[katabasis]

There is something very immediate about just picking up a notebook and jotting down your thoughts. Same goes for reading and annotating a printed document. It's a reflex, encoded into muscle memory.

The UX of the Remarkable is extremely simple, meaning that it doesn't get in the way when you are using it in this manner. Just pick it up, write something down, and set it aside again. But now you never have to worry about running out of paper.

I'm a photo nerd so I'll make an analogy from the world of cameras. The latest DSLR or mirrorless camera from Canon or Sony might have the best features and technical capabilities, but there are a zillion menus and settings to navigate. Meanwhile maybe you've missed the "decisive moment" for your shot already. Compare that to something like a Leica. A Leica is also very expensive for what it does, and it only has 3 settings: aperture, shutter speed, and ISO (sensor/film sensitivity). But to a trained photographer, this camera with its unchanging interface can become an extension of one's eye, used with a speed that is instinctual.

In comparison to the Remarkable (or to a Leica), I think a lot of the tech we use in our everyday lives is cognitively exhausting. Much of the processing power of the human brain is dedicated to muscle memory, haptic feedback, and the like. "Don't make me think" will always be the best user experience.