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I use cheap notebooks

tiramisu.bearblog.dev

201–210 of 282 posts

Re: I use cheap notebooks

#201
post #29

I use the cheap Muji ones and the Muji gel pens (which are refillable for under https://www.muji.eu/product/recycling-paper-notebook-dark-gr... https://www.muji.eu/product/gel-ink-ballpoint-pen-0-7mm-1104... Get through a notepad once a month or so and a refill every 3 months.

Love their pens so much! I always stock up when I'm in a city with a Muji store

Re: I use cheap notebooks

#202

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.

I admit I rarely use my fine china I inherited but that's because I actually prefer to use my stoneware day to day.

Re: I use cheap notebooks

#203

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 also just tried out the new "sidekick notepad" from Cortex. Very expensive (overpriced), but I was happy to support their work. The sidekick notepad is a pretty nice idea, but $32 + $12 shipping is a lot for a 60 page pad. I've been using a Notsu dot-grid landscape notepad (great paper!) but it's 8.5" x 5.5". I just wish it was larger. The Sidekick looks like a pretty nice size... How hard is it to get custom pad…

The minimalismart.com softcovers that GP linked to have a B5 (10x7.6) size as well, including dot grid option.

Re: I use cheap notebooks

#204

I'm almost the opposite. Cheap notebooks feel crappy. the covers feel crappy, the paper isn't smooth when you write on it. They actively make me want to NOT interact with them. For me, the Rhodia Webnotebook is a nice "not cheap" notebook with great paper. It handles my heavy flow pens, and pens and pencils both slide across it with a wonderful smooth feel.

Love my Rhodia dotGrid pads!

Re: I use cheap notebooks

#205

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 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 project) is to just start scribbling and drawing. Intentionally starting with a mess makes it much easier to break the cycle of "This thing I'm doing isn't good enough yet for this".

Along these lines, something I have shamelessly stolen from Merlin Mann is to write "The first page is profound" on the first page of every notebook I get.

Re: I use cheap notebooks

#206

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 think some products are better designed to wear gracefully than others. The old iPods with the reflective back are a good example. Those things looked nice for about 5 minutes unless you immediately put them in a case. Conversely, newer Apple products seem to wear out very gracefully. A 4 or 5 year old iPhone may look used, but it doesn't look horrifyingly ugly unless the owner seriously abused it.

Like a lot of people, I admittedly use a case but that's as much because I prefer the greater gripiness for one-handed use as much as for protection.

Re: I use cheap notebooks

#207
post #192

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…

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.

Doesn't stop the battery from expanding and ruining the keyboard, trackpad, bottom and top case.

RIP 2015 MBP - you still had a few years left in ya.

Re: I use cheap notebooks

#208

Expensive notebooks have the opposite effect on me. When I pick one up, I appreciate the effort that went into making it and the fact that it was designed counter to a bottom-barrel cheap philosophy. This puts me in a mindset to do higher quality work. Its cost never crosses my mind. Sure, moleskine-like notebooks are more expensive than run-of-the-mill Staples ones, but in absolute values, they don't really cost muc…

Would you also appreciate the effort that went into making nice linen or silk when using it to wipe yourself?

No.

Is wiping an intellectual activity for you ?

Re: I use cheap notebooks

#209
post #207
post #192

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

Doesn't stop the battery from expanding and ruining the keyboard, trackpad, bottom and top case. RIP 2015 MBP - you still had a few years left in ya.

Didn’t you get the battery replaced under Apple program some years ago, I think it was 2019? I got a brand new battery for free.

Re: I use cheap notebooks

#210
What got me to use nice notebooks with abandon was switching to fountain pens, which require thicker paper not to bleed, and I did that because I'm left-handed and was tired of all the problems that come with that.

Some problems left-handers need to deal with:

    * smearing,
    * awkward hand positions to avoid smearing,
    * needing to press harder to get lines,
    * ripping paper because I'm pushing instead of pulling the pen to write, and
    * pens unscrewing themselves, leading to cracking and thread stripping
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