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Are digital notepads worth it?

77 replies

somanychristmaslights · 20/09/2026 19:10

I make lots of notes in my job, normally just to jot things down but then I end up losing them, or I turn the page and forget about it etc. Are digital notepads worth it? Was thinking it might get me more organised with not losing things I’ve written down 🤦🏻‍♀️

OP posts:
WindyBeech · 22/09/2026 22:51

I historically used notebooks, then tried Rocket Books (the ones that you take a photo in an app and then either wipe clean or microwave to reset them). I found taking the photo was too time-consuming, and I also went through an awful lot of pages sometimes, which meant I was needing to take pictures so I could have some new blank pages while I was still in the middle of a conference.

I went back to notebooks (much better quality), but then wanted to scan everything and label it so it was archived against each client, which just takes a ridiculous amount of time. Otherwise, you don't have access to the old notes, which are still relevant and needed, so I found myself carrying around two notebooks most of the time: the current and the past.

I tried using my iPad, but the screen brightness distracted me and others in the meeting so it really wasn't ideal. I also found that if I needed to write on it standing up, it was very awkward, and the screen was slippery. Also, because you could see your emails, someone would say, "Oh, can you just look this up or check the calendar on this date?"

When I got the reMarkable 2 and started using it, nobody noticed at first, which was exactly what I wanted. Personally, I pay the Connect subscription which is £40 a year as I want my notes backed up. Otherwise, if you lose the Remarkable, it's the same as losing your notepad, everything is gone. I really appreciate the sync function, my notes sync to my PC, my laptop, and my mobile. I can type text into the reMarkable on any of those devices if I need to, and sync it back to the actual reMarkable "notebook". I'm lucky work paid for it, but with hindsight and having used it for several years, I would buy it myself if I needed to now, because the convenience and efficiency it's given me has saved hundreds of hours. There's nothing like being able to look back and tell somebody on this date they said XYZ. I do write lists in it, and Claude is pretty good at deciphering my handwriting to turn them into actions if I give it a screenshot, but I don't bother with turning my writing into text. It's not generally neat enough, and the notes are for me.

I know the best way for me to remember things is to write them down. I often can tell someone exactly where I was when I wrote something and which part of the page it was on, so the reMarkable works really well for me to keep that memory link going.

For those talking about recording meetings or typing: recording, you obviously need permission from the other participants. In my experience, people generally talk much more freely when they don't think they're being recorded. Typing: I can type very well, but again, it's a distraction. You turn up to a meeting, you potentially need power, the screen can become a barrier between you and the outside world, and, again, in my experience, it's really easy to get distracted. 90% of my meetings are in person, so perhaps if they were online, I would think differently.

eurochick · 23/09/2026 07:40

I use OneNote on my iPad with an Apple Pencil. The handwriting to text function isn’t great, but it synchs seamlessly with my laptop which is a huge plus.

LivingDeadGirlUK · 23/09/2026 07:44

BirdIsBoredOfFlying · 21/09/2026 19:18

Following as I’ve also been considering remarkable. For those who use iPads, does the iPad not get hot under your hand? Mine does and I find it unusable because of it

I have a case with a bit you can hook your hand through so its easier to hold.

macshoto · 23/09/2026 08:44

I used my iPad and Google Keep extensively at work. When we had to migrate to Microsoft OneNote I found I didn’t like it as much, but both were better than having a series of paper notebooks!

CloudyWithAChanceOfCustard · 23/09/2026 09:30

prejudiceandpride · 21/09/2026 19:05

I'm thinking of an Ipad Air with the goodnotes app which my daughter uses for uni and loves.

I have an iPad Air with the Magic Keyboard. It’s brilliant! I bought the 13inch one and my laptop is now basically redundant 😂

ItsABatFaceThing · 23/09/2026 13:49

I nearly pushed the button on it yesterday but didn’t. Can’t make my mind up

I don’t want to link it to anything - simply want to write notes, be able to add to them, arrange them in ‘notebooks’ and convert them to text

ItsABatFaceThing · 23/09/2026 13:52

And a silly question …. Say I wrote up my notes and converted them to text and saved them

where are they then? How do I locate them again? Trying to picture it

ToothpasteDownMyTop · 23/09/2026 15:02

DH sold his and replaced it with an iPad. DS also uses his iPad in this way for uni.

pontefractals · 23/09/2026 15:31

ToothpasteDownMyTop · 23/09/2026 15:02

DH sold his and replaced it with an iPad. DS also uses his iPad in this way for uni.

Do they handwrite or type? I'm interested in being able to physically write things down without having loads of paper notes. I've tried writing on a tablet and it wasn't brilliant.

Jellycatspyjamas · 23/09/2026 15:46

I’ve been withering about this for ages. I have a lot of meetings and projects in the go at any one time and trying to find notes and keep all my thoughts about a project in one place feels like a job in its own right.

