Anyone still use a Filofax?
Jan 24th, 2009 by Carl
The first Filofax was sold in 1921. A Filofax was once the must-have accessory for the young and upwardly mobile in the Eighties but today, some might even wonder what a Filofax is…
I used to love my Filofax. I moved to PDAs some time ago with the Palm Pilot III, to Palm Tungsten-T, to Windows Mobile based HP iPAQ and now to Apple iPhone.
I’m never on the move without my 3000+ contacts, my wireless Internet access, my 7+ days of music and so much more.
I still have my twenty-year old Filofax but have to admit it’s been ages I did not buy any refill. My Filofax now looks so useless, does anyone still use a Filofax?
Oh yes… wouldn’t be without mine.
I hope you won’t mind my comment: I stumble on your blog googling about Filofax
I probably went trough everything digital (palm, psion, PocketPC, smartphone, iPhone,…). Always came back to my trusty, sturdy, easy (as in “nothing as intuitive &/or as fast as pen & paper”), crash free and no-battery-required Filofax for calendars and projects planning.
Contacts are in the iPhone, since I often need to mail or phone them
As far as I am concerned, the only digital gizmo that can compare to a Filofax is a Psion.
True, I forgot about the Psion. They used to build some remarkable devices and their philosophy can be seen as still been carried on with the survival os Symbian…
Yes, just switched back from Palm to Filofax.
Hi Johannes,
That’s uncommon… While I often would be glad to switch back to Filofax, I immediately see the drawbacks, mainly in terms of updating and backup of my agenda and contact list.
Uncommon? Maybe…
But here’s someone else who switched from Palm to Filofax:
http://organisedlife.com/article/14/why-a-filofax
What I see as the main advantage: Writing is faster on paper than on electronic devices without real keyboard.
Exactly. Plus it doesn’t need to be charged that often (sorry, in French)
How do you store old filofax sheets? Is there anywhere to get a simple ringbinder for this purpose? The official filofax storage binder is quite expensive. It would be nice to have a reference if I suddenly have to check what happened ten years ago etc.
Hi Jørgen,
I have to admit that my old Filofax sheets are stored either in shoe boxes or, worse, just as is in my desk’s drawers as so many other stuff. My Filofax sheets go back to 1991… Sad to say but I almost never go back to them except by chance.
Hi guys, my name is Tom, im 14, i run a successful business converting photos, videos, slides and negatives to DVD, email or prints. I recently bought a Filofax Identity (Personal Size) to keep the business organized, i too own an iPhone 3G and find it invaluable but still prefer pen and paper. If anyone has any tips on how to properly organize a filofax (e.g proper use of pages, indexers etc) please let me know, also any suggestions on how to keep my business organized on my iPhone and also some pros / cons of paper and digital would be very much appreciated.
Thanks Very Much in advance,
Tom Adams
tomadamscc@hotmail.co.uk
Hi guys
I am a 50+ grandfather still working in the administrative area and also active in community works. Need to balance time for family, works and my community works. Now using iPAQ for contacts and to access e-mails and internet. but still rely solely on my A5 filo for time planning, projects follow-ups and for quick recording of notes (my iPAQ slow to do this).
The other plus about filo is that I could keep receipts, cheques, etc important piece of paper…..
I do. I wouldn’t be caught without it. I’ve tried many, many PDAs and “Smart Phones” with little success. Among those: Apple Newton, Palm Pilot, several Handspring devices, Palm Treo, General Magic DataRover, RIM BlackBerry..
Need to enter an appointment? How about a phone number while in a crowded restaurant / busy establishment. Wait. Turn on. Select App. Select field. Key in using tiny keyboard or stylus. Select field. Key in phone no…. repeat…
Ugh, was just a pain. That said, I do use my phone’s built-in address book as I find it much quicker for on-the-go dialing.
I’ve tried the iPhone – its a HUGE non-productivity gadget. It actually distracted me more so since its limited in what you can do with it and regardless of the GTD apps you use on it, a horrible device for organizing and Getting Things Done. Wretched.
Yes. I started using Personal Lincoln about 19 years ago. In between, bought several more Filo. Migrated to PDA for about 3 years, and now back using A5 Finchley. Entering the 2010’s holidays and birthday in the new calendar refill.
I guess this is the planner for me.
Hi there, couldn’t be without my dear filofax, I have tried all sorts of gadgets and PDA’s etc. even a Windows Mobile but nothing beats my filofax. I use it for cash expenditure, diary, work, contacts even meal planning and shopping (must be quite sad!!). Goodness knows what I’d do if I lost it, I’ve been using filofax for around 20 years now. A true companian!
I love my filofax. I’m a visual person and as such work better with paper, those who are logical get on with PDAs. There is a place for both.
It takes me just seconds to find things, while if I use a mobile it takes me ages. The filofax doesn’t need recharging, doesn’t break when dropped, looks professional, doesn’t bleep at the wrong time, and can’t be hacked.
Definitely Filofax. Love both my pocket and personal Finsbury to pieces. Sure, I keep my BB on hand for emails etc, but the organisers are still the best way to keep track of your appointments and to-do list.
Hi. I have been using both a pocket and a personal Filofax for over 30 years, before they became fashionable in the 80s! Would be totally lost without them. The personal sits on my desk and acts as a backup for the pocket version, which never leaces my side (sad, eh). I also use a Palm-based device, but find using paper and pen much easier, etc., as also mentioned by people before. Can’t see me ever giving up the Filofaxes.
I also keep my old diary sheets – they enable me to recall events which would otherwise have been long forgotten.
Deal all and Janek
We are the small breed of pple still using the Filo….. many in my circle already using phone’s organizer.. like the iphone. Life had became too complex. Once I asked someone for direction.. instead of just tell me where to go.. he fished out his phone and started checking the G-map. All are in the phone now… with very little left in the head!
Janek, how long have you had your Pocket Filofax? I’m curious as to when this model was introduced, originally with only 4 rings, later models with 6 (that’s why the diary inserts are punched to fit 4 OR 6 rings). I know the “Personal” size was the original size, going back to 1921. If you’ve been using the Pocket for 30 years, that puts it at 1980, at the least.
Hi Zedzian. Apologies, but my poor grammar skills have led to the impression that I have been using a pocket Filofax for the same amount of time as the Personal. In fact, I think it’s only some ten or so years that I started uding a pocket version as well as the personal version.
Glad to know there are still many using the Filo! To me it is more than an organizer – its my tool for “Getting Things Done”. I’ve printed the GTD’s template on blanks Filo’s papers and used them to track my projects, my agenda, etc, etc. Of course, these are some trade off – i.e. ease of entry vs search capability,etc, etc