The new Kindle Scribe is more than just an e-reader

The new Kindle Scribe is not a traditional e-reader, nor is it a tablet; in fact, in some respects, it is the very antithesis of both. It has been available in Italia for a few days now and marks a significant entry into the world of digital notebooks – that hybrid between a blank sheet of paper and a digital tablet, designed more for productivity and reading than for consuming content. It comes in three versions: with a front light, with a front light and colour display, or without a light. The colour model is the real novelty because it marks a debut in the Scribe range; it was launched last autumn in New York, but it has taken a few more months to reach Italia.

The new range stands out for the precision of its digital pen, which offers an experience very similar to writing with a pen on a blank sheet of paper in terms of friction and feedback. The layout of the workspace on the home screen is practical: you can immediately find a sheet to jot down ideas or notes, with your Kindle books displayed alongside. The Kindle Scribe essentially combines two functions: on the one hand, it is a tool for writing as if on paper, with a pen, handwritten notes, diagrams and annotations directly on PDFs and books, without distractions; on the other, it is an 11-inch e-reader – much larger than traditional Kindles – which allows you to read documents and technical texts without having to zoom in.

One useful feature is Active Canvas, which allows you to write and annotate directly in the margins of digital books. As you write, the text automatically adjusts, shifting to make room for your notes, whilst always maintaining the link between your notes and the content, even if you change the font size.

The Colorsoft model adds colour: illustrated books offer a more complete experience, even though the e-ink screen lacks the brightness of a tablet. Colour also has a practical use, however: you can underline text with coloured highlighters and take notes in a more structured way. There’s also direct integration with Google Drive and Microsoft OneDrive, which simplifies the import and export of documents. And what about reading a book? For novels, a smaller format is ideal, and at a more affordable price (the Scribe starts at 450, 520 and 650 euros depending on the model). For users who work with PDFs, study and take notes, the Scribe is the right Kindle.