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I've tried both, because as an IT guy it made sense to use, you know, computerized tools. But as a DBA, I live and die by checklists and multi-column quick ref

I've tried both, because as an IT guy it made sense to use, you know, computerized tools. But as a DBA, I live and die by checklists and multi-column quick reference tables. I find these are much easier to create, maintain, and update on paper than they are in Notepad++, for example. I also trained myself to use the mouse with my left hand so I can write with the other, and so it's a lot less disruptive to my workflow and train of thought than having to jump back and forth between multiple app windows. My current favorite is the Leichtturm (sp?) 1917 with the dot grid.

sbov 9y ago
How long did it take you to learn to use your mouse with your left hand? That sounds handy. I currently get around window confusion by programming the F keys to certain windows. E.g. if I hit ctrl-shift-f1, my currently focused window will be bound to f1. If I hit f1, that window will be brought to the top. I did this with xbindkeys and xdotool. So when I first start a session, I bind everything. F1 my IDE, F2 my command line, F3 my notes, F4 my browser.
- hotsauceror 9y ago
  It took about two weeks of daily use. I switched my mouse at work to be left handed and committed myself to not switching back if I got frustrated. Before I knew it, it felt as natural as my other hand, and I can go back and forth with ease. I'd actually say that off-hand mousing is now my preferred state. It helped that at the time I was doing a lot of work in Adobe Illustrator so I was really getting a lot of fine-control practice. You might try playing a game like Minesweeper for a similar effect.
vidarh 9y ago
It's one of the toughest usability problems in computing, I think. Replacing paper is remarkably hard. I had hopes for tablets, but input lag is too disruptive still, and they still suffer from the problem that I can't flick through pages or spread them out on a desk. I'll probably keep trying to find a solution for the rest of my life, and keep failing...
- stinkytaco 9y ago
  I work in an industry not far from publishing and I'm fairly regularly asked about "the future of the book". The thought experiment I run people through is to look at the book like you might a piece of technology. It's UI, cost, features, durability, battery life, etc. Paper holds up pretty well as a technology. The UI really has a lot going for it, though part of that is that we've spent our whole lives learning it. Plus many of the shortcomings of paper have been at least partially overcome by clever workarounds (like indexes).
- hotsauceror 9y ago
  Agreed. I really, really wanted to find a slick way of doing lab notebook / bullet journaling electronically, I tried Notepad++ Workspaces and OneNote. But neither of them really worked for late-night ops work, troubleshooting notes, etc., and I kept migrating back to paper. Plus, there's just something wonderfully satisfying about checking off a list with a pen.
- jclardy 9y ago
  The input lag on the latest iPad Pro is remarkably small to the point where I don't notice it anymore. The bigger problem for me is feel, a stylus on glass just doesn't feel like writing on paper. But other than that, as you said, the bigger problem is still software. I really need something that syncs across all devices, can take handwritten or keyboard input, is searchable, and organizable via some kind of embedded links to other content in the "notebook". Usually you can get like half of those things in one piece of software. I was really hoping the Microsoft "Courier" tablet concept would become a reality, but nothing yet...

sbov 9y ago

How long did it take you to learn to use your mouse with your left hand? That sounds handy. I currently get around window confusion by programming the F keys to certain windows. E.g. if I hit ctrl-shift-f1, my currently focused window will be bound to f1. If I hit f1, that window will be brought to the top. I did this with xbindkeys and xdotool. So when I first start a session, I bind everything. F1 my IDE, F2 my command line, F3 my notes, F4 my browser.

hotsauceror 9y ago
It took about two weeks of daily use. I switched my mouse at work to be left handed and committed myself to not switching back if I got frustrated. Before I knew it, it felt as natural as my other hand, and I can go back and forth with ease. I'd actually say that off-hand mousing is now my preferred state. It helped that at the time I was doing a lot of work in Adobe Illustrator so I was really getting a lot of fine-control practice. You might try playing a game like Minesweeper for a similar effect.

vidarh 9y ago

It's one of the toughest usability problems in computing, I think. Replacing paper is remarkably hard. I had hopes for tablets, but input lag is too disruptive still, and they still suffer from the problem that I can't flick through pages or spread them out on a desk. I'll probably keep trying to find a solution for the rest of my life, and keep failing...

stinkytaco 9y ago
I work in an industry not far from publishing and I'm fairly regularly asked about "the future of the book". The thought experiment I run people through is to look at the book like you might a piece of technology. It's UI, cost, features, durability, battery life, etc. Paper holds up pretty well as a technology. The UI really has a lot going for it, though part of that is that we've spent our whole lives learning it. Plus many of the shortcomings of paper have been at least partially overcome by clever workarounds (like indexes).
hotsauceror 9y ago
Agreed. I really, really wanted to find a slick way of doing lab notebook / bullet journaling electronically, I tried Notepad++ Workspaces and OneNote. But neither of them really worked for late-night ops work, troubleshooting notes, etc., and I kept migrating back to paper. Plus, there's just something wonderfully satisfying about checking off a list with a pen.
jclardy 9y ago
The input lag on the latest iPad Pro is remarkably small to the point where I don't notice it anymore. The bigger problem for me is feel, a stylus on glass just doesn't feel like writing on paper. But other than that, as you said, the bigger problem is still software. I really need something that syncs across all devices, can take handwritten or keyboard input, is searchable, and organizable via some kind of embedded links to other content in the "notebook". Usually you can get like half of those things in one piece of software. I was really hoping the Microsoft "Courier" tablet concept would become a reality, but nothing yet...