I work in a company where everyone in meetings takes notes on paper. Whenever I go back to my desk, I have to type the notes for action items on my to-do list. Or for further conversation in email. It would make much more sense to just bring a laptop or netbook to the meeting and type all the notes right there.
Why aren’t laptops used more in meetings? Here’s some reasons maybe why:
1) Momentum
Paper: Everyone uses paper. It’s the thing to use.
Laptops: Since nobody else does it, nobody else does it.
2) Loudness
Paper: Using a pen on paper is quiet. Using a pencil on paper is annoying.
Laptops: The sound of keys tipper-tappering might be considered annoying.
3) Goofing around
Paper: People can see what you are writing. If you are goofing around by doing drawings, at least you are being open about it.
Laptops: With your screen being hidden from others in the meeting, they may think you are surfing the web instead of taking notes.
4) Socialness
Paper: There’s something about having your notepad laying flat down for everyone to see what you are writing. It’s very communal.
Laptop: The laptop hides what you are typing. it’s very secretive. What’s he typing? Is it notes? is it a to-do list? Humans have the urge to know what’s happening. Laptops block openness, thus human curiosity rises.
That being said. I’m still going to get a netbook. I would be cool to have an iPad, but it is near impossible to type on without looking at the screen the whole time. I figure if i’m going to be taking notes, it’s nice to at least look at the person. Hmmm, then again you don’t really look at people while jotting notes on paper. Hmmm. Well, the iPad is mad expensive. $499 for the cheapest model. Whereas I can get a Asus 900A Netbook for $139. Yeah, the iPad can do A LOT more. But all i want to do is type my notes on a laptop/netbook in a meeting. That’s it.
Here’s a photo of the Asus 900A next to a macbook.
(photo from sharonrosas)
What do you think? While in meetings, do you take your notes on paper or on a laptop? Which is the better way of taking notes?
laptops for $140. I love the evolution of the digital age. you probably came across this review already, but it’s pretty nice: http://www.testfreaks.com/blog/review/asus-eee-pc-900a-atom-n270-16ghz-1gb-4gb-ssd-89-netbook-linux/ The name “Eee PC” is kinda dorky, but I suppose that’s part of the reason why they’re so affordable. This thing has THREE usb ports. That’s really nice. In the review they say there’s only 182MB of available space on the 4GB SSD, but you can install a different Linux OS to get more space. It looks pretty cool.
this is a really interesting dynamic. it struck me, of all places, at a funeral home when the director took handwritten notes about what the family was telling him. He had a computer and could have easily used it, but can you imagine how detached and cold that would have been. there was something about pen and paper, or the engagement of the human hand, that makes that process more respectful of the person in front of you…