Chapter 1: A Nostalgic Connection

Last summer, I found myself revisiting a fond memory from my past—a relationship with my old digital companion. The Palm Pilot III was one of my initial tech infatuations, following some misguided crushes on the Atari 400 and Commodore 64. (Anyone else remember the Summer Games 1984 edition? I was always Italy, excelling at high diving.)

My Palm III now resides in the electronics graveyard of my bedroom closet, nestled within the cobalt blue zippered neoprene case that I purchased back in 1997. I spent countless hours mastering its unique shorthand system with a stylus, allowing me to take notes quicker than my peers in meetings—this was before laptops became commonplace.

I also utilized a large spiral sketchbook with colored pencils to draft wireframes and share concepts with the engineering and design teams. (This was ages before adult coloring books became trendy. You young folks have it easy now with your digital prototyping tools!)

Despite frequently jotting down notes on my laptop during the pandemic, I reverted to traditional notebooks. Typing during video calls felt cumbersome, and my loud keystrokes often distracted others.

I currently have around 30 filled notebooks accumulating in a corner of my office, and I can't bring myself to part with them. However, this method presents two significant issues: I seldom take the time to review and consolidate notes, and searching for specific information is often a challenge. My colleagues have likely grown accustomed to me pausing mid-discussion, saying, “Hold on, I noted something relevant,” while I sift through my recent notes.

Enter the Remarkable 2.

Chapter 2: A New Beginning with the Remarkable 2

I stumbled upon the Remarkable 2 last summer when a talented friend, Catherine, was passionately writing on digital paper during a workshop. I was instantly intrigued—how had I not known about this device? I had never been drawn to using iPads with a stylus, but the feel of this particular tablet convinced me it was something I needed in my life.

Founder Magnus Wanberg posed an interesting question: why do we still write when so many digital tools exist? He realized that paper is the quintessential thinking tool, enhancing focus and freeing our minds to explore ideas without the constraints of distractions.

Yes! I crave fewer distractions.

I gifted myself a Remarkable for Christmas but only recently set it up, and let me tell you, I am absolutely enamored. It may not be flawless, but who is? The ability to adjust my writing style at will? Simply amazing. The accuracy with which it converts handwriting to text and allows for easy exports? Unbelievable.

I can pinch and zoom, swipe to create additional space, organize notebooks into labeled folders, and even search through my notes. Importing PDFs and annotating them? Drawing diagrams? Cutting and pasting my creations? Real-time syncing?! I’m in love!

It's still early in my journey with the device, and I’ve already managed to wear down my first pen tip, but thankfully, it came with extra nibs.

While I could achieve similar results on any modern tablet with the right apps, this experience feels distinct. I am captivated by the nostalgic feel of paper and the absence of blue light. The scrolling pages of my "notebook" allow me to seamlessly continue from where I left off, making it easy to reference previous meeting notes.

I enjoy the ability to change backgrounds at will—lines, grids, dots, blanks, even music staves. I doodle in the margins and can highlight text, which exports in yellow, while everything else remains in grayscale.

And just think of the savings on Pilot G2 1.0 bold gel pens! Although I’ll still send paper cards for that personal touch.

The first video showcases a beginner-friendly tutorial for creating a Valentine's Day love letter using Procreate, including a free toolkit.

Chapter 3: Embracing Change

What tools are you currently using for note-taking? Any favorite apps or gadgets? Are there other Remarkable users out there? Who else has old devices tucked away in a box? I’d love to hear your thoughts! Feel free to leave a comment below.

The second video explains how to install Feel Write 2 on a reMarkable 2, enhancing your note-taking experience.

Maura Charles is the founder of Keep it Human. As a Product Leadership Coach and Consultant, she is dedicated to helping teams and organizations integrate essential human skills like communication and emotional intelligence into their workflows. With 25 years of experience as an editor, product manager, and digital business leader, she tackles the challenges of building high-performing, human-centered tech teams.

To cultivate more human-centric business and tech teams that work in harmony to achieve results, visit Keep it Human and connect with Maura Charles on LinkedIn.