Supernote A5X2 eInk Tablet Design Update

[@fiction8909]

Nice style, nice presentation, great channel name, good summary, some great points. I hope this channel does well for you.

[@rantsabouttechnology]

I really appreciate that, and thanks!🙏🏾

[@marioserodotou2958]

Lovely video as always. I am happy with my Nomad :) but this device looks awesome too! Best pen on the market for sure!

[@rantsabouttechnology]

The Best! No competition.

[@Greye_Vernados]

Great video! I think one of the reasons they didn’t go with magnets is the interference they cause with writing and drawing lines. By not using magnets this problem is solved.

[@rantsabouttechnology]

Thanks! Yea, I think the general consensus is that the thinness of the sides prohibited it.

[@reimeri007]

I think they went with the latch design because the sides are much slimmer than on the Penstar tablet. If you put strong magnets to the slim sides, I am quite sure you would get interference to the writing surface (at least this is usually the case when you put magnets too close to the display). I would guess it's a compromise to get good pen accuracy everywhere on the screen. Magnets work on the A6X2 because they are positioned on the top and bottom of the device, which have larger bezels, this keeps them sufficiently far away from the screen.

[@rantsabouttechnology]

Mmmmmm, good point! And very likely the reason. Thx, it feels less silly now :)

[@Xingqiwu387]

Great review! I'm holding off until the Supernote A4 hits the market. Supernotes are truly super!

[@rantsabouttechnology]

Thanks! and yea, SNs are the bees knees! looking forward to the A4X as well.

[@jeffreymoss]

This is great. I have this condition with my arm where I spontaneously spring it forward without warning. I can't tell you how many times I have been walking around with my device just to see it suddenly fly into the air. I kept buying device after device, as they kept breaking and I had no choice. But now that the new A5X2 is much more durable, that totally real problem is now solved!

[@rantsabouttechnology]

Well there ya have it. The Frisbee test had value. Thx for sharing Mossman :) And yea I think this demonstration sold some devices for sure. I don't have an excuse for constantly dropping stuff, I'm just clumsy >.

[@Change-1820]

Dude...great video and as always thanks for the shout out! I thought the mechanical half folio was a little odd, but almost a throwback to the original A5X. Then on the livestream last night, or maybe in the comments, someone asked if it allows for a possible interchangeable full folio. I actually think that could be it. Can you imagine being able to choose a full or half folio? It might even open it up, although I doubt it, to a crystal version. I was a little bummed that it isn't symmetrical like the A6X2 so it could be completely ambidextrous for left-handed people. Overall though, super excited about the device. Thanks for the video.

[@joshuaedwards3522]

could you please expand more on this: "I was a little bummed that it isn't symmetrical like the A6X2 so it could be completely ambidextrous for left-handed people." what do you mean by this, I thought It was symmetrical?

[@Change-1820]

@@joshuaedwards3522 unfortunately, the bottom bezel is thicker. Also, the pen loop can't be moved. The dual sliders help, but just a surprise.

[@joshuaedwards3522]

@@Change-1820 Im a left hander myself and I don't think that will really be much of a problem. The thick bottom bezel won't be an issue as it won't make a difference regardless of dexterity. I think the pen loop being on the right side of the device would actually be advantageous for lefties as it will allow you to grip the devices pen loop with your right hand while writing with your left. I have always been a fan of Supernote, especially because of their considerations for lefties. I guess I will just have to see once I get the device (hopefully when it comes out soon)

[@rantsabouttechnology]

Thanks bro, and Yw. Caught ya live late night, cause night owls think alike lol. Didn't catch that the A5X2 wasn't symmetrical. Bummer... Right Handers for the win!!! :)

[@Phrish]

I'm fascinated by the Supernote devices, especially the 8 inch one. Unfortunately I require lighting to both read and take notes in the dark to near dark.

[@rantsabouttechnology]

I guarantee once you have one, the light won't be an issue at all.

[@edwardbryan5154]

😅 very enjoyable and informative, many great observations, great job.

[@rantsabouttechnology]

Thank you. It's eInk, right, but it can be entertaining, lol. Glad you agree :)

[@VladimirKostek]

Solid breakdown Rod, I'm wondering what price will be like 🤔 Hopefully around 500$ or a touch less for the device. Will a half folio be half the price? 🤣

[@rantsabouttechnology]

Thanks man! I hope it's half off, lol. I'm gonna go with 429$ for just the device.

[@alex-r-t]

Completely baseless guess: $599 all-in (tablet + pen + folio)

[@VladimirKostek]

@@alex-r-t those both feel like solid guesses!

