When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Heres how it works.
Sure, the inking functionality is overly simplistic compared to the popular (and more expensive)reMarkable2.
Plus, Amazon has promised software enhancements to add more functionality around notetakingand some support for Microsoft Word.
E-ink and notetaking is great, so why is Microsoft not using it?
Its a good question.
A lot of my choice comes down to purpose.
Kindle Scribe has two functions: Read books and take notes.
Kindle Scribe’s inking abilities are limited, for now, but that’ll change with future updates.
It also feels more like pencil and paper due to the texturized display.
Basically, Scribe nails its two functions.
Inking on a Windows laptop for notetaking is excellent, especially when you leverage OneNote.
Lenovo Smart Paper (L) vs. Amazon Kindle Scribe (R).
But the experience is not quite as satisfying as using Scribe.
That comes down to the feeling as well as battery anxiety.
Those three things were extremely light to carry, and each had all-day battery life.
Lenovo’s new Smart Paper premiered at CES 2023 in Las Vegas.
That setup was the coolest one I have ever used.
Taking notes during interviews and meetings felt like I was using a notebook.
The lighting made it viewable in any condition.
(Image credit: Daniel Rubino)
And it was super fast to get into and out of it without the usual PC issues.
Lenovo Smart Paper and what about Microsoft?
While atCES 2023, I got hands-on with Lenovos forthcoming Smart Paper.
(Image credit: Daniel Rubino)
Its like Amazons Kindle Scribe in size and function but uses Android and is more open source.
Cloud support via Google is there as well.
Again, I would have loved for Lenovo Smart Paper to exist years ago.
(Image credit: Daniel Rubino)
The latency of the ink, the feel, the battery life, its all stellar stuff.
In addition, Lenovo lets you record audio while notetaking and play it back, just like Microsofts OneNote.
I wish Kindle did that, but perhaps later it will.
(Image credit: Daniel Rubino)
All this makes me wonder why Microsoft hasnt leaned more into E-ink.
Take notes in OneNote, save to OneDrive, or mail something off in Outlook.
View your calendar on the lock screen, etc.
(Image credit: Daniel Rubino)
However, a Microsoft Scribe-like gadget would benefit office workers, students, and journalists.
Not to mention such a machine would be much cheaper to purchase.
Of course, theres no evidence of Microsoft moving in on such a project, which is a shame.
But Microsoft, if youre listening, give it a thought, mkay?
It also includes a cover and a smart pen in the box.
