Important Takeaways

• Pine64 is presently developing the PineNote, an e-ink tablet.
• Early adopters of the PineNote will receive a magnetic case and an EMR stylus for use with the device.
• The PineNote will provide an e-ink reader experience, but Pine64 intends for it to be more than a simple e-reader.

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Pine64 announced earlier this week that it was developing an e-ink reader in response to years of fan demand. The PineNote, as it has been aptly dubbed, is expected to launch this year, and according to Pine64, it will be one of the most powerful e-ink devices available.

The PineNote, with a retail price of $399, is a touch more expensive than other e-ink readers currently available on the market. However, the PineNote's versatility distinguishes it from Kindle e-ink readers and similar devices.

If Pine64 can deliver on its pledge to allow you to sketch, take notes, type, and read, then the PineNote could be the e-ink device I never knew I needed.

Open Book

The PineNote's promise of multitasking is what makes it so appealing to me. While I enjoy reading, I've never seen much use for e-readers because I prefer to hold a tangible book.

"...It appears Pine64 will extensively rely on developers to help shape the PineNote's appearance and behavior in terms of apps and overall support for third-party software."

As more authors push to offer their books in digital format, it is becoming increasingly difficult to disregard the detail aspect of reading; therefore, an e-ink reader that doubles as a tablet on which I can take notes seems like something I could support.

Nevertheless, it remains to be seen how extensive this multitasking is. Based on the initial announcement, it appears Pine64 will rely extensively on developers to help shape the PineNote's appearance and behavior with respect to apps and overall support for third-party software.

This makes sense, given that the company is attempting to create a device that appeals to a wider audience than those seeking a more expensive e-reader. And, without the support of a larger digital bookstore like Amazon'sKindle, it will need to stand out more to convince people to spend that much money.

The PineNote appears to provide a respectable assortment of hardware. It will also feature 4GB of LPDDR4 RAM and a 128GB eMMC flash storage device, in addition to the RK3566 quad-code A55 system-on-a-chip.

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The device will include two microphones, two speakers, and a WiFi antenna that operates at 5GHz AC. Overall, the specifications are solid and should make it a powerhouse in the realm of e-readers. Obviously, hardware is not everything, and the software must also take full advantage of everything the device has to offer.

Promises Currently, we only have promises. The software for the PineNote does not appear to be in a state where it can be executed, and the developers have already stated that the first batch will not include any of the features I've mentioned.

However, Lukasz Erecinski, the community manager for Pine64, desires a detachable keyboard and support for programs such as LibreOffice, a popular free alternative to MicrosoftOffice.

We already know that Pine64 is planning a magnetic case and a special pen that can interact with the screen of the device, so the groundwork is in place for additional attachments and software support for drawing applications and the like.

Obviously, it will likely take months for the PineNote to reach a point where its price is justified, particularly for average consumers seeking a more potent e-reader.

Nonetheless, the concept of a reader that can also function as a notepad or a laptopis extremely appealing. Even if the device does not launch at that time, it is admirable and exciting that Pine64 wants the community to help define the future of PineNote.

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I am eager to see how Pine64 and the community enhance the concept, and I can't wait to purchase one in the near future.