Jon’s hipster PDA 1/2
Report from Jon in personal communication. I send him a rings for hipster PDA. Now he use it to bind 4×6 index cards. Tips and tricks about his hPDA. :)
“Hello Hawk,
I just wanted to share my immediate discoveries after using the binder rings.
1. I decided to use a single ring only on a card stack. I’m still using my original cards (4×6) as I’m experimenting. I realised that by using 2 rings, I’d have to open and close them both to add or remove a card, and this would be a step back. One binder clip becomes one binder ring.
2. I used a standard 2 hole punch on the short side of my cards, which was easy to line up. This put a hole close to the bottom right corner, but not too close to make the corner week. However, i quickly disliked this, as when I turned the cards, they pivoted around the corner ring and it became awkward to use.
3. So I punched a hole in the centre of the short side. This was tricky to measure up well and to keep batches of cards punched exactly. I realise I need to prepare a lot of cards at one sitting (1 pack) and my office punch was better than my punch at home. The grid cards might be easier to punch, because they have 15 squares on the short side, so the hole is #8 square.
(I noticed the cards you sent have a number printed on one side. I mistakenly punched some on the plain side and some on the number side. When I put them together with the same sides together, the holes are very slightly out. This is because square #1 and square #15 are not the same size.)
4. But as soon as I started using the cards with a centred hole, they were much easier to use. They turned like pages in a book very neatly. I can write up to the edge of the card with little interference from the ring.”
cont.
February 23rd, 2007 at 3:48 am
Another idea! I should attach my rubber band to the back card. In the same way you attach a band to your Field Notes to keep the cover closed, I could fix a band to the back cover card I made, looping around the deck. Then this would hold the deck closed, but be easy to pull away without having to hold it or find it again to put back round the deck.
I was also thinking of a folding flap that comes around the deck from the back card to the front. It could tuck in to the front, or attach by Velcro. Then, with my left hand I can open the flap and fan the cards to where I want.
Cheers,
jon.
February 24th, 2007 at 12:03 am
>>jon
It is curious for me that you got new idea for the index cards from my field note. :)
February 24th, 2007 at 4:25 am
Yes! I was thinking about the bands that go round journals like Moleskins, but I recalled your Flickr photos of making your own band. If I do it well, it should last some time. I’m also thinking of putting pictures or text on the front cover card. Such as Next Action verbs.
I made another little discovery today. By running the ring through the clip on my pen cap, the cap stays on the ring. So I always have a pen with my cards. By setting it up correctly, the pen lies in line with the cards. I’ll see if works regularly, but I’ve done this with the 3×5 quad cards you sent, so I have something pocket sized to carry.
Cheers,
Jon.
February 28th, 2007 at 6:11 pm
For those of us who are highly visual, do you think we could have some photos of this? Sounds interesting, but I’d love to see it.
Jan
March 1st, 2007 at 8:32 am
I don’t have a Flickr account, but I’ll send Hawk some photos if he wants to post them on his.
I’m starting to sort my tasks by context, one of the GTD parts I’d not grapsed yet. It’s a slow job though. I don’t have much time for it, or when I do have time, I’m tired or lack energy. heyho.
Cheers,
Jon.
March 1st, 2007 at 11:25 pm
>>jon
It’s good to share ideas. :)
Please send me your photos by email. Then I will upload my flickr account and put the picture on the blog.
March 2nd, 2007 at 6:23 am
Done!
March 2nd, 2007 at 11:55 pm
>>jon
Thanks, jon.
I added your photos to the article. ;)