So, you have an idea. Do you grab a pen and a trusty notebook in your pocket or purse or do you fire up your tablet or computer?

I am a notetaker, I am always taking note about ideas, things to do, projects to map out, errands to run on the way home for my “honey do” list, etc, etc. How about you? Do you find yourself wanting to take notes often?

Like many professionals in the 90′s with the laptop computers becoming more affordable and more powerful, I went from using blank or gridlines pages inserted in my Day-Timer® to wanting to write everything on my computer. I felt, like many of you, that to write it down on paper only to later type in into my word processor was a waste of time.

Then about 10 years ago, I learned about mind mapping and I reverted to pen & paper. The cycle continued, and a few years ago I started using mind mapping computer software, and then I thought I had hit nirvana when the iPad came out. Suddenly, I could draw a mind map with my fingers, I could type notes really fast or record them.

Now, that I have more than a few projects on the go, I find myself wondering again which is the most productive way to not only take notes but to be able to access this information when I need them.

Over the next few weeks, I will be examining both the electronics tools and my trusty bullet pen and field notes® notepads to measure productivity. As I look at it from this side of the review, I think that the criteria will be:

• which is more accurate, which one better collects the idea from my brain, conversation or research.
• which is faster, is the notepad faster than the iPad or the laptop. I’ll take into account the transcription time if I end up having to type it again.
• which is more reliable as a reference tool. How reliable is the information when I return to it in a week, a month, a year. I’ll be looking at old notes in electronic and handwritten format and see which ones is better as a reference tool.

Why don’t you try to do this do? Or, if you already know your answer, would you please share this in comments below.

Either way, this is going to be a valuable exercise and the results will add to our productivity arsenal. I look forward to read your comments.