[@rantsabouttechnology]

@alex-r-t that's actually not a bad guess. I'd be happy with that.

[@tmac2705]

Great video. Happy to see the durability improvement. But I wonder if that also means it will be more resistant to pressure-induced breakage than glass displays. I've seen quite a few Reddit posts of Boox & Supernote screens that seem to break in backpacks

[@rantsabouttechnology]

Thanks. I believe they will be resistant to backpack pressure cause they are essentially flexible devices. That can bend but not break... To a point lol

[@user-ny8xt1ui3h]

Tkx. Background light? It can be used in the dark?

[@rantsabouttechnology]

No background light. Though they do have a variant that does. It's called the Not Air 3, or one in color called the Note Air 3C. Good Luck and thx for stopping by.

[@AceEletrute]

I've got a 1TB microSD in my nomad (a bit overkill I know), so it's at least able to hold that much! I think actual limit may be about 2TB, as that's the largest size SD/microSD on the market currently I believe. 😁

[@rantsabouttechnology]

Good to know! Thanks for sharing.

[@SWard-oe8oj]

Great vid as always. I do disagree with your take on the latched half folio. They seem so much more robust than magnets. Magnets being able to support the device's weight is not enough. And how often are you actually taking the folio off that it being a "two handed affair" is a bad thing? Wouldn't you rather it take an extra step you you don't do it by accident?

[@rantsabouttechnology]

I get your reasoning, but there are too many examples of magnet half folios done well, even Ratta uses magnets on the A6X2. I really think it has all to do with how thin the sides are. @reimeri007 brought this to my attention and it makes sense. Otherwise I think they would have definitely gone with magnets. Thanks for the comment.

[@Beauty11986]

The magnets can mess with the screen which is why it’s a whole separate lip on the device you have. It’s wasted space. Screens that don’t have it as a separate post have dead spots on the screen

[@SWard-oe8oj]

@@Beauty11986 Nomad executes it well and the a5x2 is using the same soc so planar space isn't an issue. Maybe the thinness, I'm sure SN reps in reddit can clear it later. I was more talking about the execution of the latch and how in this instance, it's should be the best option. I doubt they designed this as a "compromise" because they couldn't get magnets to work. The A5x had a mechanical setup and they only really moved away for the nomad and now they're back with a different design

[@LTMovieDesign]

I think they resolved the mess magnet did with straight lines

[@Discworld-Edge-Witch]

I have the nomad and really like it. But im a PhD student and thinking about getting something bigger for my dissertation work. I'm trying to decide whether i why to wait on the A5X2, and make due with my little nomad, or try out the boox go 10.3.

[@rantsabouttechnology]

I'd never wait on tech for work. You just never know what their thinking is. Having said that I really don't think you're gonna have to use your Nomad too much longer. I think the A5X2 is imminent. I'd hate to see you but the 10.3 (which is awesome, don't get me wrong) then the SN launches. Hope this helps.

[@Discworld-Edge-Witch]

​@@rantsabouttechnology it does. I'm a PhD candidate, and I like the idea of having apps like notion and citation managers on my device. I mostly use my Nomad for note taking, crochet patterns, and prepping for the classes I teach. But I HATE the way word docs are handled (the fact that I can't bold anything or create headers drives me nuts). I guess I could sideload apps on my SN, but I'm terrified of screwing up my device.

[@rantsabouttechnology]

Hearing that, I'd say try the 10.3 The A5X2 won't handle PDFs or Word docs any better than the A6X2 imo. This is one of my biggest gripes about the SN platform, their reader needs to get better and needs to add some options. Not alot, but anything would be better than the contrast bar they have now. Document and PDFs shine on the Go 10.3 You may need two devices, lol. The A5X2 and the Go 10.3 would be the dream combo. That's the route I'm going. SN for notes and organizing, and 10.3 for all else.

[@Discworld-Edge-Witch]

@@rantsabouttechnology you are a gentleman and a scholar. Thank you!

[@rush48192]

biggest issue i have with supernote is syncing, the calendar notes dont sink and to much of a work around with syncing notes and not getting conflict between the devices

[@rantsabouttechnology]

Really? I only have one device so I haven't been able to test syncing conflicts. Something to consider, but honestly once I get the larger device, I'll prolly retire the A6X2. I will test that when I get the A5X2 just to see if it's fixed. Thanks for the heads up.

[@ThePianist51]

14:20 Fujitsu also put the charging port of their QUADERNOs to the top. 😮

[@rantsabouttechnology]

Fujitsu? Quaderno? Those are curse words, not eInk tablets, lol.

