Paper calendar

Is a paper calendar obsolete? I would like one that I can carry around. I do have an iphone so maybe I should just stick with an online calendar.

Maybe my question answers itself. Anyone use a small book like calendar and an electronic calendar?

Thanks

MM
 
Paper as an alternative "trusted device"...

Well, it depends, doesn't it? In a perfect world, where one is in full control, only one "trusted device" would be the ultimate goal - the iPhone being a good candidate.

However, depending on what kind of professional context you may find yourself in, you may encounter situations where you are not deciding on tools. You may find that another phone is needed for your job. Or the electronic calendar (and action lists) in your job can not be synchronized with your iPhone or online services.

Just a personal view, based on my current setup which includes Outlook calendar between 8 and 5 as well as paper in my real life (and multiple phones). Not my favorite choice, but works quite well...

Tech
 
I don't think paper will ever be obsolete. In fact, I could possibly be forced into it someday because I refuse to pay for a smart phone and data plan just to have an electronic calendar. I currently use an HP iPAQ PDA synchronized to Outlook, but I know my PDA is a relic of a former technological era that will die one day and I eventually won't have an equivalent product to replace it.
 
Trust...

While going slightly off-topic: I was also extremely fond of my Palm (classic device type), but it became "unfashionable" and less compatible with IT and restricted IT ways of working and this forced me into paper.

Back to the real topic: Just be careful to have real trusted devices - a secondary on-and-off paper calendar could make it harder to fully trust what you are doing and cause some lack of trust in you system. Even if that was not the intention...
 
not obsolete

No, a paper calendar is not obsolete... I only have a paper calendar, nothing electronic... I really like the feeling of taking out my calendar and go through it.

In fact we do have two, the second one is also paper and is a family calendar. We write evrything in it that affects the private life. With three children aged 8, 6 and 4, we really started to need that :)! We never write work related items in it, unless they influence private life (mum home late for example).

Myriam
 
ellobogrande;86583 said:
I know my PDA is a relic of a former technological era
I have a Palm PDA and I used it for a long time for my GTD system. Yep, I will not start paying for a data plan. Well, today there is an iPod touch in our house. I can do everything with it that I used to do on my Palm: the 4 classic PIM apps are there, even mail, plus I can read tons of PDFs, ebooks and could use it to play games. I think there will always be devices that will provide that mix of functions with that form factor.
 
At home we only have a paper calendar - it's so much easier for both me and my husband to glance at a calendar on the wall rather than have to turn on a computer (and anyway he's seriously non-techie). But we don't take it out with us.

At work I have a palm Tx synced to Outlook, but there is also a paper printout of the current months calendar on the wall beside my desk, and I look at that as often as the electronic version. Some of my colleagues carry a paper Outlook printout to meetings.

Ruth
 
Cpu_Modern;86597 said:
I have a Palm PDA and I used it for a long time for my GTD system. Yep, I will not start paying for a data plan. Well, today there is an iPod touch in our house. I can do everything with it that I used to do on my Palm: the 4 classic PIM apps are there, even mail, plus I can read tons of PDFs, ebooks and could use it to play games. I think there will always be devices that will provide that mix of functions with that form factor.

Does your iPod synchronize with Microsoft Outlook? That's a key requirement for me.

I also once owned a Palm PDA that I synched with Outlook; I loved it but Palm's decline in quality and service (I sent it in twice for repairs and my touchscreen still doesn't work quite right) I decided to try something else.
 
Use both paper and electronic calendars

Don't forget that even though you have decided to use paper files, that you can still use both. If you use Outlook, you can build your calendar and To do lists, and then print into almost any Day Planner format you want. Then when you need to update your calendar, you don't have to rewrite everything, just go into Outlook and modify your calendar. One thing that has helped me is to only have one calendar in my life. I put personal items in my work calendar (I also have a blackberry-so I have it all the time) and I just mark the personal items "private".

Hope this helps.
 
One of the appeals of an electronic calander (whatever the format or device) is the promise of ease of use and that nothing falls through the cracks.

I am beginning to believe that in some cases electronic calanders can contribute to laziness. The daily/weekly review is all about a discipline and a skill set that helps a person be more effective.

If that discipline revolves around a paper calander, it's just as good. If you don't keep the proper behaviors and disciplines with an electronic calander, then you can potentially limit yourself.

Paper can and does work just as well. It is merely a tool around which good methods (you know, like the GTD method) can work great!
 
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