Evernote and Merch

I’ve been a bit of an Evernote fan for a long time. I love the way you can store absolutely everything. The web clipper is a joy to use, amazing for research jobs.

I did fall out of love with it for quite an extended time. I was using version 6 and then they changed their model to cloud, not local data. I installed the new version and was stunned how slow it was. I couldn’t get back to v6 quickly enough.

They spent years trying to move me onto their new versions, but I hung on to the bitter end, only moving when they disabled use of v6.

The current version is actually not too bad, nowhere near as bad as that first move I made. To use a phrase I heard recently, it loads at the speed of cloud. Cloud may be a cool word to bandy around these days, but it has its limitations and place.

I have become an aficionado again since Bending Spoons acquired Evernote in 2023. They are doing good stuff with it again and have a bit of a culture thing going on too, like in the early days. The last owners just crippled everything with their plans, really alienated their users. I’m grateful to Bending Spoons for putting life back into what is to me an essential product in my digital life.

I was close to moving my notes into One Note just as I found out they had acquired it, so that was a close shave, I’m glad I hung on as long as I did.

Merch

The Scanner

This was a very natural product to offer to compliment their own product. Evernote is all about getting information recorded in their database. Extending that to the scraps of paper lying around on your desk makes a lot of sense. You can see some images in this 2013 verge article.

It is a beautiful device and I have loved owning one. But, I bought mine from eBay as it was hugely expensive when new and from them. I still use mine regularly. Evernote had a great deal of input into the design with Fujitsu – it is basically their Scansnap ix500 but with a different look and Evernote branding. Of course, it scans straight into Evernote if required.

NOTE: If you’re here because you are trying to convert your scanner to an ix500 (Evernote stopped support for their branded scanner in 2023 I believe), please see my post here for details on how to convert (current July 2025).

The Triangle Commuter Bag

I loved the culture Evernote came with back in the day, did you?

I coveted their bag, but it was hugely expensive. I nearly bought one but cancelled the order, thinking twice about what I had just spent! It is a superb bag, an office in a bag I think they described it as. It is a triangle shape, very stable on a surface and opens on one side, so you can reach everything. Rather than put images here, this chap has done a great review and there is this Verge – Evernote merch article. He also has a link to a clone on Amazon, but I see it is currently unavailable.

The Evernote bag has been unavailable new for a very long time. I have two, having grabbed a spare off eBay when I could! Mine goes everywhere with me, holidays, work every day. It is beside me now!

The Backpack

I grabbed one of these from eBay when it came up some time way back. It’s nicely made, but not very roomy. Consequently I don’t use it much. But I am glad I bought one, it wasn’t so expensive from eBay. You can see the backpack in this Verge article

Other Merch!

It is only as I write this that I realise I have more than I remember. How strange. Seeing the image in the Verge article, it shows other items. I had forgotten about the Adonit scribe pen and the Moleskin notebook I also have, I shall be digging those out tonight!

The pen was no use to me as I believe it has to work with a specific app on an old tablet. But it was cheap and is interesting in the Evernote history.

The Moleskin is lovely of course. I seem to remember the pages were marked such that you could photograph or scan them and Evernote would recognise stuff. I shall check into that again!

I see there was a water bottle, which I vaguely remember, but I never had one of those… I also see they did an innovative laptop sleeve, which I do not remember. I wish I had, it looks very desirable. There is an image of it here, you can see how it works. I’m not sure I’ve seen anything quite like this around even now.

How about you?

If you have some Evernote merch that you love, please drop a line below. If you still find their culture interesting and attractive, let me know. I actually do not know anyone else who uses it, but I have been evangelizing about it for years!!