Micro.blog

@Gaby I used to have a lot of stuff scattered around multiple apps. And to this day, I still have the oldest notes on Evernote, the second oldest (is that even a thing?) on bear. And lately I concentrate them on Craft. But most stuff start on Drafts. Which from time to time I remember that I need to organize it a bit. It’s kind of all over the place these days.

@Gaby I’ve tried a few of these apps, but the problem lies not with them but with me. I think I’ve pretty much given up on the idea of second brain/PKM/Zettelkasten note taking for myself. I struggle to see the benefit for the time and effort involved. Briefly I considered an analogue method, but the minimalist in me quickly realized I didn’t want the physical clutter.

Like yourself I’m going heavy in Apple Notes for general long term storage. I’ll still be using Drafts for triaging and whatnot, and if I feel the need to link notes—even temporarily—I can use Drafts for that too.

@Gaby I’m in a perpetual state of refining my note taking. At the moment it’s Drafts and DEVONThink. I went all in with Apple Notes for a while, but stopped again. Obsidian was confusing overkill for me.

@pimoore the main problem I have with analogue, is not searchable. Also I think part of my problem is actually taking the notes, or sitting down or take a moment at the en odf the day to document things, again, this all more for work-related thing than personal.

@BenSouthwood That is how I feel about obsidian as well, I feel like is not Gaby-user-friendly :)

@Gaby I see people raving about it and those impressive galaxy like links, but I’ve tried and failed to implement it. For what I need it for, it doesn’t work. I collect ideas for stories and I think for that it’s not intended. I have read accounts of people writing books in it.

@Gaby @pimoore so a good friend of mine makes INDXD which is for indexing analog notebooks and being able to find things. I don't personally use it, but I know @patrickrhone has written about it before.

@Gaby I took the same tactic as I did with my photo management: Pick one app that is the least likely to go away or mess my stuff up and go all in on it. Bear has been that app for me.

@sgtstretch @gaby @patrickrhone Don’t get me wrong, I’d like to see/have the value in taking these elaborate knowledge notes (in whatever physical or digital form they’re recorded in). This is my own hang up, not with the system or software. As I get older, I’m evaluating more how I want to spend my time and energy. It’s one reason I’m happy in the Apple ecosystem, even though I don’t agree with everything the company always does. I just want things to work, I don’t want to tinker. I feel like note taking is in the tinkering category for me. :)

@jasonekratz That’s a really good point about being “locked in” to Notes in case of needing an export. Never considered that, though I still feel the convenience outweighs the drawback. If I was to keep a Zettelkasten it would definitely be in something with accessible text files for this very reason.

@pimoore I've never had a habit of notes for everything. I have no ability to look back at notes. I have no need for a huge PKM. That's just not how my brain works. If I'm writing notes, it's to help me think at that moment, and I almost never look again. Maybe within a day or two, but eventually, if anything of value is there, it moves on to something else. I don't understand the idea of having flits of (digital paper) surrounding me with little quips or ideas.

@jsonbecker That’s precisely how I feel about it. I’d rather be recording notes for use at the time, rather than for some rainy day that almost assuredly will never come.

Having said that, this may be the best time to dip one’s toes into note taking for those who want to. There are no shortage of excellent and powerful apps that can handle them. I’d almost wager that we’re spoiled for choice at this point.

@pimoore @jsonbecker I’m pretty much the same. I use paper more, and only save a few things that might have value. And each time I change digital note tools - like Evernote to Bear to Notes to Bear to Notes (for example 🙄), I purge a lot to keep it minimal.

@Gaby Good point. Simplenote is very similar to Bear and it has a Windows version too.

@pimoore @jsonbecker I am 100% in this same camp. It all seems like productivity theater to me.

@Gaby @gregmoore Bear strikes me as one of those apps very similar to Drafts; extremely well designed and indispensable at what it does. If I were notetaking, it’s one of the apps I would give a serious consideration to using.

@Gaby I’m a fine of Craft. To me it strikes a good balance between feature rich and easy to use. Most others choose one or the other.

@Mtt and they’ve got a Windows app, i forgot about Craft