[@rceleo]

WOw, Im gonna pay more attention to Supernote now, but i feel im cheating on reMarkable Lol. I wish supernote had a bigger size, maybe there is an A4 somewhere? they only sell one size?

[@rantsabouttechnology]

Yea thats the issue with Ratta rn, they only have the A6X2 (7.8") for sale now, and most people want something bigger, this should help. But they also have a bigger A4X coming. I think it has a 13" screen but don't quote me on that. Super exciting time in eInk :)

[@riley6723]

I hope it’s better than the new “Un-Remarkable Paper Pro” (am I the first one to nickname it that??). Hopefully A5X2 is good. Or I’m getting old faithful 10.3 lol

[@rantsabouttechnology]

Now I'm going to have to use "un-remarkable" in one of my videos, LOL. I do think you were the first! Also you can't go wrong with the go 10.3. not at all!

[@mrspeeddemon727]

The only thing I'll be impressed with is when they finally release the thing.

[@rantsabouttechnology]

IKR, hopefully before the end of this month... not looking good though. :(

[@SatomiTanaka495]

Their pen is great.

[@rantsabouttechnology]

Not Great... The Best!

[@chrisandrew_tv]

Magnets interfere with e-ink. This folio design allows for the thin side bezels without interfering with edge writing.

[@rantsabouttechnology]

Yea, and it's been said that it's so thin till the magnets were not an option. I get it now. Thanks for sharing.

[@rush48192]

because magnets can cause issues with the eink on the device

[@rantsabouttechnology]

...and I'm assuming that was the case here, with how thin it is at the edges, where the magnets would be. But I still don't like it.

[@evilphuk]

Show us the whiteboard 😂😂👁️👁️👀 11:02

[@rantsabouttechnology]

>.

[@ericfielding668]

Strong magnets are great until someone (think child) eats a second small magnet. The pair of magnets can pinch things that shouldn't be pinched along the intestinal tract.

[@rantsabouttechnology]

I can't tell whether you're serious or not. But if you are, I've never heard of magnets from a half folio coming off. I suppose they could but so could a latch.

[@karlmunford7000]

So happy to see they've gone with the plastic screen, I don't think I could put up with the sound of a woodpecker tapping away every time my ceramic nib came in contact with glass, and then there's the robustness that comes with it. I do wonder if the top of the device might lift with its thinning edge when adding in those last few lines at the bottom of the screen... but I'm guessing you'd have to put your foot on it to make that happen. I do have some concerns about the mechanical fixings of the half folio, in my world _'little plastic things'_ break off within weeks and if there is one thing I really hate, its pussy footing around with fragile devices. Maybe they've leaned away from magnetic fixings because magnets can effect pen-strokes, but unless I'm proved wrong it would be contrary to have built a robust device only to fit it with a fragile folio. Still, I'd love to be proven wrong on that one. Regarding software, personally... I think it would be a crime to move forwards without first bringing the same tool set to PDFs and ePubs etc... that we have in notes, especially links. In fact, if they add something with out doing that first I might just call the police and have the team arrested.😎 Now I've just got to hold my breath regarding the price, if its anything in the ball park of the reMarkable Pro with all its _'bells and whistles'_ I might be saving into the new year. Great video, appreciated... I'm never failed to be surprised how much you content creators can squeeze out of a report, impressive.

[@rantsabouttechnology]

Don't call the police just yet, lol. I expect an update right before the A5X2 launches, just like what reMarkable did with the Paper Pro. As for price, I thing 429$ without folio sounds about right We'll see🤞🏾

[@karlmunford7000]

@@rantsabouttechnology Hey, that's great news... that you can purchase it without the folio, I don't know why I didn't think of that. My sister is a master craftsman with leather, I can get her to make me something much more robust. Currently, theres no UK seller and we have to purchase through the EU so there's added costs but $429... thats £322 without delivery and taxes, yet still under £400 with them. Where did you get that price from? it seems rather low to me but I hope you're right. I'll put the police on hold for now just in case the _'tools'_ update doesn't manifest, this isn't a time to relax. 🤨

[@rantsabouttechnology]

LOL. For the price, I just figured the current version is now 419$ Seems reasonable. 429$ with a 69$ case thats still under 500$ and I think that's the point they are shooting for. Just a hunch. That is of course assuming they throw in a pen. But maybe not

[@karlmunford7000]

@@rantsabouttechnology I see where you're coming from but either way _'you have lifted my spirits'_ with the thought they might allow us to purchase it without a folio, and to boot, I also have a spare pen. Blimey, I might even have enough cash left over to treat myself to a Curly-wurly and a packet of _'Salt n Vinegar', will wonders ever cease? 😲

[@rantsabouttechnology]

😂😂😂😂