4 ms·

I bought a rm2 a while back but abandoned it when I discovered it had extremely weak security: no fde, a weak remotely-resettable 4 digit pin, no local file syn

I bought a rm2 a while back but abandoned it when I discovered it had extremely weak security: no fde, a weak remotely-resettable 4 digit pin, no local file syncing (doesn't appear as a mass storage device when plugged in as a usb, doesnt support standard file transfer protocols), non-e2ee (!!) cloud syncing (their company can see my notes unencrypted). Now I use an android tablet that I locked down + synching and i couldn't be happier. The only thing I'm missing now is a good note taking app that writes my notes to a directory that can be synced with synching. Recent versions of android broke this for all apps except Google's Files app unfortunately.

exabrial 4y ago
> weak security I think security is important, but unless you're going up against a state actor with physical access, I think this isn't a credible threat at this time.
- mhitza 4y ago
  Or you know, their servers get hacked and everybody's notes are leaked. Or you get a nosie employee that just has raw access to your files. re2 has been on my radar for at least a year at this point, but given the lack of features, price point, and the not so ideal size for PDF reading I'm still on the lookout. It's a nice looking device, but not quite there yet.
- throwuxiytayq 4y ago
  Have you really never had any of your data leaked and plastered all over the internet for all eternity? Of course it's a credible threat. Cloud service operators should finally get it into their heads that they can go E2EE or GTFO.
  - exabrial 4y ago
    better question: why does this device even need a cloud? Why does a Roomba need a cloud? Why does a smart lightswitch, a doorbell, or any other of these devices need a cloud? There is no reason. It's dumb. Sync over wifi to your computer and phone and use MDNS to discover them.
afandian 4y ago
Like it or not, they're pitching it as an appliance to replace a notepad. I think the marketing is quite clever, and I applaud their focus. But it does mean that they deliberately exclude bells and whistles that you would expect from a general-purpose software device. Though IMHO with every added feature, they are scope-creeping away from the spartan value prop. FWIW the USB exposes it over a virtual network which lets you do fun stuff like SSH. But that's for fun, not serious.
- Phemist 4y ago
  You still cannot simply rsync (+ some processing?) the files contained on the device though, because PDFs and their annotations (your scribblings) are stored as separate files and their rendering software is proprietary
- deleted 4y ago
  [deleted]
- goosedragons 4y ago
  Is it? I think this will doom the device and the company. They exclude a lot while not being cheaper than competitors and they shove basic functionality into a subscription. And yet this notebook replacement doesn't even come with the pen in the box either. Why would anyone spend $300+$80 for a Remarkable 2 when a Kobo Elipsa or Kindle Scribe is less and they are better at book reading, have features like a screen light and don't need a subscription to do things like cloud sync? Marginally better note taking feel?
  - afandian 4y ago
    These promotional videos show their deliberate positioning as an anti-"mobile device". (warning- jump scare!) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OcdxW2XF0v8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OcdxW2XF0v8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUZ9QEbJ5sc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUZ9QEbJ5sc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEw6N9Xd6uE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEw6N9Xd6uE
    - 4y ago
marcus_holmes 4y ago
I keep mine in airplane mode unless/until I want to transfer stuff or update it. I don't even use the PIN at all. It's a replacement for my notebook - it's at least as secure as a physical notebook, and several times lighter (I'd need about 5 notebooks for everything I've got on it).
- visarga 4y ago
  I keep it in front of my keyboard in landscape mode, like a large trackpad. I've scribbled over 2000 pages since I bought it. Meeting notes, planning, algorithm design, mind maps... I usually never read again what I doodle on it, only sometimes it helps me refresh some data. So it's like unlimited paper.
  - marcus_holmes 4y ago
    I kept a paper notebook for years, using a page a day to scribble to-do's on it and replacing it each year. I have an archive box with years of notebooks in it that I should probably get rid of. I now have a year's worth on notes in the remarkable, with no need to archive it. I look forward to being able to astound people with my instant recall of meeting notes from years ago ;) I have actually used mine for sketching, too. It works - and the ability to zoom in for details is cool :)
  - wellthisisgreat 4y ago
    do you have any stand you'd recommend for that? I mean to hold it for scribbling? I have Ratta Supernote which I love and would want to use it like that too
lmarcos 4y ago
Don't get it. If I ever buy a device like Remarkable it's because of its display (easy on the eyes, reads like paper, etc.). If you couldn't be happier using a normal Android tablet (which has a normal display), then why did you go for the Remarkable in the first place?
- mackrevinack 4y ago
  boox make ereaders that use android as the OS
- girvo 4y ago
  If someone wants the flexibility of android but the experience of an e-ink reader, I can vouch for the Boox Note models (I have the note 2).
jbotdev 4y ago
I came to a similar conclusion after looking into rm2 and trying one of the similar Boox tablets. They may run android, but security and OS updates seems to be a low priority for these eink tablets. I ended up getting an iPad Air with the pencil, and one of those matte screen protectors. The OS may be locked down, but I can still choose from a wide variety of note apps/clouds (currently use GoodNotes), and security is obviously top notch.
- chester195 4y ago
  How is the feel of writing on the matte screen protector? I've tried the pencil on the screen and the friction and "tap tap tap" sent me back to pencil and paper.
  - jbotdev 4y ago
    It feels closer to writing on paper (or eink) rather than on glass. The main downside is it reduces the clarity of the screen a bit, but I find it acceptable for most media (YouTube, photos, etc.).
mackrevinack 4y ago
what note taking apps have you tried? just off the top of my head, obsidian and joplin both let you choose a custom directory. logseq too but the android app is in beta. i haven't been keeping up to date with note taking apps though so there could be lots more
girvo 4y ago
I have the best of both worlds: my Boox Note 2 is an android tablet but is a 10” e-ink Wacom note taking device too. It’s been brilliant, albeit less polished in some corners than the RM2 of course — but the note taking experience (and reading experience) is not one of them: it’s fantastically polished and performant. And got crazy good after sales support with firmware updates too to add new features to their notes and reading apps
- solarkraft 4y ago
  > it’s fantastically polished and performant Except when you want to zoom, pan, not zoom/pan while writing or want an infinite canvas (I do). Or if you don't want your page's content to completely shift away from its background (irreversibly) when rotating the device. Those are just the most prominent bugs I remember, there were more. I love the writing feel of E-Ink; the software makes it unusable. You may be thinking "just use another app and hack up the SD to enable scribble mode when using it": Well - With Squid, anyway, pen strokes get lost due to suboptimal palm rejection (what the SDK reports seems to be different from what Android reports). Besides, the SDK only sends the stroke after it has been finished, which would be sub-optimal for potentially collaborative applications like Excalidraw. Such a letdown. Software updates are great, you can even root it, Syncthing works well. But I mainly use my Nova 2 as a slightly fancier alternative to my Kindle that I'm much more worried about breaking. I'm still excited about the potential. If anyone reading this is also interested in hacking around on Boox devices, let's talk, maybe: https://gitter.im/boox-users/community https://gitter.im/boox-users/community
  - gamblor956 4y ago
    I had the same issues with my Nova 3, but many of them were fixed by the 3.2 firmware update. There are still some bugs, but they greatly improved the pen experience.
    - csdvrx 4y ago
      Now waiting for 3.3.1 as 3.3 seems very buggy!
chungy 4y ago
> doesnt support standard file transfer protocols If sftp isn't standard enough, I'm not sure what is.

