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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[–] riodoro1@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Simple sketches of very rough ideas are much simpler for me in a notebook. Its right there when i need it, and they’ve thought me how to use a pen ages ago so i’m pretty good at it. Noting down numbers or dimensions before i can enter them to cad in their proper places is something i do quite a lot too. The built in history feature is amazingly simple but search could be improved upon. Especially if the pages are filled with random things next to each other.

The notebook is pretty resistant to drops too and i can put plates or mugs on it without risking sratches

[–] dQw4w9WgXcQ@lemm.ee 3 points 1 year ago

I agree with a lot of peoples take about the convenience of paper notes with the ability to handle them, physically share them and so forth. But I still never use physical notes any more. And 100% of the reason is that I'm always carrying my phone, but I never carry a pen and notebook. My need to take notes is spontaneous and unpredictible, so paper and a pen is never within an arms reach when I need to take a note.

[–] GenderIsOpSec@hexbear.net 3 points 1 year ago

not to sound like a boomer, but i just like to write with pen once in a while so i dont forget how to blob-no-thoughts

[–] Gorillatactics@hexbear.net 3 points 1 year ago

I don't write anything down because the sophon is watching me.

[–] skip0110@lemm.ee 3 points 1 year 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!

[–] Bimily@endofti.me 3 points 1 year ago

yes, there is music in the sound of pen across paper and magic in the scratch of a pencil. I still use my phone to take quick notes but I love the sound and feel of paper.

[–] Legendsofanus@beehaw.org 3 points 1 year ago

So I have this OCD thing where I just have to have a perfect order of things to do, I'm talking about things like what to watch, what to read.

It's helpful for me to list them all on paper cuz the excel app on my phone sucks and we have load shedding where light goes every 2 hours a.ccording to schedule and comes back after 2 hours.

[–] DagingAnalog@lemmy.my.id 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)
[–] polskilumalo@lemmygrad.ml 2 points 1 year ago

Ah mama's hand written recipes, they contain more than just her recipes...

The abused paper, the fading writing, her handwriting, the smell of cocoa powder in the paper...

From a simple recipe written down quickly, it turns into a cherished family heirloom.

[–] Delphia@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago

I work with a deaf guy.

Harder to draw diagrams on a phone.

[–] u202307011927@feddit.de 2 points 1 year ago

Aesthetics mostly, but also it feels more tangible when expressing myself physically, not digitally. Like, I can better recognize what I wrote, because there were more senses involved in writing than there are with typing

[–] hitagi@ani.social 2 points 1 year ago

Yes! Pen and paper is much more flexible compared to writing-software. It's easy to draw around or write on the margins when needed. I've tried writing with a stylus but I find it harder to use. I usually use this for class and if I have to jot down something quickly.

The only thing I don't put on paper is my todo list. Software manages that so much better than pen and paper. I also don't print out reading material anymore as it gets expensive and very bulky. I use xournalpp for annotation instead.

[–] user224@lemmy.sdf.org 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year 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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You get the idea.

[–] Today@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year 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.

[–] inspxtr@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago

a mixed of digital + pen/paper notes. The latter especially when I need to sketch out ideas, diagrams, equations and a bunch of arrows between them.

[–] lauha@lemmy.one 2 points 1 year 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 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year 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.

[–] Twink@hexbear.net 2 points 1 year ago

I did! And then didn't use them. I finally had some Internet via WiFi so I downloaded a notes app and actually used them!

[–] redxef@feddit.de 2 points 1 year 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.

[–] NENathaniel@lemmy.ca 2 points 1 year ago

Nah, tablet and stylus

[–] AlmightySnoo@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year 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 1 year 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.

[–] UlyssesT@hexbear.net 2 points 1 year ago

Sure do. I-was-saying

Fiddling with my phone has extra steps and sometimes it's good to have something written within viewing distance that I wrote with my own hands, which adds to the memory retention of whatever it is.

[–] Vampire@hexbear.net 2 points 1 year ago

Yeah, it's the best way to study.

[–] lemmy0@lemmy.ml 2 points 1 year ago
[–] Curious_Canid@lemmy.ca 2 points 1 year 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. :-)

[–] SpaceDog@hexbear.net 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

I have an A6 pocket notebook that I carry around in my pocket and I keep notes in there.

Mostly I just map out the next few weeks at a glance and then note down things I have to do day by day. Sometimes I make an extra entry to take notes on and plan things in more detail as needed, e.g. my upcoming holiday, the itinerary, my flights and visas and accommodation and transport and a few things to do in each place, or the wifi password of a place I'm staying, or notes and thoughts on something I'm researching.

My notebook never distracts me the way my phone might, and it's easier to keep my notes accessible over the term of a few weeks, because they're just there.

I still use an online calendar and obsidian for more long-term notes.

Edit: I also sometimes use my notebook, which cost about 0.50 €, to stabilise a wonky table. I wouldn't do that with my phone.

[–] PersonalDevKit@aussie.zone 2 points 1 year 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 1 year 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 1 year ago

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

[–] jhoward@lemmy.sdf.org 2 points 1 year 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.

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