Carting a laptop computer around just because you may have an inspiration to write away from home or office is not very attractive. The Macintosh computer I currently use is way too bulky and heavy for that. Writing into a notebook and then transferring the writings to your computer is not very attractive, either. The main reason for this is that I cannot control my writing when I write by hand. The jumble that sometimes remains after several alterations is occasionally difficult to read. The last stage of writing, the polishing, is thus left for after the transfer, which becomes a problem when a lot of stuff accumulates over an extended period. In the meanwhile, I feel ever more uncomfortable with everything I have written because I have ever less of a clear idea about my progress. As of late, I have been thinking about a simple solution to my problems: a battery-powered electronic organizer that can be carried around in my knapsack. Such a machine, a computer in its own right, would allow me to upload everything I have written to my laptop, as well as to download my writings from my Macintosh so as to have a better idea how everything recently written fits together. The only thing that stops me from buying one of these toys is that I am not familiar with the technology. But this is a lame excuse. It is time to look into the organizers available on the market and choose one that is compatible with my needs. There!

Addendum I (November 20, 2000)

As if to punish me for my decision to switch to an electronic organizer, my notebook has started falling apart. As soon as I bought it at W.H. Smith’s, it was clear it was not bound properly, but it quickly transpired that it was not likely to hold together until I would be able to reach the last page. It is amazing how vindictive things can become when they do not feel appreciated in full.

Addendum II (December 21, 2000)

I promptly undertook to learn about electronic organizers, select the hardware and software compatible with my Macintosh laptop, and order everything before the Christmas rush. But the rush was already on. Besides, organizers of this sort turned out to be among the most prized presents for this Christmas. For some reason, many people realized at the same time that there was no reason for them to lug their laptops around any longer. A couple of distributors thus told me to be patient—that is, to go fly a kite. In the end, I had to buy another notebook, into which I just started writing. My organizer of choice will have to wait for next year, next century, next millennium. Still, I expect I will lay my hands on it before I see the back cover of this little notebook.