this post was submitted on 19 Aug 2023
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With so much note taking apps nowadays, I can't understand why does anyone still write notes with pen and paper. You need to bring the notepad, book or that paper to retrieve that information, and most of the time you don't have it in hand. While my phone almost always reachable and you carry when you go out. For those still like to do handwriting, there's many app does that and they can even convert it to text notes.

So, if you still write notes with pen and paper, why?

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[–] skip0110@lemm.ee 2 points 2 years ago

I use paper for shopping lists, to keep track of dimensions etc, and to-do lists for work.

I tried multiple note taking or to do list apps over the course of a few years before going back to paper.

Benefits: No risk of scratching/dropping my phone because I have it out. Can easily emphasize text, star/cross off items, and mix diagrams and text. Can quickly scan many items by eye. Works when my phone battery dies. Works when no cell service (unlike some collaborative to-do/list apps) Can hand the list to my partner. Instant sync. Satisfying to physically toss out completed lists. Can reference the list while on the phone. Not distracted by phone alerts. Never get spam email or pop ups urging me to pay for an app, or rate an app; no terms of service or privacy policy!

[–] DagingAnalog@lemmy.my.id 2 points 2 years ago

Yes, for recipe.

[–] NENathaniel 2 points 2 years ago

Nah, tablet and stylus

[–] AlmightySnoo@lemmy.world 2 points 2 years ago

Since I got a Remarkable 2 tablet I don't write on paper anymore. It's still handwriting so it's kind of the best of both worlds.

[–] d3Xt3r@lemmy.nz 2 points 2 years ago

No.

Surprised no one here answered with just a "no". I can't remember the last time I even held a pen for signing something, even my last job contract and rental agreement etc were all digital.

AMA, all you pen and pencil people.

[–] redxef@feddit.de 2 points 2 years ago

Yes, mostly university and work though. I don't have a tablet and the drawing tablet is at home most of the time. Pen and paper just gives more flexibility than text. Though I instantly scan them and upload them to my paperless instance.

[–] PersonalDevKit@aussie.zone 2 points 2 years ago

I use my phone for quick notes on the go, or creating lists of information I want to be able to re order and edit.

I use pen and paper mainly for brain dumps. Getting a stream of thoughts out of my head and on to paper. I find trying to use a phone for this will lead to some distraction and the thought will go before I capture all of the info.

I also use pen and paper when studying a topic, especially for a test, I find the simple of act of writing the information down is enough to cement it in my brain, even if I never go back and read those notes.

[–] techwizrd@programming.dev 2 points 2 years ago

I enjoy writing with fountain pens, and I've got to justify the numerous pens and inks I have. I also find it helps me with recall and focus. So I take notes by hand most of the time.

[–] s_s@lemmy.one 2 points 2 years ago

I do not trust things in my phone to stay private.

[–] jhoward@lemmy.sdf.org 2 points 2 years ago

Yes, but I use a rocket book to easily digitize these days. Tried a remarkable, but didn't quite like the process once many pages were involved (slow to flip through pages).

I also keep quite a few notes on the computer and phone via self hosted Joplin. Which is awesome too.

[–] Nioxic@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

what do you mean "still"?

i never did. i have an ugly hand writing and writing a lot, hurts my fingers. not sure why - i guess i have weird hands.

i also suck at going back at looking at the notes - so i write stuff down, in obsidian. i can add photos, drawing, sketches, links, audio bites, videos etc.

[–] argv_minus_one@beehaw.org 1 points 2 years ago

No. Handwriting is slow and makes my hand sore. Keyboards are way more comfortable.

[–] AnonStoleMyPants@sopuli.xyz 1 points 2 years ago (2 children)

95% digital. Work journal is in Tiddlywiki and that's basically it. Todo lists I do tend to do with pen & paper.

I like pen and paper but searching is always such a fucking hassle and my hand writing is garbo. If I know I don't need to actually find anything later then it's great (doodling and thinking about something). I guess I could do pen and paper and layer save into digital but meh.

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[–] PlexSheep@feddit.de 1 points 2 years ago

Haha no. I make all my notes in markdown, or if I have to write something Math fast like in university lectures, with xournal++.

If it has to be a proper document: LaTeX or real fancy Markdown.

I only sometimes do kanji writing practice (I'm learning japanese), and for that, I'm using paper. Xournal++ would work just as well through.

[–] Tubulous@beehaw.org 1 points 2 years ago

Depends on the situation, but yes, I still keep notes with a mechanical pencil and an A5 spiral graphing paper notebook. I do use an electronic notebook (Joplin) for some things, especially if what I am working on will end up in a document or if I need to include screenshots, links, or other embedded items, but for general notes, paper. And, there are places I go that do not allow technology, so having the smaller notepad has come in very handy.

