Pros and Cons: Getting Organized by Hand

Introduction

In my previous article, I introduced the idea of “Distraction Free Organizing” in terms of several methods. Some of these were paper-based, some a mix of manual and digital manipulation, and others fully digitized what used to only exist on paper. In this article, we will explore the specific pros and cons of each approach. We will also discuss my specific device and why I chose to buy it over the others after my research.

Pen or Pencil and Paper

Pros

This method keeps you away from screens, eliminates eye strain, reduces distractions, is inexpensive, and does not depend on hardware or software (although your brain is a supercomputer). Another, and possibly the most important benefit for those of us who have a lot of meetings, is the personal nature of notetaking. If you are writing, there is no barrier (i.e, a screen) between you and who you are communicating with.

Cons

The biggest and most obvious con is that if you use this approach there will be SO MANY NOTEBOOKS! This is not only hard on the environment but can be a mess for staying organized. I remember having notebooks everywhere, filled with valuable information that was not organized in any consistent way. We will not even talk about Post-it notes. Stacks of notebooks mean it is almost impossible to search for information unless you want to spend time transcribing the notes (into OneNote, Evernote, or a like product) or taking pictures and working OCR magic.

Reusable Planners and Notebooks

Device Links

• Boogie Board - https://myboogieboard.com/
• Rocketbook - https://getrocketbook.com/

Pros

Reusable notebooks are an eco-friendly way to replace paper, while also allowing swift organization of notes. Rocketbook allows for colorful expression and the use of different “smart tags” to create headings or custom text. The closest comparison is to a whiteboard-type surface that can be cleaned and re-used on a consistent basis. You just scan the page when you are done and erase the page. They also have “Beacons,” which turn a regular whiteboard into a digital surface when scanned. Notes can be captured as pictures or both OCR and an image. Smart tags and headings make this even more convenient. 

Boogie Board allows you to approach digital notes in two separate ways. One is to use their “Blackboard” slate and scan each page when you are done. Your notes are then digitized to be organized later. The other option still involves the slate but includes a “Smart Pen” that tracks every stroke to instantly digitize your writing in real-time. Both options are comparatively inexpensive and a quick way to enter the digital notetaking world.

Cons

Rocketbook, while colorful and reusable, has some drawbacks. First, they require you to use specific types of pens (Friction Pens) for the notebooks. These dry significantly faster than a regular dry erase pen, but can often still smear or smudge if you run your hand against them too quickly. Also, the Rocketbook OCR is decent and when used with Google Drive creates an editable Google Doc. However, the OCR is far from perfect and requires some processing. Additionally, there is a steep learning curve for the app and there are multiple options for getting the notes shared properly.

As for the Boogie Board, it is straightforward and user-friendly. However, it is just a picture of your notes. This does help with organization but does not have OCR as far as I am aware. Also, if you are using the Smart Pen, it is important to hold the pen the correct way for the camera to capture the strokes. This can be frustrating for those of us who might be a little "messy." 

E-Ink Tablets

Device Links

• Supernote – https://supernote.com
• Onyx Boox - https://onyxboox.com/
• Remarkable - https://remarkable.com/
• Kindle Scribe – https://amazon.com/scribe
• Bigme - https://bigmestore.com/
• Kobo Elipsa - https://us.kobobooks.com/products/kobo-elipsa

Pros

E-Ink is an up-and-coming device category with many benefits. The devices consume less energy, reduce eye strain, and are in a lot of cases far more portable than traditional laptops and tablets. As with e-readers, these devices tend to have better battery life, even with the color versions, than their LCD counterparts. Each of these devices has specific benefits.

The Remarkable and Supernote are arguably the best distraction-free note-taking experience. The Remarkable is also an exceptional drawing tablet and can combine both typed and handwriting when using its’ Typefolio. The Supernote is seen as a more dedicated writer but has productivity tools such as email connectivity to multiple mailboxes, a Kindle app, and a mostly complete calendar app that can sync with one shared calendar.

The Kobo Elipsa 2E and Kindle Scribe provide some of the same features (more closely related to the editing and note-taking functionality) but have exceptional reader experiences and are made for their current ecosystems.

Finally, with the Boox and Bigme devices, you get the full Android experience (although some apps may not be maximized). You also get different cross-platform compatibility and even color options that do not exist on the other devices. With Bigme, you even have the option of an A4 size device (think of a full-size pad of paper). Boox has dabbled in this size and Supernote is scheduled to release one next year, but they are not as prevalent.

Cons

For all these devices, price is a limiting factor. The underlying technology is still expensive and has not really hit the “mass market” level. Both the Remarkable and the Supernote are often seen as limited due to the lack of a front or backlight. The systems that run full Android (Boox and Bigme) tend to have reduced battery life (especially the color devices) and have more opportunities for distractions. Again, I completely understand the argument that one can self-regulate, but for some of us that is more difficult than others.

Three of the devices are completely closed systems (Remarkable, Kobo Elipsa, and Kindle Scribe). If you are a Kobo or Kindle fan, these may be the perfect devices for you, but otherwise, you are limiting your options, especially if you have switched systems at one point. As for Remarkable, it is completely proprietary and does not run any third-party apps. It has been compared in many cases to the “Apple” of e-ink technology.

Finally, the Supernote exists in a sort of middle space. While the device does have a Kindle app, the version of Android is very outdated, reducing some functionality, and the lack of other reading apps (Libby or Kobo) reduces its effectiveness as a cross-platform reader. Their cloud apps are not as developed as either Boox or Remarkable. There is also no way to view their proprietary note file in Google Drive or DropBox.

My Current Device

My current device of choice is the Supernote A5X. To me, it is the perfect blend of minimizing distractions and still allowing me to be “connected enough” to what I consider essential activities like my calendar (for work at least, although multiple calendar support is coming) and recent emails that could come while I am in a meeting. The important part though is that all of this is manual so unless I check my calendar or email, I am not interrupted by it. The Supernote also can view and markup EPUB, PDF, and other file formats. You can even edit or start Microsoft Word documents (with very limited formatting). Add to this the Kindle app and there are a lot of things this device can do. I will be doing more detailed demonstrations of my academic and personal use in the future, but for now, the links below provide very good technical overviews and impressions of many of these devices.

My Deep Guide

Kit Betts-Masters 

Brandon Boswell

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