Organizing for Change

Note: This was originally published on my Patreon page as a members-only discussion and is now being shared in the new year. I also did a follow-up video that you can access below: Well, it’s Officially been one week since I received and opened the Supernote A5X2 Manta. You can see my unboxing video above. I have to admit that the device has been a joy to use so far. My content came over seamlessly from my A5X and the writing feel is almost identical. As a heavy user of the Supernote platform, I want to share my first thoughts after one week of use. We will start with the opportunities and move on to improvements. Opportunities Software Consistency - This is something that is easily fixed. I know that in the lead up to the Manta release, Ratta was releasing software updates direct, without first doing beta releases. While I understand the pressure to just "get it done," I think that came at a price. Here are just a few things that are currently not consistent:   Touch Input  ...

Well, the wait is finally over, the Supernote Manta (A5X2) is finally here, as well as a surprise new LAMY collaboration. There has been much excitement, anticipation, frustration, and what some might call drama surrounding this device. However, it appears now that Ratta, the manufacturer of Supernote, has delivered on their promise to release what some see as a groundbreaking device in the e-note space. After all, this is only the second device to be modular in design (the other being the Supernote Nomad). While this is more of an announcement post, I plan to be releasing a fair bit of content on the device, putting it through its paces. For now, I am happy to share my unboxing and first impressions: I do want to make clear (also stated in the video) that the device was sent to me by Ratta for review. I have not been asked to provide any specific opinions or get authorization for any content prior to or after release. All my opinions, observations, and conclusions are completely un...

Warning, this is a lengthy post, but this topic really struck a nerve. As someone who was in the customer service space for over 25 years (more depending on some definitions), I have had a difficult time watching the descent of the discussion on Reddit in the Supernote community. What used to be a place for serious discussion and support, both by community members and the company, has devolved into a constant barrage of hate, vitriol, and drama. Don't get me wrong, Ratta is not perfect as a company, and I have been a leading proponent of them not being as restrictive on comments about other competitors. While I recognize their right to do so, I just think it's a bad look from a public relations perspective. Additionally, the delays surrounding the A5X2 and the decision to reduce transparency has caused even more angst. Acknowledging all of that, there is something even more insidious at play here. First, we need to examine what started this firestorm. In October, Ratta rele...

Editors Note: As mentioned in the introduction, this was written as part of the creation of a video on the same topic. Additionally, the bulk of the writing was done completely on the Supernote, as mentioned. Unfortunately, it did take more time for this initial use than I feel it would as you continued to work with the process. I am also aware that my conclusion section may seem overly long, but at the same time, I really got into the flow of writing with the keyboard in that section. I do really appreciate the approach of the Supernote team regarding writing in Word. This entire blog is going to be written in the Supernote with native word document format. While this may seem like a crazy workflow, you will notice that it does take on different characteristics and the advantage over reMarkable and other platforms is that whatever I do on my A5X is immediately available in Word on my PC. We will discuss all three ways to write on the Supernote, clean it up in Word by opening from the...

This is probably one of the biggest questions I get asked. So, why don't I use a planner? I know that I have talked about some of these reasons before, but let's dive a little more deeply into it. Before doing so, please understand that I am in no way minimizing or looking to say that planners are not useful for a whole lot of people, including my lovely wife. However, I just feel that they keep me from working the way I want and need to, keeping me from being the most successful version of myself. You may be asking why something designed to be efficient could be inefficient for someone. That’s a great question, and not easily answered. As with most things related to productivity, there is nuance. I know everyone wants straightforward solutions, but generally those are as elusive as things that promise to be too good to be true. For example, even though I don't use a planner, I do plan extensively. I use my Google Tasks heavily. I also use the Supernote ToDo function ...

Just recently, I achieved a milestone that was not even initially a goal when starting my YouTube Channel . After all, I was not a professional video editor. I had no background in YouTube or video production, other than working in the educational space with recorded lectures, instructional design, and educational technologies. Beyond wanting to develop my skill set and as a hobby, I thought YouTube and blogging might be a good way to share some useful information for professionals looking to better organize their time and work lives. Again, I had no idea that this might be something people would really subscribe to. I was really inspired to try this by several people in the e-ink space when I was researching my eventual purchase of the Supernote . Right before turning 50 in December of last year, I decided to jump in and try to create something. Admittedly, my first few videos were rough, and not something I feel was my best work. I started with a 4K document camera that doubled as my...

Welcome to our final installment on three years with the Supernote A5X. This particular post will look at some of the most important enhancements that have happened since I purchased the device. Hopefully, the other two posts have given you an idea of why I chose Supernote as my platform, how I use it, and a glimpse of why I continue to do so. As a long-term owner of this piece of technology, hopefully this is a perspective you have found useful The image above is not an over exaggeration as to the the updates, new features, improvements, and functions that have happened in that span of time. However, we will only be looking at new features here, and why I believe they represent something important. While I understand that this is a long post, I promise that you will find the information useful if you stick with me until the end. If you want the TLDR, you can skip to the comments sections, but you may regret missing something important.  2021 Additions April 26 Added date format op...

Welcome to our second article in the series examining my first 3 years with the Supernote A5X. After making the decision to purchase the device, I was very impatient and tracked it through DHL multiple times a day. Luckily, it arrived earlier than expected. Now that I had the A5X, it was time to get started. Below are some things to consider and how I incorporated the device into my workflow.  Don't Let it Sit Probably one of the best pieces of advice I can give after buying a new piece of technology is to  use it!  I know this may seem obvious, but think about it. How many times have we gotten a new gadget and been all excited, only to end up getting frustrated and putting it on a shelf or in a drawer? That would be the biggest mistake you can make if you feel like you made the purchase for the right reasons .  When I first got the Supernote, I started writing with it right away. Luckily, it arrived over a weekend and I was able to play around with the features, get...