Pen and Paper Note-Taking

Commenters strongly prefer traditional pen and paper notebooks over digital apps and devices for note-taking, emphasizing benefits like better memory retention, drawing flexibility, portability, privacy, and tactile experience.

📉 Falling 0.4x Other
5,327
Comments
20
Years Active
5
Top Authors
#4212
Topic ID

Activity Over Time

2007
4
2008
43
2009
115
2010
147
2011
151
2012
176
2013
222
2014
218
2015
189
2016
279
2017
378
2018
242
2019
295
2020
484
2021
464
2022
620
2023
455
2024
370
2025
459
2026
18

Keywords

A4 pocketmod.com fieldnotesbrand.com GP engramhq.xyz OneNote B0006HXC3Y PostIt amazon.com OCR pen notes paper pen paper notebook pencil notebooks writing ideas write

Sample Comments

saint_fiasco Jul 11, 2017 View on HN

Why not take notes on paper instead?

rwmj Aug 21, 2020 View on HN

How is it better than taking a (paper) notebook and pen?

dbacar Aug 11, 2025 View on HN

why not use just a pen and a notebook then :) ?

kemiller2002 Dec 4, 2020 View on HN

It's just my opinion, but nothing beats paper. I have tried keeping note files on my computer, and I've tried using tablets to jot things down (I have spent so much money trying to get this option to work). Paper just works better. I found that I like to scribble and underline, and draw. I'm just not an organized thinker. Forcing things to be in a list don't work for my thoughts and even drawing on an iPad etc. seems too constricting. The precision of paper just isn

ylere Aug 6, 2017 View on HN

I always carry a pocket sized notebook and a pen with me wherever I go. It's still the fastest method to write something down, it always works and it's socially acceptable to use in all situations. Most people whom I meet, even in private, will see me take out my notebook at the beging of the meeting, taking notes occasionally while we interact. I don't think you could do that with a computer or phone and it allows me to remember important details and action points that I (and the

rhizome Nov 5, 2017 View on HN

Why I still use paper and pen when taking notes.

marcmerce Nov 9, 2020 View on HN

I have never been able to replace a pen and a paper. I've tried a ton of app and other systems with emails and notepad, but it just doesn't do the work for me. I feel like I remember it better when it's on a piece of paper.

anon2020dot00 Jun 26, 2022 View on HN

I've recently returned to using pen and paper. Pen and paper has a physicality and presence that makes notes easier to find and to not lose. It also has an unmatched writing feel, which electronic drawing tablets and styluses try to emulate but still haven't matched. A notebook also has a simple linear chronological structure and so it reduces distraction in thinking about how to structure notes. Also, there is a finality to writing with pen since marks cannot just be edited or erased,

vidanay Dec 29, 2019 View on HN

Honestly, I've gone back to paper and pen. It's not searchable, it's not sharable, and it's not elegant.It is private, it is secure, it is unobtrusive.My preference is Field Notes https://fieldnotesbrand.com/ and a quick drying gel pen https:&

zormino Dec 30, 2017 View on HN

is there anything out there that beats a good old paper notebook and a pen? The lack of backups is bad but I can't find anything else where I can put down the notes and ideas in the format I want and draw pictures and diagrams in my notes. Everything else just falls short.