The fall of Big Paper

#1

Post by jbellis » Sat, Mar 17, 2012, 1:31 PM UTC

The fall of Big Paper
forbes.com

Re: The fall of Big Paper

#2

Post by crag » Sat, Mar 17, 2012, 4:27 PM UTC

The one paper still holds over any other "media", convenience.

Re: The fall of Big Paper

#3

Post by Stwerner » Sat, Mar 17, 2012, 4:59 PM UTC

While programming I love scribbling down notes and ideas on a notepad. There is something about the change in mindset or context from screen and keyboard to pen and paper that helps me see the whole picture of what I am working on, or even just get a thought out of my head temporarily to be able to stay on the current task. Does anyone else do this, and have you found any piece of technology to replace that?

Re: The fall of Big Paper

#4

Post by kreate » Sat, Mar 17, 2012, 5:02 PM UTC

paper is more basic. everyone can use a pen. you don't lose any time or effort.

Re: The fall of Big Paper

#5

Post by andy_boot » Sat, Mar 17, 2012, 5:08 PM UTC

Stwerner wrote: post #3

While programming I love scribbling down notes and ideas on a notepad. There is something about the change in mindset or context from screen and keyboard to pen and paper that helps me see the whole picture of what I am working on, or even just get a thought out of my head temporarily to be able to stay on the current task. Does anyone else do this, and have you found any piece of technology to replace that?

I still scribble on paper - I wouldn't feel right if I couldn't put the Pc down for a bit and start scribbling.

Re: The fall of Big Paper

#6

Post by w1ntermute » Sat, Mar 17, 2012, 5:15 PM UTC

Stwerner wrote: post #3

While programming I love scribbling down notes and ideas on a notepad. There is something about the change in mindset or context from screen and keyboard to pen and paper that helps me see the whole picture of what I am working on, or even just get a thought out of my head temporarily to be able to stay on the current task. Does anyone else do this, and have you found any piece of technology to replace that?

While that's great, your scribbling on paper while coding can't sustain the enormous empires that were built up around the sale of paper. Things like books and corporate purchases are what did that. And if even just 90% of paper usage is eliminated in those contexts, you'll see those empires come crashing down.

Re: The fall of Big Paper

#7

Post by joejohnson » Sat, Mar 17, 2012, 5:32 PM UTC

w1ntermute wrote: post #6

Stwerner wrote: post #3

While programming I love scribbling down notes and ideas on a notepad. There is something about the change in mindset or context from screen and keyboard to pen and paper that helps me see the whole picture of what I am working on, or even just get a thought out of my head temporarily to be able to stay on the current task. Does anyone else do this, and have you found any piece of technology to replace that?

While that's great, your scribbling on paper while coding can't sustain the enormous empires that were built up around the sale of paper. Things like books and corporate purchases are what did that. And if even just 90% of paper usage is eliminated in those contexts, you'll see those empires come crashing down.

What would happen to the price of paper if suddenly demand is decimated like that? If the price of light paper goods increases dramatically, I predict that consumers will increasingly adopt new note-taking/scribbling solutions (like and iPad app). After one new generation of people grows up accustomed to accomplishing all of their formerly paper-based tasks digitally (even simple tasks like doodling), I believe that paper will truly be a fixture of the past.

Re: The fall of Big Paper

#8

Post by zheng » Sat, Mar 17, 2012, 6:26 PM UTC

Stwerner wrote: post #3

While programming I love scribbling down notes and ideas on a notepad. There is something about the change in mindset or context from screen and keyboard to pen and paper that helps me see the whole picture of what I am working on, or even just get a thought out of my head temporarily to be able to stay on the current task. Does anyone else do this, and have you found any piece of technology to replace that?

I have a real desire for a ~ 8.5x11 (or A4, it doesn't really matter I guess) size whiteboard built into my desk right in front of my keyboard. That could probably replace paper for 95% of my ideas. If they could come out with a finer tipped marker, I would be in heaven.

Re: The fall of Big Paper

#9

Post by tricolon » Sat, Mar 17, 2012, 6:27 PM UTC

How strange: "Empire" in the subsection heading "The Decline and Fall of the Paper Empire" links to http://www.forbes.com/companies/empire/ for no apparent reason. Perhaps an autolinker run amok?

Re: The fall of Big Paper

#10

Post by rflrob » Sat, Mar 17, 2012, 7:16 PM UTC

zheng wrote: post #8

Stwerner wrote: post #3

While programming I love scribbling down notes and ideas on a notepad. There is something about the change in mindset or context from screen and keyboard to pen and paper that helps me see the whole picture of what I am working on, or even just get a thought out of my head temporarily to be able to stay on the current task. Does anyone else do this, and have you found any piece of technology to replace that?

I have a real desire for a ~ 8.5x11 (or A4, it doesn't really matter I guess) size whiteboard built into my desk right in front of my keyboard. That could probably replace paper for 95% of my ideas. If they could come out with a finer tipped marker, I would be in heaven.

I think the key idea you've hit on is that paper is relatively permanent, even when we don't need it to be. For lots of moderate term stuff, it could easily be replaced if only it weren't quite as cheap.