Relating to capturing ideas, you’re offered with two decisions: the basic pen-and-paper method or the digital route utilizing devices just like the iPad with the Apple Pencil. But, every methodology has its limitations. Conventional pen and paper endure from the inconvenience of managing a number of notebooks, whereas the iPad, in my expertise, lacks a pure really feel. However what if there existed a tool seamlessly mixing the strengths of each—providing a distraction-free various?

After a month of intensive use, accompanied by its numerous equipment, I’m able to share my insights. On this overview, I’ll define the pill’s target market, use instances, and its integration into my day by day workflow.

As a tech journalist, my writing is a day by day affair, totally on my MacBook. However typically, once I’m writing opinions like this one, I’ve discovered myself longing to put in writing utilizing pen and paper. Makes an attempt with the iPad Air and Apple Pencil 2 proved lower than passable, primarily because of the lack of pure really feel and inaccurate conversion of handwritten notes to textual content.

The Exceptional 2, nevertheless, offered a transformative expertise. Writing on it felt not solely pure but in addition introduced forth the sensory points, from the sound to the display screen’s texture. The comfort of effortlessly having handwritten notes on my pc can also be a useful characteristic. I discovered Exceptional 2’s potential to transform my handwritten notes to textual content surprisingly correct.

It barely misses, and that’s what makes the expertise priceless to me. In reality, this overview was handwritten on the Exceptional 2 itself and later transformed to textual content utilizing the in-built characteristic. Later, you may simply copy the textual content from the Exceptional app on cellular or desktop. It simply works.

Earlier than Diving Additional, Let Us Perceive What Units the Exceptional 2 Aside

Have you ever seen Kindle e-readers with their paper-like e-ink shows? Effectively, Exceptional 2 does characteristic the identical tech, however in a vastly completely different kind issue; not solely is the Exceptional 2 means thinner, however it’s also barely bigger than your Kindles.

Exceptional, the corporate, is predicated out of Norway, and it calls the Exceptional 2 a “paper pill.” The pill options the corporate’s second-generation Canvas show, and that’s what permits for the paper-like texture and the quick writing expertise. That stated, just like the Kindle, the Exceptional 2 will be additionally used for studying and has the flexibility to simply accept PDF information and extra, however its actual potential lies in being a thinker’s system—one thing you may take anyplace and begin jotting down what’s in your thoughts or another person’s.

Design, Construct, and the Brains

Coming to the shape issue, nicely, it’s much like your on a regular basis dominated pocket book that you’d discover in a university pupil’s bag. The general construct is just put, wonderful. It feels solidly constructed and made to final. That is relevant for equipment as nicely. The enjoyable half is—regardless of being the “world’s thinnest pill,” at 4.7mm thick, the system doesn’t compromise on the battery life.

In my utilization, I’ve solely needed to cost the pill twice in virtually a month—as soon as upon unboxing it, and later, after a number of weeks. Now I’m sitting at round 8%, needing a cost. Which means, on a single cost, the three,000 mAh battery can final for nearly two weeks.

As for specs, nicely, they shouldn’t actually matter for a tool such because the Exceptional 2, however nonetheless, it’s powered by a 1.2 GHz Twin-Core ARM-based SoC, comes with 1GB LPDDR3 RAM, and 8GB inner storage. The show itself is a ten.3-inch e-ink monochrome panel with 226PPI.

Now, you’d assume, is 8GB storage in 2024 sufficient? The easy reply is sure. To retailer your digital notebooks and fast sheets, there’s barely any house that you just want. Even for those who import PDFs and EPUBs, it’s extremely unlikely that you’ll replenish the Exceptional 2. I raised this with the corporate’s administration, and so they voiced the identical sentiment.

Exceptional 2, Distractions, and You

The draw back of utilizing laptops, Android tablets, or iPads for analysis and note-taking lies in fixed distractions—shopping, video games, and video streaming. The Exceptional 2 eliminates these distractions, offering an atmosphere solely to your ideas.

Throughout the India launch occasion, the corporate described the Exceptional 2 as a product designed for deep thinkers—data staff and those that make a dwelling by considering. This resonates with my expertise; the pill permits me to finish duties extra effectively, because of its distraction-free nature. Coupled with digital conveniences, it turns into a no-nonsense product that’s positioned at a sure consumer group. Nevertheless, doesn’t that make it a distinct segment product?

I requested the identical throughout my discussions with the corporate on the launch occasion in New Delhi; Mats Herding, Chief Design Officer at Exceptional, instructed me that they don’t see the Exceptional 2 as a distinct segment product. This stance, contemplating the premium pricing and restricted use case, is likely to be difficult to simply accept.