[–] viking@infosec.pub 1 points 2 years ago

No, but I'm using the reMarkable 2 instead as a designated digital notepad, so you would probably argue I still have to carry stuff around.

As to why - I can write fast than I type (in meetings etc.) without losing focus.

[–] Karmmah@lemmy.world 1 points 2 years ago

I did take all my notes for university on pen and paper because I don't have a laptop with a touchscreen and pen. But I was never quite happy, since I would lose some notes or not find something specific that I knew I wrote down somewhere. This semester I tried using Obsidian and I and it has been great so far. I am now able to search my notes by text and I can back them up somewhere safe. When I'm not on my laptop I take quick notes on my phone but the important ones will then later be transferred to Obsidian.

[–] Extrasvhx9he@lemmy.today 1 points 2 years ago

I kinda meet in the middle and just digitally scan my handwritten notes. It makes for easier backups and still have all the benefits of writing paper notes

[–] Rayspekt@kbin.social 1 points 2 years ago

If you have to write equations and drawings, pen and paper is still better for me. I'll scan it to onenote afterwards.

[–] tallwookie@lemmy.world 1 points 2 years ago

generally no, but sometimes yes - mostly jotting down phone numbers, or if one of my many different passwords change until I can memorize it, (ie: at work), etc

other than that, the only time pen touches paper is when I write a check.

[–] Ukuli@sopuli.xyz 1 points 2 years ago

I do that for work, for instance when evaluating students and sharing my desktop, it is just more convenient and private to do it on a paper. Maybe also nostalgia plays a factor here, since even in uni not that long ago, I still used notebook and pen.

[–] TheyHaveNoName@beehaw.org 1 points 2 years ago

When I need to learn something and think it over I use pen and paper. If it’s noting stuff down to read later or record somewhere, then it’s digital.

[–] Curious_Canid 1 points 2 years ago

Rarely. I usually have a laptop handy and I can type a lot faster than I can write. Even on my phone, I can swipe nearly as fast as a I can hand write. I occasionally hand write short notes, but mostly I use a pen to fill out receipts. And I love pens. :-)

[–] lauha@lemmy.one 1 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Speak for yourself.

Pros of pen and paper: always in my pocket, very fast to open up and read and write notes. Never runs out of battery. Readable even in brightest sunlight.

Cons of phone: must remember to take it with you or search your apartment to find where you place it and hope you have remembered to charge it during past couple of days. Additionally you have to unlock it and flick through the menus to find the note app. Additionally additionally you have to remember to take a charger where ever you go.

[–] lvxferre@lemmy.ml 1 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

Cons of phone: must remember to take it with you or search your apartment to find where you place it and hope you have remembered to charge it during past couple of days.

I'm glad to know that I'm not the only one who leaves the phone at home, or forgets to charge it. 90% of my time using the internet it's from an actual computer.

[–] thorbot@lemmy.world 1 points 2 years ago
[–] thelsim@sh.itjust.works 1 points 2 years ago

Writing on paper helps me to make sense of the chaos in my head.
I have a big notebook in which I write out a first draft of new projects in as neat a handwriting as I can manage. It takes time, but it helps me to order my thoughts into something more coherent. And while writing, my subconscious usually comes up with other points that I might have missed earlier.
I enjoy making my notebook look as nice as possible, using a ruler for lines and tables, adding little illustrations in the margins when idling, etc. I want it to be something I’ll keep after it’s full, because it’ll represent a big chunk of memories from my professional life.

[–] Macaroni_ninja@lemmy.world 1 points 2 years ago

Hi Steve! How are you doing?... Good!...No last night was great! , yes I'm in the office...I need to pick up the stuff for the birthday party? Ok no problem, can you send me the address? ...oh you driving, okay let me write it down... Hold on, I will put you on the loudspeaker so I can open my notes application... please don't say anything embarrassing, I have like 10 co workers around me... Uh-um...

[–] user224@lemmy.sdf.org 1 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (1 children)

Just on phone. They're not important notes though. Just random stuff. I don't even remember the context for 80% of that.

Some examples:

Slimport is its name you donut

Yeah, what's Slimport?

1280Γ—800Γ—8/32

install tar1090 and dump1090-fa

Never did. Too much lazy, and dump1090 works.

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[–] Today@lemmy.world 2 points 2 years ago

I usually have a dozen sticky notes on my desk - some i write and some other people leave for me. An email from three days ago is easier to forget than the sticky note.

[–] MJBrune@beehaw.org 1 points 2 years ago

I don't write notes most of the time. If I do I'm in a meeting and just use vscode or whatever task management system (jira, trello, etc) we have.

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