Hipster PDA

The Hipster PDA is a paper-based personal organizer popularised, if not invented, by San Francisco writer Merlin Mann. Originally a tongue-in-cheek reaction to the increasing expense and complexity of personal digital assistants, the Hipster PDA (said to stand for Parietal Disgorgement Aid ) simply comprises a sheaf of index cards held together with a binder clip. Following widespread coverage in the media and blogs, the Hipster PDA (abbreviated hPDA ) has become a popular personal management tool particularly with geeks and followers of David Allen (author) s Getting Things Done methodology.

Advocates of the hPDA claim that it is a cheap, lightweight, free-form organiser which doesn t need batteries and is unlikely to be stolen. Critics cite the lack of integration with desktop personal computer productivity software and point out that there is no easy way to back up the often critical information stored in an hPDA.

Although it began as a joke, or perhaps a statement about technology fetishism, the Hipster PDA has rapidly gained a population of serious users, with hundreds posting pictures of their customised hPDAs on photo sharing sites and exchanging tips on Internet mailing lists. Enthusiasts also design and share index card-size printable templates for storing contacts, to-do lists, calendars, notes, project plans, and so on. The Hipster PDA is often associated with the Fisher Space Pen and Getting Things Done.

The Hipster PDA (perhaps so named because it is a pocket device, or as an allusion to hipster culture) has become something of an Internet phenomenon, gaining popularity primarily among young, technology-literate people especially IT workers. It represents a back-to-basics or Zen attitude to personal management.

=External links=

*[http://merlin.blogs.com/43folders/2004/09/introducing_the.html Introducing the Hipster PDA] *[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/07/16/AR2005071600565_pf.html This Retro PDA Doesn t Need Batteries] (Washington Post, July 2005) *[http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/16/magazine/16guru.htmlpagewanted=1&hp Meet the Life Hackers] *[http://wiki.43folders.com/index.php/Hipster_PDA Hipster PDA at 43Folders Wiki] *[http://www.diyplanner.com/templates/official/hpda D*I*Y Planner Hipster PDA templates]