Fujitsu is a brand new player to the digital note taking space, with a two different E INK enabled devices. The first is the Quaderno A4, which features a 13.3 inch screen and is one, of only a handful of large screen devices on the market. The Quaderno A4 has a 10.3 inch screen, which hits the sweet spot of viewing and editing of PDF files, and portability.
This device features a 10.3 inch E-Ink Carta display with a resolution of 1872×1404 with 227 PPI. It has a capacitive layer for touchscreen interactions and also one for the stylus to take notes and write on PDF files. Underneath the hood is a Marvell IAP 140 64-bit Quad-core IoT Applications Processor,1GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage, WIFI and Bluetooth 4.2. The dimensions are 174.2 × 243.5 × 5.9 mm and it weighs approximately 240 g.
Fujitsu Quaderno has a great UI that is entirely in English. You would want to buy it because it is running a very stable version of Android, with a completely skinned experience. Unlike traditional Android devices from Onyx and Boyue, app support is hit or miss, and you will frequently experience crashes, whereas you would never get this from the Quaderno. The stylus is unique, and it has a cap on the top, so you can recharge it, via a USB cable. Although the stylus does not have pressure sensitivity, there are plenty of pen/pencil sizes to get the job done.
The retail packaging is uninspiring and is simply a cardboard box with the Quaderno name on the front, along with the sides. The back of the box has a white sticker that shows the model name and serial number. When you open the box the Quaderno A5 there is the device, and a quick start guide that is in Japanese. The warranty card is also in Japanese, this is because Fujitsu is only marketing this in Japan, but it is now available from the Good e-Reader Store. The stylus is grey and the USB cable is black, it also comes with a nib removal tool.
When it comes to the design of the A5, it is all white. The back is a bit perforated, so it is easy to hold. On the top of the device is the USB port, status indicator light and the power button. It is very light, and easy to hold with just one hand.
I think the Quaderno A5 is geared towards business professionals that want a replacement for paper. E INK is great outdoors and does not reflect light, it absorbs it. So you can take outdoors or in the field. Students would get value out of this to take notes in the class or do worksheets.
Michael Kozlowski is the editor-in-chief at Good e-Reader and has written about audiobooks and e-readers for the past fifteen years. Newspapers and websites such as the CBC, CNET, Engadget, Huffington Post and the New York Times have picked up his articles. He Lives in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
