@arebelspy- yes, I certainly will as soon as I get the Sony. I’ll even throw in some pics of the Sharp Zaurus for size comparisons too. What a well designed PDA this one is!

I adore the feeling of nice paper, a good binding, a writing instrument with panache, but beyond that my handwriting is bad, I can’t stand the idea that what I write isn’t digitized for later manipulation. I kept journals for years in handbound, stitched blank books made by a local artisan, those black and white speckled comp books, and every conceivable kind of tablet or notebook short of a Big Chief. All that changed when I got a Palm five years ago. I still stop in in a notebook for old times’ sake, but between my Palm (on which I must keep hundreds of pages of journals and papers)and my Tablet PC, I’m much happier knowing I can search, copy, and easily review anywhere what I’ve written. It’s cool to review the old ones every now and then, such as the night my son was born, but I’d much rather have it all available in twenty-first century form. The digitizer on my screen is every bit as smooth as my fountain pen or roller ball on the finest paper, and I can switch colors, highlight, or stylize in a click or two. I agree those moleskines are works of art, but I do much better knowing I’m working with a much more forgiving medium in my digitized world, and can cut and paste from emails, articles, or my own pompous pronouncements. I’m unable to go back, except for brief visits, to the gorgeous arts of bookbinding and papermaking of the past. How well I love them, and how much more I love the newer arts of technology.

I’m kinda interested in these.. James, could you post some pics (mainly for size comparison), especially next to a Sony U.

-arebelspy

Steve – thank you thank you thank you!!!

I saw your post on the “ink dries up” article earlier this week and was intrigued by such a peculiar named device. I set about the web to find more info (moleskinerie.com is a fantastic blog devoted to this marvel) and decided I’d get one to try it out.

Just holding the thing gives you a feeling of coolness…it’s like a retro, ipod in the way that you feel apart of an elite group and raise your bar of respect for those who share your love for the Moleskine (a friend of mine from church took notice of my new prize with a “hey nice moleskine man” and now it’s like having a secret handshake, just knowing).

But above that hip ‘cool’ factor..it’s darn fricking useful!! I find myself jotting quick notes in it all the time – books I want to read, quick thoughts for lyrics or poetry to expand on later, phone numbers and addresses. I also keep a Starbucks card and a spare $20 in the back pocket as well as a “hacked” calendar I use starting from the back upside down. That way when I finish this one I’ll have all my thoughts along with the dates that went with the thoughts.

43Folders has a great resource of Moleskine Hacks (http://www.43folders.com/moleskines_notebooks/) – many of which are listed in the comments of the “More Moleskine Hacks” post (after all the trackbacks).

Steve, you rock.

For your sake I hope it is machine washable.