PDA or Paper Planner?

[Queen_Dopplepopolis]

My mother-in-law is purchasing me a planning device for my birthday and I cannot decide between a PDA such as this one or a nice (Franklin Covey?) planner...

Thoughts?

 

[Dakkareth]

For a long time I thought all kinds of PDAs to be a useless waste of money ... until I got one myself (semi-permanent loan). The thing for me is, that I'm just god-awful with planning of any kind. Time-tables, notes with appointments, to-do lists - without them I'd get nothing done and if I had one, I'd usually lose them, leave them lying around somewhere, etc. The advantage of a PDA is, that you will make damn sure you have it with you or know exactly where it is, simply because it's a nice and expensive piece of tech. Add to that, that I can synchronise it with my PC, store all kinds of data, including mp3s, keep my current emails with me, have all my contacts and notes in digital format (where it would require a major twist of fate to get lost) ... I'm a convert .

 

[IronWolf]

A PDA is a nice thing to have in my opinion. In most cases it is much easier to keep on hand as they are small. You'll keep track of it better as it cost some $$$. For me it lets me free up more room in my head for things that matter, offloading the schedule, names, phone numbers, notes, etc, etc. to the PDA instead of trying to remember them.

 

[Terath Ninir]

It depends on what you'll actually use. I had a planner at the start of my college career, but I quickly ditched it. It only works if you actually write thing in it, you see.

I'd be more likely to actually use a PDA, so I'd pick that. But only you know your habits. I think more people actually use PDAs than planners (of those who try to use either).

 

[jaerdaph]

I can no longer live in a world without Treo 650s.

 

[francisca]

These have worked for me for years: http://www.challengebp.com/rd.asp?404;http://www.challengebp.com/ZItem18505.asp

 

[Queen_Dopplepopolis]

A PDA is a nice thing to have in my opinion. In most cases it is much easier to keep on hand as they are small. You'll keep track of it better as it cost some $$$. For me it lets me free up more room in my head for things that matter, offloading the schedule, names, phone numbers, notes, etc, etc. to the PDA instead of trying to remember them.

How sad is the fact that, if I choose the planner, it will probably cost more (initially) than the PDA?

Gotta love the real leather planner binder and the fashionable matching tote. Mmm, style.

 

[Queen_Dopplepopolis]

I have had a PDA before (Palm OS) - I really, really disliked it. The system just didn't do it for me...

I've been using a paper planner for a while now - and it works pretty well. I use it most of the time...

My fear with the PDA is this: despite having a cell phone for quite some time, I still can't remember to plug the damn thing in to charge...

This decision has become much harder than it ever should have been.

 

[IronWolf]

Though I have a Pocket PC now I sometimes miss my old Palm IIIxe. It was had everything right at my fingertips, while with the PocketPC I get some more features but it feels a little more cumbersome. I still get tons of use out of it though and would probably have a hard time without a PDA now.

If a paper planner is working now and you feel no real need for the PDA then it may be best to stick with what works. I tried the paper planner route (Franklin) and it worked sort of okay for me, but was a bit much to carry around all the time.

Certainly sounds like a tough decision!

 

[Starman]

I wouldn't know what to do without my Palm. It is one of the best things I have ever purchased.

Starman