Ahoy Chaps & Chappettes,

This is a really simple one, but never the less one I find really usefull, especially when used in conjuntions with the Get Things Done, {GTD} Concept/System, that was created by another hero of mine, David Allen.

GET THINGS DONE: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Getting_Things_Done

The Hipster PDA was originally designed as a bit of a LoFi backlash at the mass of electronic organisers that are currently on the market, but since then has almost grown to cult status, try googling Hipster PDA, and you will see what I mean.

The original idea actually came from The PDA Thomas Jefferson used to carry, brass with ivory pages that he wrote in pencil and erased later when he has transfered to the data when he got home. You can still buy them today:



In in basic form a HIPSTER PDA is really just a few cheap 3 X 5 inch index cards with bulldog clip {some people use and iPod Shuffle} on the top to hold them together as a very free form notebook, that fits really well in your back jeans pocket:



However the idea has progrossed a little since then and you can now download a free PDF file from this site:

HIPSTER PDA DOWNLOAD: http://www.douglasjohnston.net/weblog/archives/2005/06/11/diyp2_hipsterpda/

And also find out lots more infromation of using them from this site:

MAKING AND USING A HIPSTER PDA: http://www.43folders.com/2004/09/03/introducing-the-hipster-pda

The PDF download allows you to print directly to 3 X 5 cards things like calenders, to do lists and project managment stuff, really to many to go into here, but anyway, it give you the opportunity to turn a few cheap, 3 X 5 cards into a really great portable organisor deck, {your deck is what your hipster is referred to as}.



I have a HTC Magic androiod Smartphone, which is really cool but, to be fair nothing beats my Hipster PDA for simplicity or speed of data input, great when your on your mobile phone for taking notes. What is the most usefull feature is that it is totally free form, you bring the card you are working on to the front of the deck.

This allows you to have individual cards for say each one of your projects or in many or your cases suspects and keep updating them without any effort really simple and efficient, and you can always transfer them to a cheap card index box when you get home, and also onto you computer and smartphone, but great back up system none the less.

Anyway not an earth shattering gadget but one that is never the less is easy to make and carry and really useful and I still feel it is worthy of a mention. Hope you enjoy.

~

Reminds me of PocketMOD. I like the idea, and used to keep a PocketMOD with me all the time. Instead of being a stack of 3x5 cards, it's a single, folded piece of paper.

Both are great ideas.

(And just because I'm feeling like a stickler, wouldn't one of these be a "PAA" - since they're analog, not digital?)

Ah Sorry Simon,

you see PDA never stood for Personal Electronic Assistant, that was the joke in the first place, it actually stood in this case for, PARIETAL DISGORGMENT AID, LOL, but as you said a great idea nevertheless, download the PDF and you will see what I mean, about, it, However I do like the pocket mod as well.

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Yup... checked it out and I like it.

I think the PocketMOD was designed by someone who saw the HipsterPDA and thought, "I bet I could put this all on one piece of paper", then did it.

And here I thought it stood for the Periodic Dossier of Awareness, before it became the Personal Digital Assistant.

The pocket Mod is to small for me, as a notepad, I don't mind the extra bulk of the Hipster for the extra storage capacity it gives.

simpler is always good

Very, very, True, Thantos,

I am with you on this one, simple is always best, but next time you need a new notepad I really advise you give this method I try, it make life so much easier, anyway you glad you liked it old chap, hope you like using your Hipster PDA, {you could always print a skull or somthing like that on card and use it as the cover card, it would kind off suit your style.}

PS. it is also well worth looking at the link for GTD ~ {get things done} at the top of the page, it really changed my life in lots of ways, then you to can have "a mind like water" ~ The authors favourite saying.

~

I carry something similar around, but it looks more like this:



but the case is purple with a different design...

I have a phone with a qwerty keyboard and a notepad function. I like that and use it for all my little notes throughout the day/night. I wouldn't mind having a little paper notebook too, though just in case.

I miss David Nemo.

Yeah, I didn't realize until I had already posted that it was an old thread. Sad to hear the guy isn't around anymore. I dig the photo... kinda Aquaman like, in a way.

Yeah seems like a cool guy. Those are both really great little things too - I love that they come with games and how nifty is the morse code reference?? I carry an old fashioned hard back note book, but it comes in handy all the time. I sometimes write in code for private entries and passwords etc. Also love my XDA Exec though - it's a pda phone with querty keyboard, camera and good operating system. I've got all sorts of emulators on there and one of my favourites is the dos one which lets me write my own Qbasic programmes.