exabrial 4y ago

> weak security I think security is important, but unless you're going up against a state actor with physical access, I think this isn't a credible threat at this time.

mhitza 4y ago
Or you know, their servers get hacked and everybody's notes are leaked. Or you get a nosie employee that just has raw access to your files. re2 has been on my radar for at least a year at this point, but given the lack of features, price point, and the not so ideal size for PDF reading I'm still on the lookout. It's a nice looking device, but not quite there yet.
throwuxiytayq 4y ago
Have you really never had any of your data leaked and plastered all over the internet for all eternity? Of course it's a credible threat. Cloud service operators should finally get it into their heads that they can go E2EE or GTFO.
- exabrial 4y ago
  better question: why does this device even need a cloud? Why does a Roomba need a cloud? Why does a smart lightswitch, a doorbell, or any other of these devices need a cloud? There is no reason. It's dumb. Sync over wifi to your computer and phone and use MDNS to discover them.

afandian 4y ago

Like it or not, they're pitching it as an appliance to replace a notepad. I think the marketing is quite clever, and I applaud their focus. But it does mean that they deliberately exclude bells and whistles that you would expect from a general-purpose software device. Though IMHO with every added feature, they are scope-creeping away from the spartan value prop. FWIW the USB exposes it over a virtual network which lets you do fun stuff like SSH. But that's for fun, not serious.