Nonetheless, for the supposed goal, the product excels. Nevertheless, in a price-sensitive market like India, convincing patrons to put money into a tool exceeding Rs 40,000 over an Apple iPad with an analogous kind issue and extra functionalities poses a problem. So, the query stays:

Why Purchase the Exceptional 2?

Merely put, it’s a system that takes you again to the fundamentals—a ‘dumb’ system, if you’ll. Nevertheless it does this extraordinarily nicely. Not solely are you able to focus in your thought course of, with out the frills of the web, social media notifications bothering you. I recall taking it to a espresso store with out my laptop computer or iPad, and that’s when it really facilitated deep work. Activate the “Do Not Disturb” mode in your telephone, and also you’re good to go.

Moreover, I’ve been utilizing the Sort Folio keyboard accent, priced at Rs 19,499. It permits typing on a full-sized keyboard, offering a pleasant expertise with its MacBook-like key journey and user-friendly design. Attaching it’s a breeze, and as soon as linked, you may merely neglect about it.

The Exceptional 2, as a standalone system, prices Rs 43,999, inclusive of the pill and the Marker Plus. Alternatively, a combo pack, that includes the pill, Marker Plus, and the E-book Folio in grey polymer weave end, is priced at Rs 53,799. Whereas the fee could appear premium, few gadgets effectively carry out the duties dealt with by the Exceptional 2, making it a justifiable funding for the goal demographic.

How It Works

To make use of the Exceptional 2, you don’t need to do a lot. When you energy on the pill, you will have two choices to get began: create a Pocket book or create a Fast Sheet. There are numerous templates you may select from, which mimic real-world notebooks—lined, dominated, clean, guidelines, dots, grid—you title it, and the pill doubtless has it. That is important for individuals who will use the Exceptional 2 as their most important note-taking software. The system’s software program can also be as minimalistic because it will get. Nevertheless, you do get the flexibility to filter by file sorts, set favorites, add tags, and extra.

There aren’t any net browsers or apps to distract you. As a result of that’s not what that is made for. All you are able to do is—take high-quality notes you can concurrently sync, see on different shows—opening up a slew of use instances.

Coming to writing itself, the expertise, as you’d count on, is seamless and simply sensible. There’s hardly any latency you are feeling whereas writing, and the strokes are fairly exact. I totally had enjoyable scribbling away, making doodles, and naturally, jotting down notes for numerous tales I used to be engaged on.

What Might Have Been Higher?

A minor gripe revolves across the Marker Plus tip’s put on and tear. As soon as the equipped ideas (9 further ideas included with the Marker Plus) are exhausted, it’s costly to purchase a brand new set of ideas. At present, on Amazon, the place Exceptional formally sells the pill, I can solely see imported (non-official) ideas being offered for as a lot as Rs 5,000, and that isn’t low-cost by any means in any way. So, this can be a factor one should have in mind whereas investing within the product.

One other gripe I’ve with the product is its subscription mannequin. Whereas Exceptional Join is offered free for a yr upon buy, costing Rs 299 monthly thereafter, it seems an expensive proposition for long-term use. To entry sync and limitless cloud storage—thought of main promoting factors—subscription to Exceptional Join turns into important. The service might doubtlessly be extra budget-friendly, particularly in a market like India, the place even main streaming platforms have adjusted their pricing.

One other side of the product that will or could not hassle some customers is the absence of a backlight. Nevertheless, for those who look at the corporate’s advertising and marketing copy, it promotes this as a characteristic. The rationale behind this selection is to make the pill extra akin to paper, which lacks a backlight. If paper doesn’t have a backlight, why ought to a pill mimicking it have one as nicely, proper? Effectively, for some, this could be a deal-breaker as a result of it’s virtually not possible to make use of it with out ambient mild. So, for those who have a tendency to put in writing in dim environments (which you is probably not doing), this system isn’t for you.

Verdict – If You Can Extract Worth, Go for It

I gained’t say that the Exceptional 2 is an absolute necessity in your life. Nevertheless, for those who derive satisfaction from handwritten notes, crave the texture of pen and paper with out the related limitations, and worth a distraction-free atmosphere, then this system is value contemplating. The worth is likely to be a degree of rivalry for some, questioning the funding in a tool with a singular focus.

Whereas some could query the rationale behind investing in a tool that specialises in a single operate, particularly when it comes with a price ticket much like that of an iPad, those that prioritise deep considering and worth focus over multi-functionality would possibly discover this system to be an indispensable software. I like to recommend people who have interaction in deep considering, executives, researchers, and even sure college students to discover this selection and examine if it suits into their day by day routines.

Bear in mind, the Exceptional 2 gained’t exchange present gadgets like laptops or different tablets; its goal lies in changing your pen and pocket book. So, replicate on whether or not reaching a distraction-free expertise on a “sensible” system is difficult for you, and if that’s the case, assume whether or not the Rs 43,990 funding is justified.