Silvestriblog
Aug 173 min read

Kindle Scribe > Apple iPad

My accidental love affair with the Kindle Scribe. How a failed Remarkable 2 purchase led me to discover my perfect e-ink companion for reading and writing.

It all started with an order I wasn’t even sure I wanted to place. For years, I'd been eyeing the Remarkable 2, drawn to the idea of taking notes on an e-ink screen rather than a colourful, distracting, notification-riddled device, but I never quite reached the point of buying it. Until one day, I said to myself: "Right, I'll buy it. And it's going to be today."

Little did I know that Curry's PC World (a UK tech retailer) didn't have it in stock. Actually, I knew it all too well as it never failed to disappoint, but I still had a little hope in my heart. So there I was, defeated and with no Remarkable in my hands on the way back home.

You'd think physical shops would do everything to survive against the threat of online shopping. That they'd focus on in-store customer experience and provide excellent service. But given the treatment I routinely endured at Curry's, I decided to do it again: I checked if Remarkable was on sale on Amazon. It wasn't. Instead, I stumbled upon the Kindle Scribe.

A few online searches revealed this might be the device I was looking for, giving me the opportunity to read my books while at the same time offering a note-taking function. With one crucial difference: backlight. I hadn't realised the Remarkable lacked this feature.

I instantly placed the order. Though the Scribe was considerably cheaper than the Remarkable, guilt still gnawed at me. Would I ever actually use it for note-taking? I attempted to cancel my order, but it was too late — the device arrived on my doorstep the very next morning.

My initial plan was to return it, but as soon as I started using it, I was pleasantly surprised by both the writing and reading experience. The pencil is remarkably precise, and I only need to flip it over to use the digital eraser, just like a real one.

I enjoyed using the Scribe so much that I left my 12.9" iPad at home during my trip to Santorini. Never was a decision wiser. I took it everywhere we went, and the leather cover I purchased - albeit a bit pricey - proved nothing short of extraordinary.

My Kindle Scribe sunbathing in
Santorini.

Daniel Kahneman may not be the lightest holiday reading, but still, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

In short, I believe this device is absolutely worth its price. If you're an avid reader like me, you're in for your best digital experience yet. And if you're not a writer, well, I can assure you that with this device, you'll definitely want to become one.