This $600 tablet for 'paper people' is the best use of E Ink I've ever seen

ReMarkable tablet

The new reMarkable tablet isn't for everyone.

In fact, it's specifically designed for an exclusive subset of people: those who prefer reading and writing on paper over using digital screens.

That mentality shines through when using the tablet, which is now in the hands of its first customers that have waited months to get their hands on the device.

The reMarkable tablet costs $599 and is currently being delivered to those who preordered the device — reMarkable says they've already sold 36,000 units. If you buy a tablet today, you should get it in October.

I had the chance to test the reMarkable tablet over the last few weeks to see if it stands up to its promise of being the top tablet for "paper people" and the most successful implementation of E Ink to date. Here's what I found:

A specialty product for a very specific group of people

Let's get this out of the way right off the bat: The reMarkable tablet costs $599.

For $600, you're getting a tablet that doesn't have apps and can't play video. If you're looking for a tablet that's more a full-service computer replacement, this is not the device for you.

The reMarkable tablet is very much a specialty product, and it's meant for a very specific group of people: Academics, designers, architects, lawyers — anyone who uses a lot of paper. It's capable of downloading ebooks and sending emails as well as drawing and writing, but otherwise the tablet is an extremely focused device and certainly not for everyone.

I do consider myself a "paper person." I'm someone who's excited by the prospect of reading physical books and taking notes by hand. I stare at a computer screen all day for work, so by the end of the day, my eyes need a break from LCD displays. The reMarkable tablet uses E Ink, which is the same technology used in devices like Kindles and Pebble watches.

For that reason alone, I loved the experience of using reMarkable. It feels a lot like the early Kindles, but with a modern touches. Using it was a pleasant break from being constantly connected, and it was nice to have an excuse to doodle or write down to-do lists and notes.

Clean, stylish design — if a little dated

The reMarkable tablet is about the length and width of a sheet of paper. It's lightweight — it weighs a bit less than an iPad at 0.77 pounds — and could easily fit in a briefcase, backpack, or tote bag.

reMarkable is touch-based, but it also has three physical buttons on the bottom of the device. The middle button takes you back to the home screen, and the right and left buttons turn the page.

While I appreciated the physical buttons, it was here that I felt the design of the tablet fell short: The layout and size of the buttons makes the tablet look dated, especially in an age when companies like Apple and Samsung are removing as many buttons as possible.

One thing I really liked: The back of the reMarkable tablet is brushed metal, which helped the tablet feel more high-end.

A premium touch

The reMarkable tablet comes with a felted sleeve to protect it, which has a leather slot for the included pen. These touches help the tablet feel more premium and, design-wise, are chic and modern. So many other gadgets require you to buy a separate case, so the fact that reMarkable ships with a folio is much appreciated.

See the rest of the story at Business Insider