Phemist 4y ago
You still cannot simply rsync (+ some processing?) the files contained on the device though, because PDFs and their annotations (your scribblings) are stored as separate files and their rendering software is proprietary
deleted 4y ago
[deleted]
goosedragons 4y ago
Is it? I think this will doom the device and the company. They exclude a lot while not being cheaper than competitors and they shove basic functionality into a subscription. And yet this notebook replacement doesn't even come with the pen in the box either. Why would anyone spend $300+$80 for a Remarkable 2 when a Kobo Elipsa or Kindle Scribe is less and they are better at book reading, have features like a screen light and don't need a subscription to do things like cloud sync? Marginally better note taking feel?
- afandian 4y ago
  These promotional videos show their deliberate positioning as an anti-"mobile device". (warning- jump scare!) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OcdxW2XF0v8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OcdxW2XF0v8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUZ9QEbJ5sc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUZ9QEbJ5sc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEw6N9Xd6uE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEw6N9Xd6uE
  - 4y ago

marcus_holmes 4y ago

I keep mine in airplane mode unless/until I want to transfer stuff or update it. I don't even use the PIN at all. It's a replacement for my notebook - it's at least as secure as a physical notebook, and several times lighter (I'd need about 5 notebooks for everything I've got on it).

visarga 4y ago
I keep it in front of my keyboard in landscape mode, like a large trackpad. I've scribbled over 2000 pages since I bought it. Meeting notes, planning, algorithm design, mind maps... I usually never read again what I doodle on it, only sometimes it helps me refresh some data. So it's like unlimited paper.
- marcus_holmes 4y ago
  I kept a paper notebook for years, using a page a day to scribble to-do's on it and replacing it each year. I have an archive box with years of notebooks in it that I should probably get rid of. I now have a year's worth on notes in the remarkable, with no need to archive it. I look forward to being able to astound people with my instant recall of meeting notes from years ago ;) I have actually used mine for sketching, too. It works - and the ability to zoom in for details is cool :)
- wellthisisgreat 4y ago
  do you have any stand you'd recommend for that? I mean to hold it for scribbling? I have Ratta Supernote which I love and would want to use it like that too

lmarcos 4y ago

Don't get it. If I ever buy a device like Remarkable it's because of its display (easy on the eyes, reads like paper, etc.). If you couldn't be happier using a normal Android tablet (which has a normal display), then why did you go for the Remarkable in the first place?

mackrevinack 4y ago
boox make ereaders that use android as the OS
girvo 4y ago
If someone wants the flexibility of android but the experience of an e-ink reader, I can vouch for the Boox Note models (I have the note 2).

jbotdev 4y ago

I came to a similar conclusion after looking into rm2 and trying one of the similar Boox tablets. They may run android, but security and OS updates seems to be a low priority for these eink tablets. I ended up getting an iPad Air with the pencil, and one of those matte screen protectors. The OS may be locked down, but I can still choose from a wide variety of note apps/clouds (currently use GoodNotes), and security is obviously top notch.

chester195 4y ago
How is the feel of writing on the matte screen protector? I've tried the pencil on the screen and the friction and "tap tap tap" sent me back to pencil and paper.
- jbotdev 4y ago
  It feels closer to writing on paper (or eink) rather than on glass. The main downside is it reduces the clarity of the screen a bit, but I find it acceptable for most media (YouTube, photos, etc.).

mackrevinack 4y ago

what note taking apps have you tried? just off the top of my head, obsidian and joplin both let you choose a custom directory. logseq too but the android app is in beta. i haven't been keeping up to date with note taking apps though so there could be lots more

girvo 4y ago

I have the best of both worlds: my Boox Note 2 is an android tablet but is a 10” e-ink Wacom note taking device too. It’s been brilliant, albeit less polished in some corners than the RM2 of course — but the note taking experience (and reading experience) is not one of them: it’s fantastically polished and performant. And got crazy good after sales support with firmware updates too to add new features to their notes and reading apps

solarkraft 4y ago
> it’s fantastically polished and performant Except when you want to zoom, pan, not zoom/pan while writing or want an infinite canvas (I do). Or if you don't want your page's content to completely shift away from its background (irreversibly) when rotating the device. Those are just the most prominent bugs I remember, there were more. I love the writing feel of E-Ink; the software makes it unusable. You may be thinking "just use another app and hack up the SD to enable scribble mode when using it": Well - With Squid, anyway, pen strokes get lost due to suboptimal palm rejection (what the SDK reports seems to be different from what Android reports). Besides, the SDK only sends the stroke after it has been finished, which would be sub-optimal for potentially collaborative applications like Excalidraw. Such a letdown. Software updates are great, you can even root it, Syncthing works well. But I mainly use my Nova 2 as a slightly fancier alternative to my Kindle that I'm much more worried about breaking. I'm still excited about the potential. If anyone reading this is also interested in hacking around on Boox devices, let's talk, maybe: https://gitter.im/boox-users/community https://gitter.im/boox-users/community
- gamblor956 4y ago
  I had the same issues with my Nova 3, but many of them were fixed by the 3.2 firmware update. There are still some bugs, but they greatly improved the pen experience.
  - csdvrx 4y ago
    Now waiting for 3.3.1 as 3.3 seems very buggy!

chungy 4y ago

> doesnt support standard file transfer protocols If sftp isn't standard enough, I'm not sure what is.