Why I’m Excited for the Kindle Scribe
It’s a Tech World
There is a lot I don’t understand about tech. A lot (I am, however, trying to learn html and web development). But I am utterly fascinated by it. Being a major Star Wars fan and wanting my own lightsaber and R2 unit along with countless other tech creations probably influenced this.
I want Apple to offer an equivalent of Microsoft’s OneNote. I want my Apple Pencil to be compatible with the Google Suite. I don’t understand why my iPhone, iPad, and MacBook iMessages don’t sync. Probably noticing a trend here, and this is just off the top of my head.
Amazon Over Apple, Kindle vs. iPad
While I am firmly entrenched in the Apple ecosystem and I don’t see that changing anytime soon (my God, that would be a pain in the ass), there is one piece of tech I very happily use the non-Apple item.
Amazon’s Kindle Paperwhite.
You may have picked up on this, but I’m a total nerd. In my bedroom, my bookshelf is filled with books and notebooks so I have a couple stacks of books on the floor too.
And then my Kindle Paperwhite e-Reader is filled with books as well. Plus, the Overdrive & Libby apps are awesome because all you need is a library card to access digital books from your local library. While occasionally you’ll come across a book that isn’t Kindle-compatible, the majority are. So convenient. So much money saved. Long live the library.
I read articles and comics on my phone or iPad - for convenience and color, pretty much. I absolutely love my iPad. The Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil, in my opinion, do enhance the experience. I love using my iPad for meetings/planning, note taking, going between different apps during meetings for reference and notes, and as a second screen (someday there will be a post about my love of the iPad). But the Apple Pencil doesn’t make or break the experience, I don’t need the Pencil for my iPad to be useful or enjoyable.
Buuuuuut….the Kindle. That’s sticking around for me.
On top of the similar-to-physical-books reading experience, I love my Kindle because I don’t get interrupted on it. The Paperwhite is only an e-Reader, and that is why I love it. Notifications aren’t going to be popping up on the screen while I’m trying to read. Also, I like the size of my iPad and I like the size of my Kindle because it is small and easy to handle, like holding a book - you know, so it is easy to read in bed or lounging around. It is also waterproof which is a treat, and I have spent many an afternoon lying on a pool raft with my Kindle. The iPad can’t replicate that, nor should it try. Amazon has a solid hold on the eReader and digital book market.
Anyone remember the nook from Barnes and Noble? It just couldn’t keep up. When I got a Kindle, I never looked back. Although the app still exists so, ironically, I can still read the nook books I’ve purchased through the app…on my iPad.
But let's talk about the newest tech in the world of e-Readers.
Kindle Scribe = eReader + Digital Notetaking
Kindle Scribe photo courtesy of Amazon
On September 28th, Amazon announced a barrage of new products including a new Kindle e-Reader. The Kindle Scribe. Basically, it is like any other Paperwhite - except you can write on the screen. Here it is, the first bullet point from Amazon’s product page:
“Read and write as naturally as you do on paper – Features the world’s first 10.2” 300 ppi glare-free Paperwhite display and included Basic Pen.”
The not-so-subtle digs at the iPad are obvious - you can get weeks of a battery charge when using it for writing, albeit, naturally, less than if you’re only using it for reading. We all damn well know that ain’t happening with an iPad. Additionally, the Pen doesn’t ever require a charge or battery as it uses Wacom EMR technology and also sticks magnetically to the device. The Apple Pencil still has some awkward bits; charging the Pencil from the single iPad port is weird, it doesn’t have the best charge, and there’s no obvious, easy way to keep your pen with your iPad like, say, magnetic...which is kind of funny because pens will get stuck to my device and I use a case that straps onto the keyboard but I need to take it off if I want to use the keyboard. None of these are significant issues, more annoying than anything. But when you hear about an alternative that fixes those inconveniences, you’re going to be interested. At least, I was.
You can add writing or drawings to “millions” of eligible titles from Kindle. PDFs and Microsoft Word docs are also supported by the writing function; currently, you’ll send them by email, but Microsoft will be offering a function to send documents straight to the device.
There’s more than just note taking while reading; there are also blank pages and templates to be used for things such as to-do lists, journaling, and more. You can organize the notes in folders and notebooks. In early 2023, Amazon will offer a Kindle app sync feature for notebook access.
Notebooks, Digital Organization, and More Oh My
While this is the first Kindle in awhile that has offered something really different, the concept isn’t. I’ve used the Rocketbook before, which is a reusable, “smart” notebook. You take pictures of the pages, then upload, and organize them. I liked the concept, but it was a messy execution. Part of this had to do with the fact of my own messy handwriting. But then I found the Nebo app for my iPad and it translated my handwriting pretty well. There’s also the reMarkable tablet, which describes itself as a “next generation paper tablet” and “the only tablet that feels like paper.
“Like paper” has been part of the Kindle experience for some time now, so it isn’t surprising for Amazon to claim that you will “read and write as naturally as you do on paper.”
Maybe you’re wondering, “This sounds like an expensive effort to take notes. Why can’t you just use an old-fashioned notebook or type them in your phone?”
There are a couple reasons.
I take a lot of notes. A lot. I have a ridiculous amount of notebooks. Yes, I’m a writer by career and hobby. But I’m always writing out other things - lists, ideas, plans, thoughts, etc. So I have a ton of notebooks. And I feel like I always need another notebook for some project. Keeping all my notes contained in an app is very attractive as opposed to making sure I have the right notebooks when needed. And there are a lot of notebooks. Digital organization is also very attractive as opposed to “where the heck is xyz” in stacks. Also less stuff to carry around.
I can type; on my phone, my laptop, my iPad. Why don’t I just type? Because my brain likes writing by hand. Even in college, if I typed my notes during class, I would rewrite them by hand later to stick in my head. At work, I will write a sentence twelve different ways before I decide what I like. Seriously, I have notebooks with pages of similar sentences written over and over. There is just something to be said for writing by hand.
Now, why am I excited for the Kindle Scribe despite already having a decent note-taking system with my iPad?
One reason? Digital sticky notes.
As I said before, I’m a nerd. Right now, books on my “to be read” pile (the physical one) are DIY MFA and The Personal MBA. I have books on editing, copywriting, UX writing, journalism, and more skills I want to learn or improve upon. Usually, I sticky note these by hand (Thank you Mr. Schott for having us Post-It Crime and Punishment in 10th grade. The habit stuck.).
I want to be organized. It doesn’t always happen that way. My bookshelves and notebooks are evidence of that. Handwriting notes for the book on the eReader with a stylus is a dream to me. I really wasn’t a fan of eBooks for textbooks, but I think this function could have changed my mind a little bit. And honestly - I think it could be impactful for learning. Schools already are providing students with books only on iPads or chromebooks. And frankly, Apple and Google will be fools if they don’t collaborate with Amazon for syncing notes.
Often, I use my iPad for learning whether it be Coursera, webinars, or whatever. Right now, I typically split the screen if I want to write notes as well. The Kindle Scribe would be complementary. With the Kindle Scribe, I think the similarities to physical notebooks would make it more desirable to take notes on instead of doing the split screen.
The Kindle Scribe isn’t going to replace my iPad. But I definitely think I’d get my money’s worth out of it. Whether or not I buy one (they’re available for pre-order) is still up in the air…but I wouldn’t bet against it.
Have you use smart notebooks or eInk tablets before? Does the scribe portion make the Kindle more appealing to you?
The Kindle Scribe starts at $339.99 at 16 GB and includes a Basic Pencil. A Premium Pencil is available for $30 more, and bundle options offer covers for the eReader.