So, for people already using a digital notebook could I take notes in a meeting - maybe covering 3 different projects, and save each of the notes to the individual project while also keeping the full meeting notes in one place?

ToothpasteDownMyTop · 23/09/2026 16:25

pontefractals · 23/09/2026 15:31

Do they handwrite or type? I'm interested in being able to physically write things down without having loads of paper notes. I've tried writing on a tablet and it wasn't brilliant.

He writes by hand too.

HermioneWeasley · 23/09/2026 16:30

Jellycatspyjamas · 23/09/2026 15:46

I’ve been withering about this for ages. I have a lot of meetings and projects in the go at any one time and trying to find notes and keep all my thoughts about a project in one place feels like a job in its own right.

So, for people already using a digital notebook could I take notes in a meeting - maybe covering 3 different projects, and save each of the notes to the individual project while also keeping the full meeting notes in one place?

Yes. On goodnotes it’s super easy to “lasso” text you want to cut or copy and could copy it across to another notebook or whiteboard to whatever

Dandeloosha · 23/09/2026 16:32

I use an iPad with a paper effect overlay, a iPad pen, and Notability to write on. It can convert written text to type, and you can easily add voice notes (which it will convert to text if you want), images, etc. and it will also analyse what you’ve written.

Jellycatspyjamas · 23/09/2026 16:37

HermioneWeasley · 23/09/2026 16:30

Yes. On goodnotes it’s super easy to “lasso” text you want to cut or copy and could copy it across to another notebook or whiteboard to whatever

Thank you, I’m right in thinking good notes is for iPad?

LifeBeginsToday · 23/09/2026 16:39

I use a Pukka Pad for £5 and a pack of Paper Mate pens 4 for £10. I can't imagine paying £££ for an e notebook and then paying for a subscription on top.

HermioneWeasley · 23/09/2026 16:44

Jellycatspyjamas · 23/09/2026 16:37

Thank you, I’m right in thinking good notes is for iPad?

Yes

WhatTheEffffff · 23/09/2026 17:00

Mumteedum · 21/09/2026 20:35

For the remarkable users, is it still a subscription?

It is if you want to sync across devices, yes.

somanychristmaslights · 23/09/2026 23:01

8TinyToeBeans · 22/09/2026 19:30

I use ReMarkable. I spent a good amount of time researching and went with them because I wanted the ability to work totally offline and never have my work sync to the cloud or anything like that. I don’t use the subscription and it is always in airplane mode. I move content manually by connecting it to my laptop.
The disconnection is important for security if using it for work stuff, and you also need to consider whether it is allowed in your workplace, for example, I can’t use it for notes for one project cause the client bans all e-ink devices.

I also love that ReMarkable doesn’t have extra features. It is simple a very good e-ink device so there’s no distractions! They picked what they intended to do and did it well. Just be very careful about putting it on top of magnetic things cause it messes up the screen, apparently. I’m very neurotic about that.

What do you mean you move content manually? I have a work laptop so would want to send my notes sometimes to the laptop.

OP posts:
8TinyToeBeans · 24/09/2026 08:11

somanychristmaslights · 23/09/2026 23:01

What do you mean you move content manually? I have a work laptop so would want to send my notes sometimes to the laptop.

If you connect it to a pc or laptop with the usb cable, the ReMarkable just appears like any external hard drive and you copy the file off onto your laptop.

blessedarethequichemakers · 24/09/2026 09:14

No one on the thread seems to have a scribe. I’m hoping to get one during next prime day (6/7 October). I’m enticed by having my books and a digital notebook in the same place. Also, no subscription to access things like OneDrive.

ItsABatFaceThing · 24/09/2026 09:17

@blessedarethequichemakers I looked at those I must admit but I have a newish kindle coloursoft and for me, I genuinely just want to have lots of virtual notebooks in one place!

pontefractals · 24/09/2026 10:15

blessedarethequichemakers · 24/09/2026 09:14

No one on the thread seems to have a scribe. I’m hoping to get one during next prime day (6/7 October). I’m enticed by having my books and a digital notebook in the same place. Also, no subscription to access things like OneDrive.

I really liked the idea but they are massive! If there was a normal kindle-sized version I'd be sold.

ItsABatFaceThing · 24/09/2026 17:29

Ok so I went for it

remarkable paper pure arriving later on today

InfiniteTeas · 24/09/2026 17:49

Another vote for an iPad with Goodnotes and an iPad pen. I also have the paperlike screen protector which feels more like writing in a notepad.

ednaclouda · Yesterday 20:18

Megamegablahblah · 21/09/2026 17:56

I use Microsoft Office's One Note. It just is a bit better for me as it is already on the laptop. Has organised tabs etc.

one note changed my life its a godsend
and I now have learnt that it does audio scribing love it love it even better