I use cheap notebooks • Hacker News Board

Re: I use cheap notebooks

#111

Post by vineyardmike » Fri, Mar 10, 2023, 5:01 PM UTC

thecrumb wrote: post #37

I used cheap notebooks for years but recently switched to an e-ink tablet (supernote) and love it and I feel better about saving a few trees.

I came here to say this. I use the tablet for anything I think I’ll only need for a short time, since I find search cumbersome.

I’m skeptical it’s “better” for the environment since electronics are a lot more intense to manufacture and a lot worse to recycle.

Re: I use cheap notebooks

#112

Post by tomjen3 » Fri, Mar 10, 2023, 5:08 PM UTC

This was a confusing headline. I was looking forward to seeing how he was using cheap computer netbooks.

Re: I use cheap notebooks

#113

Post by rcarr » Fri, Mar 10, 2023, 5:12 PM UTC

rPlayer6554 wrote: post #36

I use the Traveler's company notebook. It's just a leather shell and it allows you to put inserts in. You can mix and match up to three or four different types of inserts. The fact I can always put in new inserts allowed me to feel more comfortable writing whatever in the notebook and not feel afraid of wasting it.

Came here to say this. If you want a notebook, this is the way.

For people doing long writing projects, either buy notebooks/inserts with tearaway pages or do as much of your writing as possible on a refill pad, then store and organise it using an expanding plastic filing box or similar. Even if you are a plotter rather than a pantser, it is highly unlikely you are going to write that entire novel from start to finish linerarly in one go - you are much more likely to write snippets out of order and then assemble it into a whole at a later date. This is far easier to do if your pages are not stuck in a book.

For capturing ideas on the move, I normally use my phone but I always carry an index card holder and some index cards in case my phone dies. It's also handy in case you need to give somebody some information for whatever reason.

Re: I use cheap notebooks

#114

Post by aidenn0 » Fri, Mar 10, 2023, 5:13 PM UTC

jasonpeacock wrote: post #83

LaffertyDev wrote: post #78

It took me a while to get over the fear of destroying/using up nice things. Like enjoying a nice bottle of liquor, or using up a very nice notebook. Eventually I came across the idea that things are meant to be used, and now I'm much more relaxed about damaging/using up the things I own. I read once a stellar idea to help get over the fear of starting to draw in a notebook (or an art project, or a new software projec…

A similar approach I've heard (but never brave enough to do) is when you get a new car, intentionally scratch the paint yourself. Then you won't be as concerned about the inevitable dings and scratches it will accumulate.

Best thing that happened for my wife and my marriage was the flooring people doing a shitty job before we moved into my house. She shrugs off every scuff I put in the floor with "it's crappy anyways"

Re: I use cheap notebooks

#115

Post by carldaddy » Fri, Mar 10, 2023, 5:15 PM UTC

Not notebooks but my Dad never let us kids use his guitars because they were too nice. So we never learned guitar. I picked it up later in life and now leave them out for my kids to mess with. Sure, they'll be out of tune and the pick will go missing, but I feel it's more important that they get used as much as possible for everyone. No point in leaving stuff stored away.

Re: I use cheap notebooks

#116

Post by devchix » Fri, Mar 10, 2023, 5:16 PM UTC

All those hours perusing for the perfect notebook on JetPens - it's stupid how much I covet writing instruments. I too use a lot of legal pads, no cover, always flushed with the writing surface, tear off for a new beginning. I always thought, cynically perhaps, that those awesome looking BuJos were made to be Instagramable and not for the use of the writer himself. I will add something in the same philosophical vein as "use cheap notebooks". I was once obsessed with getting the right "planning system" in place for my Get-Things-Done lists, one calendar, one brainstorming notebook, grooming and curation schedule, and the proper icons and markers. Once I accepted that there could be many places for my To-Do list, many places for my priorities-of-the-day, multiple lists in my life, it was easier to get things done. I don't live in one place: the office, the car, my home office, my phone, my workshop - it's fine to duplicate lists and items, the important thing is to have one in front of me when I'm executing on a project. Once I "allowed" myself to have an imperfect planning system, things can get done, instead of me going back for the 5th time tweak the meta-work planning.

Re: I use cheap notebooks

#117

Post by sixstringninja » Fri, Mar 10, 2023, 5:17 PM UTC

I used to like writing on compositional notebooks under a professional setting. Now as an avid fountain user, I don’t mind paying a little extra $$ for better paper. Better paper won’t snag the nib of a fountain pen and facilitates quicker drying of the ink

Re: I use cheap notebooks

#118

Post by rcarr » Fri, Mar 10, 2023, 5:20 PM UTC

Cthulhu_ wrote: post #67

A tip not just for notebooks but for anything (e.g. electrical appliances) if you're buying them for the first time: Buy them cheap. If you use them until they're used up (in the case of notebooks) or broken (in the case of electrical tools), buy a more expensive / higher quality one. If not, you didn't waste too much money on it.

Counterpoint: Buy cheap, buy twice. Personally, I think it's better to buy the name brand that you can then sell on for a reasonable price if it's not to your liking rather than buying the knockoff, not getting a proper experience to tell if you actually like the thing or not and then not being able to resell it afterwards. Obviously this is all dependent on your finances. Cheap is better than nothing if you want to try something out and you can't afford the name brand, and it's always better to start with smaller goals and work your way up to bigger ones e.g if you want to make a film, its better to make a low quality film on an iPhone than to wait around for years and do nothing because you're saving up for a cinema camera and lenses or whatever.

Re: I use cheap notebooks

#119

Post by jrumbut » Fri, Mar 10, 2023, 5:21 PM UTC

LaffertyDev wrote: post #78

It took me a while to get over the fear of destroying/using up nice things. Like enjoying a nice bottle of liquor, or using up a very nice notebook. Eventually I came across the idea that things are meant to be used, and now I'm much more relaxed about damaging/using up the things I own. I read once a stellar idea to help get over the fear of starting to draw in a notebook (or an art project, or a new software projec…

That page brings me back ten years and not in a good way, I can hardly read the text.

Re: I use cheap notebooks

#120

Post by dchuk » Fri, Mar 10, 2023, 5:27 PM UTC

Every few months I switch from digital notetaking on an iPad, to using notebooks. I think it's rooted in some weird anxiety or something, and I resolve it by saying "fuck it, I'm switching everything".

My current routine:

I use Muse on iPad for thoughts I don't need to share anywhere or worry about searchability of. Project ideas, etc are what go in there.

I use Nebo for handwritten notes because the OCR is better than anything else, and it can actually OCR notes in outline form (I don't know of any other apps that can do that reliably). I take my notes there, convert handwriting to text, then paste it into Notion in a semi-organized way.

When collaborating with my colleagues, I use either Google Suite, or Miro.

I'm sure in a few months I'll switch back to pen and paper, but it is quite nice to only haul around an iPad for a change.