac

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5

This is the way.

I have both Google Drive and Dropbox set up on my Boox Note Air 2+. I can easily have the Boox recognize my handwriting, then export the text to Google Drive.

On my Mac, Zotero is set up to keep article PDFs in Dropbox. I can mark those up on the Boox, and everything syncs.

6

I remember that @MacSparky has twice returned the Remarkable. I don’t remember a SuperNote

7

I’m on exactly the same page. I know someone who has a Remarkable and he absolutely loves it, but I don’t deal well with friction and even something as simple as using Omnifocus for the web on the work Windows machine was jarring versus using the native app.

I’d want copies of all notes in iCloud (regardless of whether the service sync’d itself) for backup purposes.

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8

That is my recollection as well, though I assume the two devices are similar in design and use.

9

One of my senior team members has the small SuperNote. It is very nice and would be ideal for taking notes or brainstorming ideas. However, getting one’s notes from the SN or Remarkable requires retyping the information if one wants it to be in the Apple ecosystem, e.g., Reminders.

I’ve just ordered the Paperlike screen protector. I will try this to see if I like it. Another option would be to downsize from the 13" pro iPad to the 11” pro and use Paperlike on it. That may make note taking easier while maintaining the Apple ecosystem integration.

10

At the very least they do not integrate with the standard Apple apps which is what you usually favor. Onenote, Evernote, some other multiplatform apps could potentially be there of course but for me I didn’t want to change the way I worked for the sake of having a very nice e-ink device.

If you can discipline yourself to only use the device for note-taking and you have a clear mechanism to transfer those notes in PDF to your Mac apps, you could be golden.

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11

You already tried it! You didn’t like it or Rock Paper Pencil and took them off.

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12

I know, I haven’t quite lost it yet! :rofl:

I want to try it again and try the Rock Paper Pencil Screen Protector to see which I like best and if I can tolerate the screen being slightly duller for the benefit of the writing. Perhaps the writing experience is worth the compromise. Trying this again is cheaper than a SuperNote. :grinning:

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13

Honest question! Why are you considering a SuperNote instead of a Remarkable?

14

No particular reason other than I heard about the SuperNote on the last MPU episode, and a colleague has one. I’ll check out the Remarkable. Thanks for prompting me to do so. :+1:t2:

15

To get something into the Reminders app from a Remarkable, you need to convert the handwritten text into a digital format(text). Then in the Remarkable app on the Mac, you can select the text and use Popclip to add it to Reminders. No Typing Required.

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16

I have the SuperNote Manta. My unit has problems with pen strokes not registering until you refresh the screen multiple times. Ratta, the company that makes Supernote tablets, is working on the issue.

I highly recommend the Boox Note Max e-ink tablet. It is especially well suited for reading PDF documents because of the large screen that allows you to view PDF at full size. The app for reading PDF files is highly customizable. I also find it very good for writing and organizing notes. It’s a large device, so it may not be as portable as you would like. The interface is complex and can be confusing.

If you buy the Boox Note Max, I recommend watching the following video on YouTube. Voya doesn’t take free products for review like many other YouTubers, which is one of the reasons I have the utmost respect for him. Some other YouTubers are highly vested in enticing people into buying devices and can’t be trusted.

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17

It can also be done with a simple shortcut, provided you remember to copy the text to the clipboard first: Copied text to Reminders (shared)

18

I bought one two years ago. I’ve stopped using it because transfering files (mostly PDFs) was really cumbersome (if memory serves me right, I had to transfer them directly from the Mac through a cable).

19

I’ve have a Remarkable, a small supernote and a Boox Ultra C. In reality I never use any of them — I find using an iPad just so much more versatile than any of the e-ink devices. I don’t find an e-ink device much easier to look at than the iPads, and I find I don’t have issues with being distracted by incoming mail or messages, which is one of the touted advantages of a limited function device. I hate not having a backlight on the Remarkable 2.

If you forced me to choose, I’d go for the Boox, since I can access Readwise reader, discord, news readers as well as the Kindle app. I wouldn’t bother with the color versions (you are better off with an iPad). But why have a pale imitation of an iPad when the real thing costs no more?

Chris

20

Exactly my reason for not going down this road. I think my only real motivation would be to get a new shiny device–which would be a dumb reason. I don’t want to have to use Google Drive or subscribe to DropBox again. If it doesn’t sync with iCloud, I’m not interested due to the hassle of transferring files. I’ve read too many others who stop using them for this reason. Why would I want to introduce more friction and hassle into my workflow?

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