Until digital products can completely recreate (and improve) the process of capturing information on paper – paper products are going to be with us.
I day-dream daily about what my future digital Moleskine notebook will look and feel like. I kind of envision it as a Kindle, but with input/sync ability, less bulky, and a bigger screen. But it’s just a dream… for now.
A friend and author, William Aicher, recently wrote about how he doesn’t like reading books anymore – the paper versions of them at least. From a reader’s perspective I can see how this might be true. He mentions font-adjusting and the waste of one-and-done books that essentially turn into shelf-decor once you’re done reading. The Kindle, for readers, has changed people’s lives by leaps-and-bounds.
When will writers, sketchers, and thinkers have the same ability?
I’m not going to argue that there are products that exist already. A couple popular ones are:
- LiveScribe SmartPen (use only with their paper)
- SolidTek DigiMemo (clipboard-like device that uses normal paper)
The problem, in my eyes, with these devices is that none of them gives a user the notebook-like ability we’re looking for. I don’t carry legal-sized notebooks, and I don’t want to buy special paper. Here’s what I want to replace:
- Moleskine planner
- Moleskine journal
- Moleskine notebook/sketchbook/project book
- Screen with a look and feel of paper
- Sell pen-inserts instead of whole pens. That way I can use my own pen modified for a digital screen.
This needs to be about the same size as a large Moleskine (8″x5″), have selectable backgrounds for each page (blank, ruled, squared), separate internal notebooks/sections/tabs, separate planner, and most of all – super easy syncing with whatever I want.
Of course, the digital notebooks and planner need to completely and efficiently recognize my handwriting for syncing to my web calendar, Evernote, To Do list, etc.
Mike Rohde posted a little digital Moleskine concept that got me thinking about this (credit to him for the image used in this post). The only thing I’m against from his post is the over-use of ports on the digital Moleskine. I’d prefer to see this product be 100% wireless/Bluetooth – as close to the look and feel of a Moleskine as possible.
Honestly, I’m not sure why this item doesn’t exist. I can see it being an easy sell at up to $300-400. The fact is, the hardware is out there for this piece – but it’s the software for handwriting and syncing that hasn’t caught up yet.
But it will. And when it does, I’ll be in line at Best Buy (or, more likely, virtually in line on Amazon).
I have to admit here that my use of digital products such as Evernote and Remember The Milk has made me use my Moleskines less and less. The ONLY reason for this is that they’re accessible anywhere, searchable, and very easy to manage. To accomplish the same feats in a paper-book would drive me nuts having to keep it updated and organized.
So now I primarily use Moleskines for ideas and planning, to do lists for the immediate future (today at work, for example), and some journaling.
The goal here is efficiency. My belief is that this digital Moleskine would be able to replace many physical and digital products I currently use to record, list, or plan my days.
Until my ultimate device is available, I’ll be enjoying the feel of Moleskine pages between my fingers, paging through them to find what it was I was writing about last week, and stacking them on my shelves at home when I’m done with them.
What do you think? Is this even something you’re interested in or am I in a fantasy land, hopeless and dreamy?
