I use graphing paper in a plastic folder that accepts 3-hole paper. I use index cards as notes for experimental recipes, processes, etc. I can store those in the pockets of the folder. Then information or recipes that I find useful, I will transcribe into the notebook. I have divider tabs in the notebook to separate my hobbies (wine making, canning, mushroom culturing, etc).
Ask HN: Do you use dedicated paper notebooks? For what purpose?
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Re: Ask HN: Do you use dedicated paper notebooks? For what purpose?
#12I take minutes of every meeting I attend, including one-on-ones with my supervisor and phone calls with external collaborators. It helps me concentrate during the meeting (using a laptop would be counterproductive for that) and gives me a record that is more trustworthy than my brain.
Aside from that, I always have a scratch pad and plenty of post-it notes lying at hand. The former for any quick-and-dirty doodling, the latter for my to-dos.
Re: Ask HN: Do you use dedicated paper notebooks? For what purpose?
#13Yes, I have a couple of notebooks. One for doodles and the other for journaling (the kind of stuff which oughtn't go on my blog).
But I have to say, I've received the new ReMarkable2 [1] about a week ago, and it's awesome and might replace my doodling notebook - I mostly draw with just black ink anyway. I made this quirky Xmas "card" [2] with it.
(It won't replace the paper journal for writing, though.)
2. https://juanuys.com/assets/posts/2020-12-19-twenty-twenty/Xm...
Re: Ask HN: Do you use dedicated paper notebooks? For what purpose?
#14I prefer bond papers because i get forced to get rid of them by summarizing all of those notes ive written instead of leaving them in a notebook like my browser bookmarks that we all know we do not check
Re: Ask HN: Do you use dedicated paper notebooks? For what purpose?
#15Nope.
My notepad environment is chaotic and temporary. Some notebooks from workplaces, some I've picked up at department stores. Some full, some empty. None ever get refered back to, I have neither the time nor inclination. If an idea doesn't bare fruit quickly, its next step in becoming a bigger thing, then it deserves to die.
Re: Ask HN: Do you use dedicated paper notebooks? For what purpose?
#16I grew up in the 90's so my brain only learns things if I write them down on paper for some period of time. I'm still glad I failed "cursive" writing in elementary school - talk about a skill I have never and will never use.
Since others are talking about what notebooks they use I will too. I second the observation that caring too much about a special kind of notebook or how you use it is a waste of time. I just use blank printer paper and a felt tip architectural pen - I scan notes that I think are relevant and organize them in with a tool I wrote. (parents were architects so I'm forever addicted to this kind of pen - fuck ballpoint anything other than Pilot G2's).
Re: Ask HN: Do you use dedicated paper notebooks? For what purpose?
#17I use compositions books. They are mostly used for strengthening my short term memory. At work I take a lot of electrical readings. Some of my coworkers are able to rattle off a bunch of readings right after taking them but I prefer to write it down as well as system state. Has saved a lot of time for everyone in y department when trouble shooting extends over a few days. For coding, sometimes I have an idea in the middle of something else do a few lines of pseudo code or sketches to help remember the idea fully later.
And in my workshop take down measurements and do calculations. If I measure the width of a board and then try to figure out the half way point, I can refer back right away. Also has saved some times on gifts when I’ve made one and then my wife wants another for someone else as a gift.
The other notebooks I like are the Dot journal ones, help keep everything lined up but closer to blank paper. I try to go cheap though because otherwise I stress if I’m putting the right thing in the notebook and wasting space etc.