PDA or Paper Planner?

[randomling]

Personally, I live out of my paper diary, which lives in my handbag and cost me £5. Works just fine! I keep meaning to get a bigger planner, but it would still be paper. I like technology but a PDA seems like too much faff somehow.

 

[Hand of Evil]

I have had a PDA for some time now and have to say it has become very useful, calendar, quick notes, contacts, recording memo/thoughts, dumping docs to it to read later, downloading novels from www.blackmask.com to read while in line, even my check book is on it.

At the game table I use it to play back noise, such as a thunderstorm or waves crashing on the beach.

As for charging it, the IPaq has a docking station that is attached to my PC, it auto-synics and keeps power up, change last for days.

 

[MrFilthyIke]

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?

Go with the tech, tech is good...but avoid TigerDirect. They are crap, and their product crap. Biggest mistake I ever made dealing with them.

 

[MonsterMash]

I have a PDA from work which can sync with the email/diary/etc on Outlook/Exchange and I don't like it much, also in London it tends to be the sort of thing which screams 'please mug me!' - what I use much more and have for years is a traditional ringbinder organiser (Filofax) where all it costs me is a couple of pounds each year for a new set of diary pages and maybe some more blank sheets.

 

[Desdichado]

I'm a PDA guy myself, although currently mine is on the fritz and rather than replace it, I bought a el-cheapo paper planner.

All of my work stuff is in Outlook anyway, so it would really only be good if I synched it with my work computer, and then added all my personal stuff to it as well. I'm not entirely sold on the idea of merging my professional and private life so.

Some other advantages of PDAs (some models, anyway)

• You can plug them into your car stereo and play mp3s wherever you go.
• You can put ebooks on them and read them during boring meetings/classes/etc.
• You can make your PDA beep at you when you need to get moving on something. Paper planners won't do that.
• PDAs are arguably more stylish than Franklin-esque planners these days.
• I had a dice roller and character sheet application on my PDA so I could game from any location at any time.

 

[jaerdaph]

I can no longer live in a world without MS Exchange 2003 either.

 

[MonsterMash]

These days a lot of cellphones have PDA functionality being integrated (though its a pain entering things if you can't get a keyboard as an add on) - particularly the ones using the Symbian OS which originated on the Psion organisers.

 

[Blue_Kryptonite]

A couple things to consider (I'm on the PDA side, myself, since my condition makes writing by hand painful and illegible):

- Docking stations. You can alwaysset it up next to the computer, and have the PDA in "Clock" or "Screensaver" mode. You'll remember its not there when you look to check the time and all you see is a cradle.

- Books. You can download e-books, websites, or even the SRD and read them on your PDA in idle "public restroom" or "in a very long line line" moments.

- Integration. Your PDA can be your planner, your cell phone, your MP3 player, where the pictures of your kids are to show friends, carry recordings of their voices, a memo voice recorder, and your game boy.

-Expandability. Your paper planner will split if crammed too full. Your PDA, you can just buy smart media cards and keep them in the slipcase with the PDA.

- Activity. Your paper planner will seldom beep at you if you're zoning out or daydreaming and have half an hour to get to an appointment. It probably won't wake you up in a motel either if the power goes out (real life story here involving a funeral. Good thing I had the PDA, espescially since my watch is set for meds time).

 

[Queen_Dopplepopolis]

I made my decision...

*drum roll*

... paper planner!!!

I really like all the things I can do with a PDA... but, so many of them are not things that I want the planner for. I want to be able to organize my busy schedule, keep lists of goals, and track my progress on various work/school related tasks.

The perks of a PDA, while really cool, are not exactly what I was looking for. Gadgets are loads of fun, but the PDA seems - in many ways - to provide more distractions than they eliminate...

So, the PDA could be mine sometime... but, for now, I am awaiting the arrival of my beautiful hot pink Franklin Covey planner - equipped with inserts guaranteed to make my life as a student more organized.

Thanks so much for the input, y'all!

 

[Thornir Alekeg]

Planning? What's that?

I tried the paper planning thing a few times: after a couple of weeks I would start get bad about keeping it updated until it just became a really big address/phone book.

I haven't tried the PDA thing. I can't synch it up with my work computer - not supported/allowed - stupid IT rules! and I rarely use my home computer for scheduling and things...