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I use cheap notebooks

tiramisu.bearblog.dev

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Re: I use cheap notebooks

#191

Post by theideaofcoffee »

StrangeATractor wrote: post #176
theideaofcoffee wrote: post #145

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is reminiscent of the zettelkasten system with the links between notes and topics, though ZK takes it a bit further and does away with the chronological sorting files by topic. Indexes have links to individual topics and topics can link among themselves. It tickles that part of my brain that is unsatisfied with top-down/chronological notebooks and the like and replaces it with www-like hyperlinks.

I have to confess I was partly inspired by ZK to start doing this, but by doing it for transitory notes and putting it into my day-to-day habits I feel like I've gained super powers. It's less effort to use a timestamp as a UUID for everything and I don't have to think about how to organize them until natural patterns emerge which I can sort by with lists, or refine into a more focused note. I can also remember rough…

Use and adapt tools to work best for you! I may have to experiment with this system a bit, sounds like it may fill in some gaps here and there.

Re: I use cheap notebooks

#192

Post by asdff »

cjsawyer wrote: post #153
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…

I’ve recently gotten over this sentiment with my electronics. When I was a kid, each device was an irreplaceable gift from a parent or represented the investment of a long time saving. So each device was treated with the absolute care. As a result I spent a lot of time babying hardware. Now I’m a few generations of hardware into being an adult and am retiring perfect condition objects that are just too slow. For what…

My 2012 macbook pro looks like its been throw out of a moving vehicle at this point. Dinged corners, scratched up bottoms and missing screws and feet. Thats why they make them out of a metal unibody chassis after all, to keep up with being dropped all the time and scratched up.

Re: I use cheap notebooks

#193

Post by dcchambers »

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…

> use the good china every day

is the best advice one can get in life.

Re: I use cheap notebooks

#194

Post by asdff »

LaffertyDev wrote: post #159
cjsawyer wrote: post #153

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I’ve recently gotten over this sentiment with my electronics. When I was a kid, each device was an irreplaceable gift from a parent or represented the investment of a long time saving. So each device was treated with the absolute care. As a result I spent a lot of time babying hardware. Now I’m a few generations of hardware into being an adult and am retiring perfect condition objects that are just too slow. For what…

Exactly the same here! My MBP in college had a safety case and everything... and in hindsight its awful and bulky and hides the fancy finish. One important thing to remember, at least for me, is I just had significantly less disposable income back then. Replacing the MBP would have been financially impossible for me, so I took more care of it. I'm in a much more privileged place now... so replacing something like thi…

Honestly those cases would not have helped your mac any. It has a substantial amount of shock protection already from the case, if you open it up you can see how the corners especially have plenty of room to deform before hitting something important, and if you are smacking that computer hard enough to deform the corners the thin plastic case might as well be a piece of paper. Maybe they help prevent scratches which could hurt resale value potentially.

Re: I use cheap notebooks

#195

Post by ghaff »

LaffertyDev wrote: post #159
cjsawyer wrote: post #153

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I’ve recently gotten over this sentiment with my electronics. When I was a kid, each device was an irreplaceable gift from a parent or represented the investment of a long time saving. So each device was treated with the absolute care. As a result I spent a lot of time babying hardware. Now I’m a few generations of hardware into being an adult and am retiring perfect condition objects that are just too slow. For what…

Exactly the same here! My MBP in college had a safety case and everything... and in hindsight its awful and bulky and hides the fancy finish. One important thing to remember, at least for me, is I just had significantly less disposable income back then. Replacing the MBP would have been financially impossible for me, so I took more care of it. I'm in a much more privileged place now... so replacing something like thi…

It's not necessarily unreasonable to take some additional steps to protect your essential tools that would be very financially inconvenient to replace. What's "reasonable" of course depends on the details. But that doesn't necessarily mean suffering along with inferior products (computers, cameras) because you're afraid they'll get stolen or damaged (which insurance can mittigate against to some degree).

Re: I use cheap notebooks

#196

Post by ghaff »

dehrmann wrote: post #173
vel0city wrote: post #89

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> 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. Its like the people with cabinets full of fine china that nobody eats off of for 50 years. My mother was one of those people. Growing up we had a large cabinet of fine place sets that we were always "saving" for some other time. I finally convinced her to start using it one hol…

Where the fine china situation gets awkward is when parents want to give it to their kids, but it means absolutely nothing to the kids because they never used it.

I took my parents' wedding china and I can probably count the times I've used it on a couple of hands. Though there's more of it than my own stoneware so when I do have a big crowd over, it's been handy a couple of times.

Re: I use cheap notebooks

#197

Post by fencepost »

cjsawyer wrote: post #153
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…

I’ve recently gotten over this sentiment with my electronics. When I was a kid, each device was an irreplaceable gift from a parent or represented the investment of a long time saving. So each device was treated with the absolute care. As a result I spent a lot of time babying hardware. Now I’m a few generations of hardware into being an adult and am retiring perfect condition objects that are just too slow. For what…

I changed to this with electronics when I decided that the midrange and below was more than enough for anything I'm doing and that every movable device should be treated as if it could be dropped on a tile floor or grow legs and walk away at any time.

Automated backups, cloud storage and services, encrypted local storage, remote wipe if feasible, devices that are midrange but still getting security and feature updates. Not quite seamless to move to a new device, but it's not that hard either.

Re: I use cheap notebooks

#198

Post by asdff »

What sucks about these cheap 99 cent notebooks are the pages are so thin that they get all folded up and tattered easy, especially if they get tossed in a bag. I don't like how floppy they are if you don't have a table to write on either. stuff like mead cambridge line is a little more expensive, but the paper is a lot thicker per sheet which makes it stand up to abuse, and the cardboard back is substantial. They end up still looking pretty good when I would fill them out even carrying them in a backpack every day. There's probably other cheaper notebooks out there that also have these thicker, more durable sheets.

Re: I use cheap notebooks

#199

Post by davchana »

I have two boxes full of random notebooks I got as gifts at various times. Most of them are pretty, strong, nice. Like collectables.

My goto notebooks are walmart brand, anything with hard back, under $4, size A5 or similar, lined pages.

Whenever my book is full, I tear & scan pages as 300dpi color pdfs.

Re: I use cheap notebooks

#200

Post by agrippanux »

I'm the opposite of the author, the nicer the notebook, the more likely I am to use it.

Currently I'm using a Mnemosyne 105 and my primary writing instrument is a Rotring 600 (0.7mm).

When this notebook is filled, I'll probably re-order several more.

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