# reMarkable Paper Pro is BAD for knowledge management ![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/guVJoL6nxs4/maxresdefault.jpg) ## RMPP is disappointing [(00:00:00)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guVJoL6nxs4&t=0s) - The [[ReMarkable | reMarkable Paper Pro]] is designed as a dedicated replacement for paper and notebooks, but its actual use reveals it to be even more niche than that, particularly within the scope of writing [(00:00:07)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guVJoL6nxs4&t=7s). - The device has been available for about 2 months, with numerous technical reviews, but its real-life performance in productivity and Knowledge Management scenarios is questionable [(00:00:17)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guVJoL6nxs4&t=17s). - Despite individually factual and accurate features, the overall experience of using the reMarkable Paper Pro is disappointing, with the amalgamation of features sounding good only in theory [(00:00:42)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guVJoL6nxs4&t=42s). - The device's biggest unique selling point (USP) is its ability to replace paper, but this claim does not translate well into real-life use cases, especially for productivity and Knowledge Management [(00:00:49)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guVJoL6nxs4&t=49s). ## Pen-to-paper experience [(00:00:50)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guVJoL6nxs4&t=50s) - The writing feel on the [[ReMarkable | reMarkable Paper Pro]] is very nice, with a textured screen that provides a subtle but satisfying scratchy sound when writing, similar to a pencil on index cards [(00:00:53)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guVJoL6nxs4&t=53s). - The Marker Plus tool is being used, which comes with an eraser tip [(00:01:07)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guVJoL6nxs4&t=67s). - The screen's texture may not be evenly distributed, as there are noticeable areas with distinct drag when erasing, particularly around the edges of the screen [(00:01:14)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guVJoL6nxs4&t=74s). - Although the uneven texture is not a major issue, it does detract from the overall writing experience [(00:01:22)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guVJoL6nxs4&t=82s). - The mentioned issues with the writing experience are considered minor and superficial [(00:01:27)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guVJoL6nxs4&t=87s). ## Replacing analog writing and Tangible Permanence [(00:01:30)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guVJoL6nxs4&t=90s) - Analog writing offers more than just the feel of writing, including a state of mindfulness that comes with it, and to recreate this, some expectations may need to be managed [(00:01:30)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guVJoL6nxs4&t=90s). - The concept of tangible permanence is a key aspect of analog writing, where mistakes and revisions are irreversible and captured in the entire writing journey [(00:01:46)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guVJoL6nxs4&t=106s). - This permanence makes writers more deliberate and attentive when writing, as each stroke on paper holds more weight than pixels on a screen [(00:02:00)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guVJoL6nxs4&t=120s). - In contrast, digital devices like the [[ReMarkable | reMarkable Paper Pro]] have no penalty for careless or sloppy writing, allowing users to easily erase or undo mistakes [(00:02:08)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guVJoL6nxs4&t=128s). - The impact of this difference depends on the use case, with clean edits being a bonus for work, but potentially leading to less intentional note-taking [(00:02:22)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guVJoL6nxs4&t=142s). - The freedom to easily erase or undo writing can sometimes cause users to be less thoughtful in their writing, instead of writing with more intent [(00:02:36)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guVJoL6nxs4&t=156s). ## Archival tasks vs Dynamic tasks [(00:02:40)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guVJoL6nxs4&t=160s) - The reMarkable Paper Pro is suitable for archival tasks that are independent, one-off, or close-ended, and require minimal cross-referencing [(00:02:42)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guVJoL6nxs4&t=162s). - Archival tasks are typically characterized as independent work that can be completed with little need for referencing other documents [(00:02:45)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guVJoL6nxs4&t=165s). - The [[ReMarkable | reMarkable Paper Pro]] is a great aggregator for tasks that require very little cross-referencing [(00:02:50)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guVJoL6nxs4&t=170s). - However, for dynamic tasks with dependencies between documents or requiring regular updates, such as a commonplace book or knowledge management, there are considerations to be taken into account [(00:02:54)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guVJoL6nxs4&t=174s). - Dynamic tasks often involve dependencies between documents or require frequent updates, making them less suitable for the reMarkable Paper Pro [(00:02:58)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guVJoL6nxs4&t=178s). - Examples of dynamic tasks include maintaining a commonplace book or engaging in knowledge management activities [(00:03:00)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guVJoL6nxs4&t=180s). - Portability is one aspect to consider when evaluating the reMarkable Paper Pro for dynamic tasks or knowledge management [(00:03:08)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guVJoL6nxs4&t=188s). ## Portability [(00:03:09)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guVJoL6nxs4&t=189s) - The [[ReMarkable | reMarkable Paper Pro]] has portability issues due to its weight and fragility, making it difficult to handle roughly [(00:03:11)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guVJoL6nxs4&t=191s). - It is not suitable for being thrown into a bag or stuffed into a pocket, which limits its portability [(00:03:17)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guVJoL6nxs4&t=197s). - The device is not designed to be durable and instead requires careful handling, essentially needing to be pampered [(00:03:22)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guVJoL6nxs4&t=202s). ## Using for work [(00:03:25)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guVJoL6nxs4&t=205s) - Using the reMarkable Paper Pro for work, specifically for taking notes, may require also bringing a laptop due to the device's specialized function and limitations [(00:03:25)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guVJoL6nxs4&t=205s). - The inability to search handwritten notes on the [[ReMarkable | reMarkable Paper Pro]] can make it less efficient than other note-taking options [(00:03:34)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guVJoL6nxs4&t=214s). - Alternative note-taking tools like Notion or [[Obsidian (software) | Obsidian]] may be more practical for work purposes [(00:03:36)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guVJoL6nxs4&t=216s). - Text files are generally lighter than PDFs, which can be an advantage in certain situations [(00:03:41)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guVJoL6nxs4&t=221s). ## Screen refresh and Gesture sensitivity [(00:03:45)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guVJoL6nxs4&t=225s) - The reMarkable Paper Pro has a delay when toggling between documents, which is a common issue with E Ink devices that do not offer the same experience as their digital counterparts [(00:03:47)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guVJoL6nxs4&t=227s). - In addition to the delay, the device also has less sensitive and unreliable gesture recognition [(00:03:59)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guVJoL6nxs4&t=239s). - Another limitation is the lack of a split-screen function, making it frustrating to move documents around or switch between different notebooks while trying to hold a thought in mind [(00:04:04)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guVJoL6nxs4&t=244s). - Despite these limitations, the device may be suitable for use cases that primarily focus on isolated or close-ended tasks [(00:04:16)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guVJoL6nxs4&t=256s). ## Reading ebooks and magazines [(00:04:22)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guVJoL6nxs4&t=262s) - The [[ReMarkable | reMarkable Paper Pro]] is not ebook friendly due to the lack of integration with ebook providers or services such as [[Amazon Kindle | Kindle]] or [[Libby (service) | Libby]] [(00:04:24)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guVJoL6nxs4&t=264s). - Although it is possible to manually download and transfer DRM-free ebooks, [[Reading | reading]] from an ebook reader is recommended for better functionality [(00:04:35)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guVJoL6nxs4&t=275s). - Highlights and annotations made on the Paper Pro will not be aggregated or tagged to specific locations in the ebook, and will be saved as a layer in the same ebook file [(00:04:42)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guVJoL6nxs4&t=282s). - Handwriting is not searchable, making it difficult to revisit notes without flipping through the entire book [(00:04:54)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guVJoL6nxs4&t=294s). - Capturing notes in a separate file is not practical due to the device's limitations in toggling between multiple documents [(00:05:06)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guVJoL6nxs4&t=306s). - The Paper Pro's color function can be utilized by downloading magazines, but the experience is marred by the low screen resolution, particularly for text on colored backgrounds [(00:05:16)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guVJoL6nxs4&t=316s). - The screen resolution makes text legible but not crisp, and the delay in screen refresh