First, let's start with why I got this device.

I have always enjoyed taking notes. My job entails going to many meetings, and having many 1 on 1 discussions where it's beneficial to write things down. In addition to being able to reference these notes, I find that the exercise of taking notes is a focusing tool - meaning it's like a pacifier from distractions (phone, laptop, tablet).

It's really difficult to simulate the experience of writing on paper. I do not find the taking notes with a stylus on an iPad, Surface or other device comes anywhere close to the experience. In addition to this, these devices tend to be full of distractions that are difficult to suppress. What I mean by this is that it's likely in a meeting you will get bored. Your mind will drift. It's in these moments we turn to e-mail, Twitter, Amazon, Text Messaging to keep ourselves active. But these activities are exactly what makes meetings fail.

In addition to this, we just don't have the battery life and dedicated use scenarios of our devices to allow them to be true replacements for pen and paper.

My goal since January has been to attend and encourage inclusive meetings where I don't use my phone or bring a laptop / tablet unless I am presenting or taking notes digitally. That is pretty rare. As such my notebook device (in this case the reMarkable) serves me well.

What's the experience like?

Well the hardware is pretty great. The device is light as a feather. The screen is great, like a Kindle Oasis. The size is perfect. The pen has a friction feel to it and in fact the tips wear down like a real pencil. The device comes with 10 replacement tips - in 3 months I have worn 1 down and I use the device every day for about 4 hours.