Ask HN: How do you take notes other than using paper?

#1

Post by simon_acca » Tue, Jun 21, 2016, 2:35 PM UTC

Hi all,

going trough college, it struck me that notes are still mostly a pen and paper business. At least, that is my experience, as well as my colleague's, for anything that is not plain text.

I found that there is no app that allows me to quickly mix together text, math formulas, code, images, sketches, graphs, and other kinds of media (yes, yes, I hear you invoke the mighty LaTeX... but can you write correct LaTeX on-the-fly?).

I would like to tackle this problem by building a platform for storing and sharing your personal knowledge, and it would help greatly to hear other people's insights on this matter.

    So, what I am asking is: do you take complex notes with a computing device? 
    If yes: 
      how? what method, device, app?
      do you re-process your notes offline?
      would you like some functionality that you don't have in your system?
    If not:
      what is missing from current technology that would allow you to do so?
      would you want to upgrade from paper to a computer or tablet application that suits your needs?

Thank you!

p.s. In case you want updates on this, check back on http://taquino.it in a few months or send me an email (see HN profile)

Re: Ask HN: How do you take notes other than using paper?

#2

Post by Hates_ » Tue, Jun 21, 2016, 2:55 PM UTC

I use Evernote for non coding notes and Quiver for coding related notes.

Re: Ask HN: How do you take notes other than using paper?

#3

Post by creshal » Tue, Jun 21, 2016, 2:56 PM UTC

A good, old-fashioned tablet PC: http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Category:X201_Tablet

All the advantages of handwriting, none of the problems of managing stacks of paper.

Re: Ask HN: How do you take notes other than using paper?

#4

Post by MollyR » Tue, Jun 21, 2016, 2:57 PM UTC

Video recorded with my cell phone (ask if your professor is okay with it). Also took notes by hand, something about writing down helped with memory retention. Followed it up with manual conversion into flashcards in anki http://ankisrs.net/ .

Re: Ask HN: How do you take notes other than using paper?

#5

Post by MarlonPro » Tue, Jun 21, 2016, 2:58 PM UTC

"I found that there is no app that allows me to quickly mix together text, math formulas, images, sketches, graphs, and other kinds of media"

OneNote - with add-ins

Re: Ask HN: How do you take notes other than using paper?

#6

Post by dpcan » Tue, Jun 21, 2016, 2:59 PM UTC

I take notes, then take pictures of the pages. I really have no need for notes to be converted to text or any special format as they are for review only.

That being said, an app where I can create a folder for, or tag the photos of my notes for the class or conference, put the pictures I took in that category to easily flip through them, and then be able to virtually highlight them, create bookmarks in them, or mark over them with a virtual sharpy would be awesome.

Re: Ask HN: How do you take notes other than using paper?

#7

Post by mitola » Tue, Jun 21, 2016, 2:59 PM UTC

I use Evernote if that helps, it suits my purpose. Even though I do use some extra hotkeys for formating. The best use out of it for me is the search functionality.

Re: Ask HN: How do you take notes other than using paper?

#8

Post by DrSayre » Tue, Jun 21, 2016, 3:00 PM UTC

I like Notes in iOS/macOS. I really like having it on my phone and mac. I would like it if it was markdown or something to style them more, but the updates they released in the past year is an improvement.

Im glad you mentioned math formulas. One thing I can't do, that would be nice to do in Notes is someway to do math. I like to calculate what each contestant should bet for Final Jeopardy! and it's hard to do it in Notes.

Re: Ask HN: How do you take notes other than using paper?

#9

Post by stinkytaco » Tue, Jun 21, 2016, 3:03 PM UTC

I find writing aids my recall. I have experimented with a surface pro 3 and it is ok, if you need them digitized, but less convenient then paper. (sometimes I accidentally hit a button or exit my notetaking app, sometimes I find myself wanting to do special formatting and not knowing how to, etc.) Its recognition and comfort are fine, however.

Notes are for you to recall the material better. What helps you with that?

Re: Ask HN: How do you take notes other than using paper?

#10

Post by stinkytaco » Tue, Jun 21, 2016, 3:05 PM UTC

dpcan wrote: post #6

I take notes, then take pictures of the pages. I really have no need for notes to be converted to text or any special format as they are for review only. That being said, an app where I can create a folder for, or tag the photos of my notes for the class or conference, put the pictures I took in that category to easily flip through them, and then be able to virtually highlight them, create bookmarks in them, or mark…

I'd love to find this. I have a case of notes from college that I'd like to reference again, if only for my own interest. I'm not sure it's worth the effort to go through and digitize 3 dozen notebooks, but there's information in there I'd like to have and I didn't really think much about long term recall when I was in college. I wish the capability of taking pictures and quickly digitizing them existed at the time I went to school.