The reMarkable 2 paper tablet is a wonderful tool for business travelers. It allows easy access to your notes (organized into notebooks) and lightens your briefcase by replacing multiple items. Learn more with tips on how to get the most out of your reMarkable 2 notebook!
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Bring backup Marker Plus Tips (Nibs)
Beyond a backup stylus, replacement Marker or Marker Plus stylus tips is a great idea. The tips for EMR styli are also known as nibs. This is a low cost, lightweight solution to ensure that your pencil is writing well. I keep the credit card device that carries extra tips in my briefcase and can change them out at a moments notice.
Note, there are lots of other companies that make tips for the reMarkable Marker. I’ve reviewed a handful of more cost effective tips in this comparison. Many of them are cheaper than the OEM versions, but avoid the titanium ones which don’t wear down.
Sync your reMarkable from iPhone hotspot
To get files on and off the reMarkable 2, you need a wifi connection. If you have a modern smart phone, you likely have the ability to turn it into a hotspot. This hotspot trick is helpful if you need to quickly move a document over to sign, want to load up a Powerpoint deck before a flight, or just don’t trust the airport wifi.
To enable hotspot mode, open “Setting” and then “Personal Hotpot.” For security, you should keep your hotspot turned off unless you’re actively using it. To sync with a reMarkable, you need to enable “maximize compatibility” and then look for the wifi network under connections. Additional step-by-step for syncing your reMarkable 2 through a smartphone.
Pro tip – combine the use of your hotspot and your reMarkable 2 tablet to send signed documents when you don’t have access to a printer / scanner. More on toggling wifi & airplane mode on/off here.
Protect your reMarkable 2 during travel with a case
Business travel can be hard on your stuff. From getting in/out of Ubers to slinging your bag under your airline seat – your items get jostled around. I’ve found that the reMarkable 2 paper tablet is extremely rugged, but you shouldn’t take any chances while traveling. I keep a KuRoKo reMarkable cover on my reMarkable, which provides basic protection against drops and scuffs.
I also generally keep my reMarkable in either the laptop sleeve of my briefcase or in a smaller sub-pocket. These seem to have some basic padding around them and have protected my reMarkable to date.
Pro tip – if you’re using a case with a fold over cover, keep a business card or two behind your screen. I find it easy to access during a conference or a chance meeting with someone (especially if I’m not actively carrying my briefcase).
Here’s our detailed analysis of reMarkable case options.
Pack a backup EMR stylus
In the Army, we always said “two is one, one is none.” This very much applies to reMarkable pencils because if you break or lose one while traveling, your tablet will become completely useless. So packing a backup EMR stylus is a good idea to make sure your reMarkable 2 will continue to work.
This doesn’t necessarily mean that you need to go out and buy another expensive Marker or Marker Plus. I highly recommend the Staedtler Noris Digital Jumbo as your backup stylus for your reMarkable 2. It’s light, durable, and fully compatible with the reMarkable 2. I did a full review, so you can learn more.
Charge your reMarkable on the go
When I was a consultant, we always used the mnemonic device ABC for Always Be Charging. Then you’re constantly on the move, having charged tech makes all the difference in your ability to get things done. While the reMarkable 2 has an outstanding battery life, it’s worth keeping charged. The great news is that since the reMarkable tablet uses a USB-C connector, you can use almost any USB-C plug.
In the attached picture, I re-purposed my USB-C laptop charger to juice up my reMarkable 2 tablet during a break in a leadership team offsite. Finding quick moments to re-charge your reMarkable 2 or just charging before you leave on a trip, is a great way to stay effective on the move.
Load your reMarkable 2 with PDFs before your flight
While the reMarkable is primarily designed as a writing tablet, it also makes a great e-reader. You can load PDFs through either the web application or the app on your computer and then sync them to the device (see above advice on iPhone hotspot). Once the PDFs are on your tablet, I really like taking notes or highlighting items of interest with the various pen / highlighter types – this experience very much replicates how I usually read books with a Pilot G2 pen in hand.
If you are working on your iPhone (as many of us do), you can move attachments directly from Gmail to the reMarkable app.
Pro tip #1 – Export any presentations that you need to review and put the PDFs onto your reMarkable. This trick will allow you to mark them up just like you’d do with a red pen and print outs. But the difference is that you can email it back to the Associate or Engagement Manager (EM) after your done. This is great to Associate Partners or Partners that don’t want to stare at a backlit screen for their entire flight. Detail on exporting PPT to reMarkable. Detail on exporting Keynote to reMarkable.
Pro tip #2 – Got an incredibly complicated trip coming up? Export those travel details (flight numbers, hotels, times, addresses) into an itinerary and put it on your reMarkable. Once it’s on the device, you won’t have to go scrolling through different apps or wading through your Outlook calendar to find essential details.
Use the reMarkable App
Install the reMarkable iOS app on your iPhone so that you can access your notes when you don’t have your tablet in front of you. I’ve found this handy for reviewing notes from a customer meeting over dinner with my team. I also like that you can transfer PDFs from your phone directly into the Connect cloud. This feature is great for moving a PDF from your email to your reMarkable 2 tablet.