Comments on: Do People Even Use Filofaxes Anymore?

By: Nick

Nick — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 16:30:26 +0000

I think a lot can be learnt from the look and feel of filofaxes etc for electronic organisers. Cold hard plastic isn’t as comfortable to hold and touch as leather and paper. The sound of pencil lead on paper can’t (or hasn’t been) be heard on an electronic diary. Think of the pains people go through to select their favourite pen - thickness, colour, weight - and how that works with digital diaries that are far less adaptable and personal.

By: GCM1066

GCM1066 — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 23:12:40 +0000

I am one of those people that have a newly purchased Filofax. I have moved back and forth between paper and electronic a few times over the last years. I just changed from my Franklin Covey classic size planner to a Personal size Filofax. I use my Filofax for my day to day life as my calendar and source for lists of all types, especially my “to-do” lists. I use my electronic Dell AXIM as a source for addresses.

By: Pavla Kopecna

Pavla Kopecna — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 11:02:44 +0000

This is an interesting question touching on the wider comparison between “old analogue” technologies and “new digital” technologies. Although filofaxes (or note books, or paper magazines or books) are limited in terms of information sharing, updates and back ups, they still carry certain advantages that the digital world lacks; the won’t crash, they don’t need to be “learnt” to be used, they do not need to be powered, and some find them more aesthetically pleasing. The key isn’t necessarily to replace old technology with new, but to make them work together in the best possible way. This is where new work on ‘ambient’ or ‘ubiquitous’ technology comes in, its aim being to incorporate the advantages of new technologies within existing environments.

By: Natasja

Natasja — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 16:29:22 +0000

For me (lady gadget geek) the biggest downside of electronic diaries is that I can’t pencil anything in. It’s either in or out, and somehow, that doesn’t work for me, although I can’t really figure out why.

So I do carry a paper diary around. The only downside is the lack of backup… if I ever lose my diary, I’m lost!

By: Kev

Kev — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 14:51:46 +0000

I’m all for back to basics - when I started integrating GTD into my daily routine it was via the wonderful medium of index cards. But the ease that comes with having a great electronic system (with synchronisation, duplication and archival becoming so simple) means that, as Katie says, the filofax will soon be sitting in a local museum!

By: Caio Casseb

Caio Casseb — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 15:08:43 +0000

Sometimes is good to turn off the eletronic devices and exercise another language. Maybe this notepads are taking advantage of this kind of thinking ….. well, at least should take! Very nice blog, enjoying a lot!

By: Katie Konrath

Katie Konrath — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 05:04:42 +0000

I’m not so sure I agree that the Filofax-type planners are on the way out.

For the computer/technology-savvy people, using a paper planner is almost like telling time by a sun dial. But, there are a lot of people who still aren’t comfortable with all the new fancy technology.

It’s easy to forget that not everyone spends tons of time on a computer/phone.

Still it does feel like a blast from the past to me. Maybe one day we’ll see those in a museum next to a typewriter!

By: Jed Christiansen

Jed Christiansen — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 09:50:00 +0000

I would guess some people just like paper.

Me, I dumped my Franklin Planner in 1997, when I bought an Apple Newton MessagePad 2000. It’s still my favourite “dead” electronic technology. Now that BlackBerrys (and soon iPhones) have really gained traction in the corporate world, I believe these Filofax-type planners are on their last legs.

Great blog, by the way!