With regards 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 technique 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 varied equipment, I’m able to share my insights. On this assessment, I’ll define the pill’s audience, use circumstances, and its integration into my each day workflow.
As a tech journalist, my writing is a each day affair, totally on my MacBook. However usually, after I’m writing evaluations 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 as a result of lack of pure really feel and inaccurate conversion of handwritten notes to textual content.
The Exceptional 2, nevertheless, supplied a transformative expertise. Writing on it felt not solely pure but in addition introduced forth the sensory facets, from the sound to the display’s texture. The comfort of effortlessly having handwritten notes on my laptop can be a useful function. I discovered Exceptional 2’s capacity to transform my handwritten notes to textual content surprisingly correct.
It barely misses, and that’s what makes the expertise priceless to me. In actual fact, this assessment was handwritten on the Exceptional 2 itself and later transformed to textual content utilizing the in-built function. Later, you possibly can simply copy the textual content from the Exceptional app on cell 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? Properly, Exceptional 2 does function the identical tech, however in a vastly completely different type issue; not solely is the Exceptional 2 manner thinner, however additionally it is 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 capacity lies in being a thinker’s system—one thing you possibly can 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 just like your on a regular basis dominated pocket book that you’d discover in a university scholar’s bag. The general construct is solely 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 couple 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 straightforward reply is sure. To retailer your digital notebooks and fast sheets, there may be barely any house that you just want. Even in case you import PDFs and EPUBs, it’s extremely unlikely that you’ll refill 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—looking, video games, and video streaming. The Exceptional 2 eliminates these distractions, offering an setting solely to your ideas.
In the course of the India launch occasion, the corporate described the Exceptional 2 as a product designed for deep thinkers—data employees and those that make a dwelling by means of pondering. This resonates with my expertise; the pill permits me to finish duties extra effectively, due to its distraction-free nature. Coupled with digital conveniences, it turns into a no-nonsense product that’s positioned at a sure person group. Nonetheless, 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, advised 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 objective, the product excels. Nonetheless, 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 type 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 actually facilitated deep work. Activate the “Do Not Disturb” mode in your cellphone, and also you’re good to go.
Moreover, I’ve been utilizing the Kind 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 possibly can 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 Ebook 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 must do a lot. When you energy on the pill, you’ve got two choices to get began: create a Pocket book or create a Fast Sheet. There are numerous templates you possibly can select from, which mimic real-world notebooks—lined, dominated, clean, guidelines, dots, grid—you title it, and the pill possible has it. That is important for individuals who will use the Exceptional 2 as their predominant note-taking software. The system’s software program can be as minimalistic because it will get. Nonetheless, you do get the flexibility to filter by file sorts, set favorites, add tags, and extra.
There aren’t any internet 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 which you could concurrently sync, see on different shows—opening up a slew of use circumstances.
Coming to writing itself, the expertise, as you’ll anticipate, is seamless and simply sensible. There’s hardly any latency you’re feeling whereas writing, and the strokes are fairly exact. I completely had enjoyable scribbling away, making doodles, and naturally, jotting down notes for varied 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 provided suggestions (9 further suggestions included with the Marker Plus) are exhausted, it’s costly to purchase a brand new set of suggestions. At present, on Amazon, the place Exceptional formally sells the pill, I can solely see imported (non-official) suggestions 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 be mindful whereas investing within the product.
One other gripe I’ve with the product is its subscription mannequin. Whereas Exceptional Join is supplied free for a 12 months upon buy, costing Rs 299 per thirty days 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 may probably 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 which will or could not bother some customers is the absence of a backlight. Nonetheless, in case you study the corporate’s advertising and marketing copy, it promotes this as a function. 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? Properly, for some, this is usually a deal-breaker as a result of it’s virtually not possible to make use of it with out ambient gentle. So, in case you have a tendency to put in writing in dim environments (which you might not be 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. Nonetheless, in case you derive satisfaction from handwritten notes, crave the texture of pen and paper with out the related limitations, and worth a distraction-free setting, then this system is value contemplating. The value 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 perform, particularly when it comes with a price ticket just like that of an iPad, those that prioritise deep pondering and worth focus over multi-functionality may discover this system to be an indispensable software. I like to recommend people who have interaction in deep pondering, executives, researchers, and even sure college students to discover this selection and verify if it suits into their each day routines.
Bear in mind, the Exceptional 2 gained’t exchange current gadgets like laptops or different tablets; its objective lies in changing your pen and pocket book. So, mirror on whether or not attaining a distraction-free expertise on a “good” system is difficult for you, and in that case, assume whether or not the Rs 43,990 funding is justified.
