Technology

I suppose this is as good a time as any to talk about technology. I always run into posts on the GTD sites & lists where there is a discussion of how much technology to use. From what I see out there, if I had stock in Palm, I'd sell it. I think people seem to be turning away a bit from technology and back towards using paper. On the other hand, this doesn't seem to stop people from wanting to buy the latest technology. You are supposed to run out and buy a Mac Mini vs. buying a second hand Mac.

I've been an advocate of trailing edge technology, even though my job requires that I keep up with the latest stuff. There are very big advantages to trailing edge. You know the stuff works. You can pick up what was once the coolest thing around for pennies. And there's a fair amount of software out there for the picking. It fails when you get into things like web browsing and compatibility.

I am always amazed at how much bloat has to be built into software these days. For example, the SE30 (running System 6) has Quicken 4 on it. It has pretty much the same elements that current versions have; register, budgets, even online bill pay. It is a tiny program, 377k. I could still easily use it to track my finances, although I wouldn't be able to pull in Quicken files in the new format. (It would handle them in .qif thought). Same machine has Quark Xpress on it. And it's an amazing thing to pull up on a 9" black and white screen. It's still a functional program. I've set up the Mac Classic to use for writing. It's portable for a computer and boots up in a snap. And I've even put my favorite keyboard back on the G3. It's a Mac 101e Datadesk with great clicky keys and a pen/pencil holder across the top.

So why do we succumb to peer pressure and dump machines that work well for the latest and greatest? Why can't we keep some of these tools (at least the ones that are pleasant to use--I wouldn't wish a 286 on anyone!) Maybe older technology would serve you just as well. I became interested in this when I read of a woman who writes using an old floppy driven Mac laptop. She prefered it because it was so quiet and it did the job. Maybe a little less technology might help you get a bit more done.

Still with Life Balance

So far, I haven't strayed from Life Balance, although I did reinstall the KS apps. I think I will remove them again, as I really don't need them right now. I have managed to stick with Life Balance and not move outside of it. It's easy, since I really don't have that much to track right now.

I have this auxiliary paper system, that really isn't for GTD. I bought a large blank Moleskine the other night. I have the small planner, where I put all sorts of quotes and thoughts that occur during the week. I've been writing a little at lunch time, in the Apica, so I wanted to move that into another notebook. And I'd like to move towards writing about things that happen outside of me. So the large Moleskine is for that. The Apica has always been my systems notebook, where I write about what I want in a system and what isn't working in the current one.

Amazingly enough, I even managed to do some of the stuff on my lists during my days off.

Moleskines and Google Groups

I've been playing around with a small Moleskine daily planner that I picked up for half price at Borders. I like it, but there are a few issues. It doesn't seem to take to fountain pen ink as well as the Apica does. I use the Herbin inks, which are on the thin side, and I've had some bleed through. I do think I've found the perfect pen for it. I have an old Esterbrook with a very fine accounting nib. It's perfect for writing in small spaces. (I actually have two of these, identical in color, but one needs a new bladder. It has a thicker nib, so I may have to pick up another of those fine nibs for it.) My main use for the Moleskine is for quotes and whatever I feel like writing. I still put most of my system thoughts in the Apica. I may wind up getting another Moleskine though, possible a large journal size. I've been doing my morning pages in spiral notebooks and I do get tired of the scratchy paper.

I started a GTD group on Google: GTD-Tips & Techniques . It's not like the world needs another group but there are advantages. Google has a good RSS feed. And there are things that don't seem to fit on the other forums out there. So, give it a try and see if you like it.