ReMarkable Paper Pro Move

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Device Experience: “Almost There”

  • Many RM2 / Paper Pro users praise the hardware: premium feel, great writing texture, strong battery life, nice folios, and good screen for note‑taking and annotation.
  • Common UX complaints: clunky navigation, unreliable page‑turn gestures (partly improved in recent firmware), high friction retrieving notes, poor folder browsing, and no split‑screen for reading+notes.
  • RM is widely described as excellent for “scratch paper” or meeting notes, but frustrating for long‑term organization and reference.

Reading, Formats & Features

  • As an e‑reader, RM lags: older models lack backlight and dictionary; EPUB is weak (often converted to PDF), limited formats, and side‑loading can be awkward.
  • Newer firmware adds handwriting indexing/search and backlight on newer devices, which some call a major quality‑of‑life upgrade.
  • Infinite‑page / scrolling behavior is divisive; some find it conflicts with other gestures and dislike the lack of clear “edges.”

Cloud, Subscriptions & Lock‑in

  • Strong resentment toward the Connect subscription: features once included became paid, even if early buyers were grandfathered.
  • Non‑subscribed use is possible, but “full” convenience (syncing, integrations) depends on their cloud and an account; some call this user‑hostile.
  • Privacy and lock‑in worries: avoiding their cloud requires SSH, third‑party tools (rmfakecloud, RCU), or other hacks that break with updates.

Hardware Reliability & Openness

  • Reports of fragile USB‑C ports (connector at PCB edge), pens with weak collars, and multiple device failures (stopped charging).
  • Non‑user‑replaceable batteries and pen batteries seen as planned obsolescence.
  • System runs Linux with a Qt UI; older devices easily rootable, newer ones require enabling “developer mode.” Community projects (Toltec, KOReader) exist but can be brittle across updates.

Comparisons: Scribe, Boox, Supernote, iPad, Paper

  • Kindle Scribe: great large screen and, when jailbroken with KOReader, excellent for PDFs; stock firmware is closed, note export and side‑loading criticized.
  • Boox & Supernote: widely recommended for Android apps, better format support, and strong writing feel (especially Supernote); trade‑offs include distraction risk, uneven software polish, and some battery/build issues.
  • iPad (+Pencil + paper‑like screen) often preferred for speed, infinite canvas, rich apps, and OCR—even by some e‑ink fans—though distraction and eye strain are concerns.
  • Many ultimately revert to cheap paper notebooks plus phone‑camera OCR/LLMs, citing lower cost, ease of skimming, and no lock‑in.

Price & Market Fit

  • The Move’s price (~$450/€480) for phone‑sized “digital paper” is widely seen as too high, especially vs. an iPad mini or large Boox.
  • Some see real value in a focused, distraction‑free writing device; others judge it an over‑engineered, subscription‑nudging replacement for a $10 notebook.