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# Get a Notebook
- URL: https://chrisenns.com/2011/03/get-a-notebook/
- Published: 2011-03-20T12:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2024-04-08T23:52:04.000Z
- Author: Chris Enns
- Tags: Uncategorized, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2024-04-08 17:47, #ichris

I often catch myself judging others who pull out their iPhone/mobile phone/smart phone/dumb phone in the middle of a conversation, while knowing full well that I'm probably as guilty of it as the next person.

Matt [writes about the societal norms](https://mattwie.be/2011/03/notebooks-pocket-computers/?ref=chrisenns.com), or lack thereof, when it comes to use of these devices in public circles:

> I am now, as in many cases, reminded of Wendell Berry’s respect for the Amish in their insist­ence that all new tech­no­logy must be eval­u­ated through the ques­tion of “how will this impact our com­munity?” Pocket com­puters, when used indis­crim­in­ately and out­side of agreed-upon social norms, can def­in­itely be harm­ful to the pos­sib­il­ity of being present to one another in community.

*Spoiler alert:* He decides to buy a real, honest to goodness notebook instead of pulling out his iPhone to jot down a thought.

I went through a similar bout of technological guilt and came home from a shopping trip with a new notebook. My problem is that I never have my notebook with me when I actually want to use it. Unlike my iPhone, which is usually in my pocket or somewhere nearby, I always leave my notebook in my laptop bag.

So I ended up with [PlainText](https://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/stat?id=6PFrOqNV4B8&offerid=146261&type=3&subid=0&tmpid=1826&RD%5FPARM1=http%253A%252F%252Fitunes.apple.com%252Fca%252Fapp%252Fplaintext-dropbox-text-editing%252Fid391254385%253Fmt%253D8%2526uo%253D4%2526partnerId%253D30&ref=chrisenns.com) on my iPhone home screen. By turning off most notification/warnings from apps, I don't often get distracted while I turn on the iPhone and fire up PlainText.

*Also, I'm impressed Matt lets his wife read early drafts of his posts. I can't even stand to be in the same room with my wife if she's reading my blog - never mind listening to a podcast I'm on.*