makes zooming in and out unpleasant [(00:05:26)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guVJoL6nxs4&t=326s). - Annotations made on magazines cannot be aggregated, tagged to location, or easily exported by themselves, similar to ebooks [(00:05:42)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guVJoL6nxs4&t=342s). - While it is technically possible to hide the background layer to show only annotations, this process is considered a hassle and a missed opportunity for a note-taking device [(00:05:49)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guVJoL6nxs4&t=349s). ## Battery life [(00:06:03)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guVJoL6nxs4&t=363s) - The [[ReMarkable | reMarkable Paper Pro]] boasts a battery life of 2 weeks, but this is only achievable under certain conditions [(00:06:09)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guVJoL6nxs4&t=369s). - To achieve the 2-week battery life, the front light must be used very sparingly and the Wi-Fi connection must be perpetually turned off [(00:06:13)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guVJoL6nxs4&t=373s). - Perpetually turning off the Wi-Fi connection means losing out on the syncing function, effectively disabling cross-platform work and handwriting to text functionality [(00:06:22)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guVJoL6nxs4&t=382s). ## Handwriting-to-Text conversion [(00:06:26)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guVJoL6nxs4&t=386s) - The handwriting-to-text conversion feature is cloud-based, requiring a Wi-Fi connection to function [(00:06:27)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guVJoL6nxs4&t=387s). - The need for a Wi-Fi connection can negatively impact the device's battery life [(00:06:34)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guVJoL6nxs4&t=394s). - The handwriting-to-text conversion model is relatively basic and often requires a moderate amount of cleanup [(00:06:36)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guVJoL6nxs4&t=396s). - Cleanup is necessary for accurate conversion of handwriting notes to text, especially for searchability or archival purposes [(00:06:42)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guVJoL6nxs4&t=402s). ## Hybrid Zettelkasten integration [(00:06:49)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guVJoL6nxs4&t=409s) - The goal was to integrate the [[ReMarkable | reMarkable Paper Pro]] into a hybrid [[Zettelkasten]] workflow by handwriting notes on the device and then converting them to text for import into [[Obsidian (software) | Obsidian]] [(00:06:50)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guVJoL6nxs4&t=410s). - The plan involved writing literature notes and "beep" notes on the reMarkable Paper Pro before converting them to text and importing them into Obsidian, which is used to store the reference section [(00:06:52)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guVJoL6nxs4&t=412s). - Adjustments were made to improve the conversion accuracy from handwriting to text, despite not having terrible handwriting [(00:07:03)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guVJoL6nxs4&t=423s). - It is desired that the reMarkable Paper Pro retains some alignment structures, such as indentation, to improve the conversion process [(00:07:09)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guVJoL6nxs4&t=429s). - Due to concerns about handwriting legibility and the time spent on cleanup, it was decided to capture notes directly in Obsidian instead of using the reMarkable Paper Pro [(00:07:17)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guVJoL6nxs4&t=437s). ## What RMPP is good for [(00:07:27)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guVJoL6nxs4&t=447s) - The [[ReMarkable | reMarkable Paper Pro]] is well-suited for tasks that require focus, such as free writing or journaling, due to its minimalistic design [(00:07:30)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guVJoL6nxs4&t=450s). - It is also useful for archival tasks, including [[Reading | reading]] disposable reports and signing documents, as these tasks involve close-ended, independent work [(00:07:39)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guVJoL6nxs4&t=459s). - The device is ideal for tasks where writings do not need to be extracted from the original document and will serve as a reference [(00:07:51)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guVJoL6nxs4&t=471s). - The reMarkable Paper Pro lives up to its claim of being distraction-free in scenarios involving independent, close-ended work [(00:08:01)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guVJoL6nxs4&t=481s). - However, for more dynamic work that requires toggling between documents or editing a growing notebook, the device may not be optimized, making it a matter of personal preference [(00:08:06)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guVJoL6nxs4&t=486s). - Although it is possible to use the reMarkable Paper Pro for dynamic work, it can be slow and may not feel optimized for such tasks [(00:08:20)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guVJoL6nxs4&t=500s). ## Elegant vs Hindering simplicity [(00:08:25)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guVJoL6nxs4&t=505s) - There is a fine line between elegance and hindrance when it comes to simplicity in design, with elegance prioritizing the relationship between the product and users [(00:08:26)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guVJoL6nxs4&t=506s). - Elegant simplicity amplifies performance by eliminating distractions and unnecessary decisions, allowing users to stay focused on high-value tasks [(00:08:31)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guVJoL6nxs4&t=511s). - Hindering simplicity, on the other hand, prioritizes the product over the user, causing users to lose focus on their actual task due to distractions from trying to make the limited functionalities work [(00:08:48)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guVJoL6nxs4&t=528s). - The [[ReMarkable | reMarkable Paper Pro]] walks the line between elegance and hindrance, depending on the specific use case [(00:09:03)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guVJoL6nxs4&t=543s). ## Hyper-niche product [(00:09:09)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guVJoL6nxs4&t=549s) - The reMarkable Paper Pro is a niche product that serves as a dedicated replacement for paper and notebooks, with no additional functions beyond that [(00:09:11)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guVJoL6nxs4&t=551s). - Upon using the device, it becomes apparent that it is even more niche than initially thought, with specific performance distinctions within the scope of writing [(00:09:19)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guVJoL6nxs4&t=559s). - Within the realm of writing, the reMarkable Paper Pro has clear performance limitations that define its narrow capabilities as a replacement for traditional writing tools [(00:09:26)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guVJoL6nxs4&t=566s). ## Paper is more than the feeling of writing [(00:09:28)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guVJoL6nxs4&t=568s) - Paper is a medium that offers endless possibilities and accessibility, making it a tall and ambitious order [(00:09:29)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guVJoL6nxs4&t=569s). - Paper is more than just the feeling of writing, providing a range of uses beyond this initial association [(00:09:33)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guVJoL6nxs4&t=573s). - The key characteristics of paper include remaining intuitive and modular, allowing for various applications and uses [(00:09:40)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guVJoL6nxs4&t=580s). - The [[ReMarkable | reMarkable Paper Pro]] has successfully replicated the pen-to-paper experience, but traditional paper and notebooks still hold value and remain indispensable [(00:09:43)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guVJoL6nxs4&t=583s). ## Why I'm not returning it (yet) [(00:09:52)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guVJoL6nxs4&t=592s) - Despite having significant issues with the reMarkable Paper Pro, it is being kept for specific use cases where it excels, with its usage limited and sculpted down to these scenarios [(00:09:53)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guVJoL6nxs4&t=593s). - The device is enjoyed for journaling, doodling, and planning the day, as well as writing Beep and Lit notes, but without converting them to text [(00:10:03)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guVJoL6nxs4&t=603s). - The digital flexibility of the Paper Pro is leveraged to group and reorder notes, but it is not used for the commonplace book due to the tedious process of toggling and browsing [(00:10:16)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guVJoL6nxs4&t=616s). - [[Reading]] is not done on the device at all, and its worth is being questioned [(00:10:29)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guVJoL6nxs4&t=629s). ## Is RMPP worth buying? [(00:10:30)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guVJoL6nxs4&t=630s) - The [[ReMarkable | reMarkable Paper Pro]] is considered a luxury product that is not necessary for most people [(00:10:32)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guVJoL6nxs4&t=632s). - It may not significantly boost productivity unless its primary use aligns with a specific need or use case [(00:10:37)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guVJoL6nxs4&t=637s). - The device may be suitable for those who enjoy writing or journaling, potentially empowering them to take more notes [(00:10:42)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guVJoL6nxs4&t=642s). - The device's value is subjective and depends on individual preferences and use cases [(00:10:45)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guVJoL6nxs4&t=645s). - The device's appeal is partly based on the enjoyment of writing on it [(00:10:48)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guVJoL6nxs4&t=648s).