Comments on: “Paper? Ain’t that extinct?”

By: Organizational Euphoria » What sort of system should I use to get organized?

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 +0000

[…] ever use the PDA, you’ve just bought an expensive paperweight. Douglas Johnston over at a million monkeys typing wrote an interesting article on the resurge […]

By: First Clown

First Clown — Mon, 07 Feb 2005 17:33:29 +0000

The Sensuality of Paper
I’ve been thinking about why I like paper for some things and the computer for others lately. It’s a weird coincidence then that dougj over at a million monkeys posted %u201CPaper? Ain%u2019t that extinct?%u201D.

I’ve always noticed that I like …

By: bblog

bblog — Mon, 07 Feb 2005 19:10:27 +0000

The Virtues of Paper
Why do I use index cards instead of my Palm? It’s not the sensual experience of curling up with them, I can tell you that. Index cards &neg; Moleskines. I use index cards because they’re always handy. I can slip…

By: eric Farris

eric Farris — Mon, 07 Feb 2005 20:48:47 +0000

Is it ease of sharing and storing information? yes. While the examples of searching and syncing that you provide are good ones, It’s just too hard to take meaningful notes fast with an electronic device (well, post-Newton, anyway.) The kinds of information that I resort to paper for are not sync candidates, and don’t need searched. For those things that do, they’ll eventually find their way into digital form during a review.

By: Matt

Matt — Mon, 07 Feb 2005 20:48:49 +0000

I prefer paper because it’s easier to manipulate, draw things and it doesn’t require recharging.

We learn to write first and it’s more natural than using a PDA.

By: dp

dp — Tue, 08 Feb 2005 11:07:37 +0000

I use paper for speed. Despite being on my 10th handheld, I am using a paper planner (including your inserts - thanks!) because despite my speed with Graffiti (etc) nothing compares to jotting thoughts on paper.

I also keep a bundle of out-of-date business cards with my Fisher Space pen in my back pocket at all times. I can whip out a card, and jot something down in the time that it would take to start up my Palm, pull out the stylus and navigate to a new note, let alone enter it in.

By: jenny

jenny — Tue, 08 Feb 2005 13:39:49 +0000

intimacy yes.. but i’m also tired of having to rewrite information everytime there is an upgrade or a crash… being a little less than tech savvy. there’s a place for both.. but from now on my inventory goes in paper along with a sensually bound journal for inspirations, doodling (sp?) and dreaming…

will stick to the ‘puter for any other editing and writing. I still have the painful memory of losing sleep in the late 80’s from re-typing pages filled with typo, gunky liquid paper, and a deadline for a paper the next morning.

Now when I lose sleep it’s for good reason.

I wish palm would bring back dietlog though… that was truly useful (and one of the things I lost when the last one gave out. okay rain water got in the works. but to be fair that could happen to paper too.)

By: Dean

Dean — Tue, 08 Feb 2005 16:17:45 +0000

I go back and forth with PDA and paper. I’ve had 2-3 serious crashes with my PDA and I’m now leery to trust it 100% I love paper, too, so may have to use my PDA for file storage puposes only!

By: Randy

Randy — Wed, 09 Feb 2005 05:33:53 +0000

I agree with what you say here, but I think you might underestimate what paper/book technology can do. When I use a pda, I feel like I’m trying to take in a landscape through a keyhole. Paper just affords more visibility and quick indexing. Flipping among pages is way easier and more visible than navigating through software. It’s possible that someday we might have planners of smart paper (so that you can get rid of an item without scratching it out and making such a mess), but until then, paper still has its own advantages.

By: Organizational Euphoria

Organizational Euphoria — Wed, 09 Feb 2005 22:12:52 +0000

What sort of system should I use to get organized?
I get asked this a lot. People seem to think because I’m something of a computer geek, I’d automatically suggest they use something like a Palm, or a Blackberry, or some other computer-based system.

Personally I think the best solution is whate…

By: protozoic

protozoic — Thu, 10 Feb 2005 03:01:03 +0000

The Road to Productivity
An overview of what I see in the land of blogs concerning productivity, and what I’m going to do about it.

By: Blog before you Think!

Blog before you Think! — Fri, 11 Feb 2005 19:02:10 +0000

Paper
Douglas Johnston has written a wonderful reflection on the (somehow anachronistic) comeback of paper-based systems in the realm of personal productivity. I couldn’t agree more, but I keep wondering why is it so appealing to so many (geekish) people no…

By: Fred

Fred — Sun, 13 Feb 2005 21:45:44 +0000

You got the point Mr. Johnston.

Personally it’s a way to get rid of computers. Your brain work differently when you are writing with your hands on paper (more senses are trigged, then ideas that came at that time are probably different).

When I’m starting to model a software component, I always start with a brainstorming on paper. I don’t open Visio or Enterprise Architect right now. No. I get a pen, some sheets of paper and I draw some models; I underline; I strike; I bold my ideas on these sheets. If the model is scrappy? I didn’t throw my computer by the window, it’s too expensive. No, I make a little ball with my paper model and I throw it through the window (less expensive and better to let go the frustration).

I use computers many hours a day… sometimes I think that it’s too many hours… So it’s why I need analog technologies, to trigger others senses while I’m working.

By: Joe Ganley

Joe Ganley — Wed, 23 Feb 2005 13:12:45 +0000

I totally agree, but there’s more. On the purely pragmatic side, yes, it’s hard to search or backup my paper planner. On the other hand, 90% of my use (both input and output) happens in the current week’s view, which I keep open in front of me most of the time. I have about 50 square inches to view this, as opposed to the - what, 15? - of a PDA. To enter or read data from this “screen” takes little time, no navigation, no funky handwriting. But most of all, as you’ve already said, it just feels good.

By: smackmybishop » Blog Archive » Paper? Ain’t that extinct?

smackmybishop » Blog Archive » Paper? Ain’t that extinct? — Wed, 30 Mar 2005 18:28:03 +0000

[…] Ain’t that extinct?”>
Paper? Ain’t that extinct?

Blinks

a million monkeys typing » “Paper? Ain’t that extinct?”
[…]

By: Lee’s new Better Communication Results blog

Lee’s new Better Communication Results blog — Thu, 15 Sep 2005 05:32:46 +0000

[…] a resurgent pen-and-paper advocate and thanks to my man York I was pointed to yet another wondrous post by Doug Johnson (he of a million monkeys typing and d*i*y*planne […]

By: Donna

Donna — Thu, 15 Sep 2005 11:55:19 +0000

What a beautiful post, and so true. Sometimes when I am experiencing a slight case of “writer’s block” (I hate that term), I will walk away from the computer, grab a nice pen and a fresh pad of white paper, and ensconce myself in another room. The change of scenery, combined with the change in medium, seems to help boost creativity.

By: Mr. Angry

Mr. Angry — Tue, 13 Jun 2006 03:01:11 +0000

Paper has another advantage besides intimacy. It slows one down. Or rather, it removes one’s ability to attend to the flood of information in modern life. And that disabling seems to have value. Consider: Shakespeare used paper.