Dived for Inspirations: The Birth of Supernote Manta
At Supernote, we've always pursued unique solutions, practicing even what seems impossible. This isn't just a mantra, it's our very essence.
Remember our first generation e-notebooks, the A5 and A6? When the industry was chasing rounded corners, we stood firm with our right-angled design, closer to traditional paper notebooks. While others were mimicking iPad-style wrap-around folios, we blazed our own trail with non-wrap folios. The A5 even became the industry's first e-notebook with a pure flat front, free of buttons.
The second generation of e-notebooks, the A5 X and the A6 X maintained their predecessors' exterior, but inside, we reimagined the entire system. We tailored applications like Word, Mail, and Calendar for E Ink displays, expanding Supernote's versatility. The introduction of Ceramic NeverReplace Nib and organizational features like note headings, keywords, and links elevated the note-taking experience to new heights.
Our third generation, Nomad, marked the beginning of our modular revolution. We're not just pursuing paperless solutions; we're committed to reducing e-waste. This compact product embodies the idea of creating freely, anytime, anywhere.
We've always lived by our belief in uniqueness. We don't simply upgrade processors to push new products on users. We only introduce new products when we have truly distinctive ideas. And now, we're thrilled to present our third generation of classic-sized e-notebook: Supernote A5 X2 Manta.
Manta isn't a scaled-up Nomad. It's the result of our deep reflection on how classic-sized e-notebooks are used.
Most classic-sized products on the market today are, frankly, as heavy as bricks. You pick them up and immediately want to put them down. But Manta is different. While its screen is large, perfect for desktop use, you'll be amazed at how light it feels when you first hold it. It's so lightweight that you'll want to carry it with you as you move between different workspaces - from meeting rooms to offices, from studies to living rooms. This is exactly our goal - to create a device that users love to hold and move with as their hearts desire.
You might wonder, why "Manta"?
During the design process, we faced a series of seemingly impossible challenges: How could we pursue thinness while accommodating necessary functional elements? If the device's edges were ultra-thin, where would we place the USB port and power button, which require a certain thickness? Even more challenging was our commitment to modularity. Modular design often comes at the cost of bulkiness, while thinness usually means sacrificing repairability and upgradability.
We found ourselves at an impasse. Should we sacrifice these features or compromise our vision of a sleek form factor?
Just when we were at our wits' end, inspiration struck like lightning during a visit to an aquarium. Have you seen manta rays in the ocean? They're known for their graceful, fluid swimming style. Despite their large, paper-thin bodies, they have two unique protrusions on their heads - their cephalic fins. This harmonious form gave us our eureka moment.
When you look at the back of the Manta device, does it remind you of a manta ray gliding elegantly through water?
The back features a gentle slope design around sides, with the thinnest edges measuring just 3.6 mm, creating a sleek shape reminiscent of a manta ray's body.
The slight protrusion at the top cleverly houses the USB port and power button, much like a manta ray's cephalic fins. This allows users to charge while using the device, achieving harmony between form and function.
The central area on the back provides space for modular components, continuing the upgradable mainboard (sharing the same board as Nomad), replaceable battery, and expandable storage features of the Nomad.
In this way, we successfully combined modularity with an incredibly sleek design.
However, our challenges didn't end there. No sooner had we achieved our sleek device goal than we faced the accessory dilemma.
We discovered that most users carry their e-notebooks in folios. But full folios are often too heavy, contradicting our goal of lightweight design. After much deliberation, we came up with a brilliant idea - a detachable half folio with a mechanical latch structure, significantly reducing the overall weight when holding and carrying the e-notebook.
Then another question arose: With a half folio, should the pen loop still be attached to the folio as before? This question puzzled us for a long time. Moreover, Supernote has always offered pens in various styles and thicknesses, even providing pen refills for users to DIY. Users wanted a pen loop that could adapt to and accommodate different pen sizes.
Balancing these needs with Manta's slim profile, we finally devised an ingenious solution: We left a slot on the right side of the device for connecting a pen loop. The pen loop attaches via screws and is made of elastic material. This not only flexibly adapts to pen sizes but also allows for easy replacement if damaged - a win-win solution.
We've met every challenge head-on, ultimately presenting a product that's not just a tool, but an extension of creativity.
