Hipster PDA

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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^[1]. 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^[2] and blogs, the Hipster PDA (abbreviated 'hPDA') has become a popular personal management tool particularly with followers of David Allen's Getting Things Done methodology and users of the Fisher Space Pen^[3].

Advocates of the hPDA claim that it is a cheap, lightweight, free-form organizer^[4] that doesn't need batteries and is unlikely to be stolen. Critics cite the lack of integration with desktop PC productivity software^[5] 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^[6], 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.