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Hipster PDA

The Hipster PDA is a paper-based personal organizer popularized, 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's Getting Things Done methodology and users of the Fisher Space Pen.

Advocates of the hPDA claim that it is a cheap, lightweight, free-form organizer that doesn't need batteries and is unlikely to be stolen. Critics cite the lack of integration with desktop PC 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 customized 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.

A Hipster nano PDA utilizes business cards (often given superfluously at trade shows) with blank backs and one that has a calendar on the back.

• Introducing the Hipster PDA
• This Retro PDA Doesn't Need Batteries (Washington Post, July 2005)
• Who needs a PDA when I've got paper? (Guardian News, September 2005)
• Hipster PDA at 43Folders Wiki
• D*I*Y Planner Hipster PDA templates
• John Norris Hipster PDA templates
• Hipster PDA Cover Generator
• PocketMod
• How to construct the Hipster nano PDA
• Making a Moleskine Hipster PDA case an instructables post on hacking a Moleskine into a case for the Hipster PDA.