The Kindle Scribe's stylus makes it more than just an e-reader, but a Bluetooth keyboard may be the final piece for it to reach its ultimate form. The Kindle Scribe has several rivals that include the Huawei MatePad Paper and the Lenovo Smart Paper, the latter of which isn't due to hit store shelves until late 2023. However, most would say its biggest competitor is the reMarkable 2, and it just one-upped the Kindle Scribe with a new keyboard cover accessory called the Type Folio.
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Amazon's decision to add stylus support to the Kindle may have been made late when compared to its rivals, but it is a welcome one nonetheless. With a stylus, owners can do more than just read on their Kindle. They can also take down notes in supported books or even use their e-reader as a digital notebook. However, there are times when typing is required, and with the Kindle Scribe lacking a keyboard, it means owners have to switch to another device to do so. By launching a keyboard accessory for the Kindle Scribe, it can also double as a word processor, and by extension make it a more productive device.
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Getting The Software Right Is Key
While a Bluetooth keyboard accessory shouldn't be difficult to make — as the Kindle already has Bluetooth — the challenging part is the software. The Kindle Scribe has received lukewarm reviews mostly due to its feature-lacking software. Amazon is already improving the experience with software updates that bring new features, but it will have to work twice as hard to make the Scribe a suitable word processor. Thankfully, it already has some of that part locked down thanks to its partnership with Microsoft.
One of the upcoming features confirmed to come to the Kindle Scribe is the ability to send documents from Microsoft Word directly to the Scribe. Amazon can take things further by working with Microsoft to develop an editor for the scribe that owners can use to edit or create new documents. These documents could be synced to a user's Microsoft 365 account and accessed from any device. With such a feature, Kindle Scribe owners such as students who need to quickly write a term paper or essay can pick up their Kindle Scribe for a distraction-free writing experience.
Also, the addition of a keyboard will allow the Kindle Scribe to appeal to more users including people with disabilities who can't use a stylus but can use a keyboard. Of course, Amazon will have to pay extra attention to the ergonomics of the keyboard. Finally, the Bluetooth keyboard accessory for the Kindle Scribe has to be affordable. reMarkable's Type Folio costs $199, add that to the device itself which costs $299 plus the optional $79 or $129 stylus, and the total comes to $577 or $627. Hence, Amazon's keyboard will have to price its keyboard accessory for the Kindle Scribe between $99 and $129 to give it an edge over the reMarkable 2.
