Using Paper for Everyday Tasks • Hacker News Board

Re: Using Paper for Everyday Tasks

#21

Post by cpach » Sat, Jun 26, 2021, 8:59 AM UTC

weitzj wrote: post #14

I have used paper but finally with my Remarkable 2 I can keep my paper workflow/feel and don’t waste paper .

The Remarkable looks very useful.

But of course the Remarkable has an ecological footprint too, just like paper has.

A non-zero amount of energy and resources went into manufacturing the device. Extracting and shipping metals/oil/silicone, refining those materials, then constructing the display/CPU/motherboard/other components, then shipping all the components to the assembly site, then shipping the device to the store/warehouse, etc. It’s a lot more complicated than making paper.

Then multiple times per week the device has to be charged, using electricity that might come from a coal power plant in worst case.

I’m not saying one shouldn’t buy a Remarkable. But I don’t think it’s fair to say that the Remarkable is less wasteful than paper before doing a life cycle assessment.

Re: Using Paper for Everyday Tasks

#22

Post by cpach » Sat, Jun 26, 2021, 9:01 AM UTC

beebeepka wrote: post #19

cpach wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Any use of resources has an ecological impact that needs to be weighed against the benefits. Same with driving a car, eating meat, buying a new shirt instead of second hand, buying new furniture instead of second hand, flying, buying disposable diapers for your kid instead of textile diapers, etc. There’s nothing special with paper in this regard.

You are right. Also please note that I do not drive a car, nor do I consume meat. Also, I take great lengths to avoid single use items or use them multiple times. None of it makes me a better/conscious person but I felt it was necessary to address some of your points

I applaud you for this!

Re: Using Paper for Everyday Tasks

#23

Post by rq1 » Sat, Jun 26, 2021, 9:13 AM UTC

noisy_boy wrote: post #4

> If the item either can't or won't be done, cross out the - to make it into a *. How about put a circle around the - to make it a "stop" sign?

Clever one :-)

I love these kind of tips that seem so obvious but that I’d never thought of.

Re: Using Paper for Everyday Tasks

#24

Post by omgtehlion » Sat, Jun 26, 2021, 9:14 AM UTC

I like using paper for notes, TODOs, drafts, doodling, etc. Especially I like that tactile feeling when I roll a (mechanical) pencil in my fingers. As of paper: I prefer notebooks with tear-off pages, and love to crumple and throw them out when completed ))

Re: Using Paper for Everyday Tasks

#25

Post by Stratoscope » Sat, Jun 26, 2021, 9:23 AM UTC

inferense wrote: post #3

I’ve turned to using text editor and then paper too, mainly for its simplicity. “Running out of battery” was never a problem for me, but maintenance and getting used to the complex UI of today’s task / knowledge management systems definitely was a painful experience. Like many others, I have decided to create something new. A tool which would be simple to use just like a text editor / paper but functional like a full…

Is there a high contrast light theme, like pen on paper? I can’t use dark themes.

Re: Using Paper for Everyday Tasks

#26

Post by barrenko » Sat, Jun 26, 2021, 9:23 AM UTC

The only thing that's important is getting thoughts out of your head.

Re: Using Paper for Everyday Tasks

#27

Post by streamofdigits » Sat, Jun 26, 2021, 9:29 AM UTC

As I see it we live through a period where two incredible capabilities remain unreconciled. The free format ability of paper to capture nuance, creativity and complexity in recording information versus the powerful augmentation of search / modify / repurpose existing records that you get with digital tools. Not sure there will ever be something that can support both but it does not sound forbidden by some law of nature

Re: Using Paper for Everyday Tasks

#28

Post by CTOSian » Sat, Jun 26, 2021, 9:31 AM UTC

beebeepka wrote: post #7

I love the idea of wasting trees because you just prefer to write things down on paper. Been in the workforce for decades and I've met more than a handful of people who love writing things down and, of course, drawing stuff. I've had a guy justify not taking notes because he didn't have a pen and paper on hand...WHILE having an online meeting. On a computer. Now, these people don't have much in common but they tend t…

Still using an "ancient" pocket filofax (the one with 4 rings), I don't even buy paper for the notes anymore: it's easy to find discarded one-side printed on A4 brochures/presentations etc, I cut them to size via a guillotine cutter and bob's your uncle, its just for notes etc then once filled: shredded and off to the compost

Re: Using Paper for Everyday Tasks

#29

Post by ekianjo » Sat, Jun 26, 2021, 9:32 AM UTC

cpach wrote: post #21

weitzj wrote: post #14

I have used paper but finally with my Remarkable 2 I can keep my paper workflow/feel and don’t waste paper .

The Remarkable looks very useful. But of course the Remarkable has an ecological footprint too, just like paper has. A non-zero amount of energy and resources went into manufacturing the device. Extracting and shipping metals/oil/silicone, refining those materials, then constructing the display/CPU/motherboard/other components, then shipping all the components to the assembly site, then shipping the device to the sto…

It's not like making paper is energy free. You need to grow the trees, cut the trees using machinery, transport cut trees to factory which is under all likelihood not anywhere close, turn tree pulp into paper, package it, ship it to warehouses before it's actually shipped to the end store to be eventually picked up by a consumer. Not sure what your point actually is, if you want to compare both supply chains then you need to take everything in account, including the amount of paper you'd need over your lifetime in case you did not use any electronic device, the amount of garbage it produces, etc...

Re: Using Paper for Everyday Tasks

#30

Post by jiofih » Sat, Jun 26, 2021, 9:33 AM UTC

nunodonato wrote: post #11

How about a middle ground? I've been looking into the new generation of eink devices that are great for notetaking. Remarkable etc Best of both worlds and no more dead trees

I have one. You still can’t quickly flick back onto last week’s notes, and object permanence issues remain. Will never be the same as paper.

A better middle ground is probably one of those smart pens that automatically digitizes your scribbles, while you’re still using a paper notebook.