Just a quick note to say that I’ve published my review of the Penstar eNote 2, and its firmware (PenstarOS 2.0). Here’s the links:
For those that don’t have the time to read my lengthy reviews, here’s the TL;DR.
The more I used the eNote 2, the more I appreciated it. There’s no touchscreen, so navigation has to be performed using the stylus and physical buttons, which did have a bit of a learning curve, but also had benefits (e.g. there was no accidental page turns from my palm resting on the screen). The omission of the capacitive layer and frontlight layer also resulted in a very crisp and sharp screen (one of the best I’ve seen in recent years). The screen clarity and physical page-turn buttons also makes the eNote 2 a very capable 10″ ebook reading device.
Both the note-taking app and reading app, whilst not quite the best on the market (in my opinion) are still very good. However, I did have some issues with sideloading third-party apps (there’s no Google Play Store), and I couldn’t get my Google Drive working with it. Also the companion app was a pain to get installed (because, again, it is not available in the Google Play Store so has to be downloaded and sideloaded). This made integrating the eNote 2 into existing workflows a bit of a ballache. I’m sure I could have gotten everything to work eventually, but, quite frankly, did not have the time to play around with it – and, as I said, much of this points to lack of Google Certification, which offers a simple point-and-click installation interface.
But, as a standalone reading and writing device (without the bells and whistles of third-party apps, cloud drives, companion apps etc.), I very much enjoyed using it.
Buying options
Penstar devices can be purchased from:
Hey Dan, I’ve read just about everything you’ve written and am still not sure what would be best for what I’m wanting to use e-ink for. I am a teacher and want a way to organize handwritten notes, ideas, and plans without them getting lost in my Google Drive or some random notebook. I’d like to journal and be able to not have everyone read it. I think it would be cool to upload templates for lists, calendar, gratitude, ideas, thought mapping, and anything else. I want something that’s intuitive and travel friendly but big enough that I can have all the resources I’d need to do any planning wherever I am. Reading on it would be a perk, but I’m mostly looking for an organization system for writing…and not trying to break the bank b/c the hubs will have a fit if I get it and don’t use it 😂 What do you recommend?
Hey Michelle,
Thanks for commenting.
I find the Supernote devices to be great for structured note-taking and organisation. Personally I use the Supernote Manta daily, but it is a bit expensive, so the smaller, more portable Supernote Nomad may be a better option for you. Other options might be the Boox Go 10.3, or Viwoods AI Paper (which were both less than $400 last time I checked).
Hope this helps,
Dan