November 30, 2025
Ink vs. apps: who wins?
Hacking on the ReMarkable 2
Gorgeous to write on, but no apps and a subscription spark a comment war
TLDR: ReMarkable 2 nails pen-on-paper writing but lacks handy reading features and nudges users toward a $29.90/year cloud plan. Commenters split between wanting an app store and open syncing versus rejecting subscriptions, spotlighting a bigger battle over control versus distraction-free design.
A fresh love letter to the reMarkable 2 just dropped: dreamy pen-on-paper vibes, low lag, and that satisfying Marker Plus eraser. But the honeymoon hit turbulence fast. The author says touch gestures feel clumsy, sheet music tools are missing, and the company’s Connect service (link)—$29.90/year with free-plan cloud deletions after 50 days—lurks like a paywall in the wings.
Cue the comments exploding into a culture war. One camp demands an app store and real hackability—think “RSS on e‑paper” fantasies and “No Apps, No Peace” energy. Another camp defends the minimalist, distraction-free vibe, with a practical twist: just open up the sync API so folks can automatically access their cloud files. Then there’s the subscription skeptics shouting “paper tablet, magazine subscription,” joking they’d rather carry actual paper than pay to keep notes in the cloud.
Drama highlight: mholm’s “wasted potential” take clashed with fans who enjoy the simple interface, while devn0ll went full caps-lock on the subscription. Meanwhile, a calm voice (danilafe) likes almost everything—just wants easier syncing. The mood? Gorgeous hardware, divisive ecosystem. The jokes? “Pen-first, paywall-second” and “e‑ink that won’t let me ink an RSS.”
Key Points
- •The reMarkable 2 provides a strong handwriting experience with low latency and natural stylus friction.
- •The Marker Plus stylus with an eraser is recommended for easier corrections.
- •Touch gestures are inconsistent and require more pressure; physical buttons from the first model are missed.
- •Connect subscription ($29.90/year) adds unlimited cloud storage, app editing, templates, screen sharing, and extended warranty; the free plan reportedly deletes cloud files after 50 days of inactivity.
- •For sheet music, useful features like per‑page cropping, half‑page turns, and single‑touch page turning are missing, limiting performance use.