My new iPad Mini

I’ve experimented with many e-ink devices over the past few years, hoping to find a device that could help reduce distractions and make it easier to read books and online articles. Some even had note-taking capabilities that I swore would “change my life.”

Every one of them has failed me (or perhaps I should say, I failed them).

My Journey Through Devices

My first e-ink device was the Amazon Kindle. I don’t remember which version, but I’ve almost always had the most recent Paperwhite. If you’re embedded in the Amazon Kindle ecosystem and only read, these Kindles are great. But that’s all they’re good for.

My first e-ink note-taking device was the reMarkable 2. I still think this is a great device for taking notes. However, over time, I simply stopped using it. The reading experience was excellent, but getting content onto the device was a challenge. Things may be better in the newer reMarkable Paper Pro, but wow, it’s expensive.

I sold my reMarkable 2 and purchased an iPad Pro, thinking it would solve all my problems. It turned out to be a great device for consuming video, but too bulky for reading books and articles. Note-taking is great, thanks to the diverse app options and the Apple Pencil. Yet, I never used it much for notes. I like handwriting notes but found the iPad Pro simply too bulky.

I again focused on the e-ink world and tried out the Boox Palma. It seemed like a great portable device for reading. I was interested in the Palma because I was traveling a lot at the time, as my daughter was playing travel softball, and the portable size was great. But, my daughter graduated, and the softball trips ended. At home, I slowly stopped using the Palma.

I then briefly went back to the Amazon Kindle. Wanting to break away from Amazon, I tried the Kobo Clara Colour. I was interested in reading graphic novels and comics at the time. The Kobo is a great little device. However, I didn’t have a good way to take notes, and the content selection was slightly limited. Also, I actually found the device too small and limited, similar to the Palma.

Next, I tried the Boox Go Color 7. This device was interesting because it runs full Android, opening up many software options. I was running Kindle, Kobo, Libby, Readwise Reader, and trying out some other apps as well. Overall, it’s a pretty good device, but something was still missing.

I recently purchased the latest Apple iPad Mini with the A17 Pro chip. So far, it checks most of the boxes.

What Do I Really Need?

If I spend some time reflecting on what I really want and need from this device, I realize I need to dig deeper into my expectations and compare them with reality.

What I “wanted” was an all-in-one device where I could take all my notes, read and watch all my content, and avoid distractions. I was expecting to transform my digital life into something closer to analog.

In reality, I find I don’t take a lot of notes. What works for me is jotting down tasks and notes throughout the day on a piece of paper. Today, I’m using the Apple Notes app for this on the iPad. The ability to tap my lock screen with the Pencil and start writing in today’s note is enough. I’ve also been using Apple Notes to capture miscellaneous notes, receipts, documents, journal-type entries, etc. I even have several notes shared with my family, which is quite handy.

As far as reading, I’m pushing myself to read more books. I have purchased many physical books over the past couple of years and find them the best reading experience. Yet, reading on the iPad Mini is extremely convenient. I use Readwise to capture my highlights and notes and Readwise Reader to keep up with RSS feeds, articles, and PDFs I want to read later. Readwise works flawlessly on the iPad Mini. I can use Kindle, Kobo, Libby, YouTube, or whatever else I want to consume content on the iPad Mini.

When it comes to blocking distractions, an e-ink reader is great because they’re so limited. The ones that are “full-featured,” like the Boox Go 7, are still slow and clunky due to how the screen refreshes. They are still great devices for simply reading but limited for other tasks.

I have set up Focus Modes on the iPad and other tricks to limit distractions. I also removed nearly everything from my phone with the intention to use the iPad for consumption and productivity. I realize, I’m just trading one device for another, almost identical device, but hey, I’m trying. 

I’m sure I’ll change my mind again in the future. I’ll throw in a physical book or notebook when I’m needing to go more analog, but for now, the iPad Mini is my go-to device.