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Cool tools really work.
A cool tool can be any book, gadget, software, video, map, hardware, material, or website that is tried and true. All reviews on this site are written by readers who have actually used the tool and others like it. Items can be either old or new as long as they are wonderful. We post things we like and ignore the rest. Suggestions for tools much better than what is recommended here are always wanted.
Clever Coffee Dripper: After years of settling for mediocre Nespresso Americanos (you know, the kind where cream and sugar are less "optional" and more "mandatory"), I discovered the Clever Dripper. Five minutes to coffee nirvana with cleanup so simple you'll wonder why you ever put up with those tiny capsules. Perfect for when you want coffee that you can reliably drink black.
Tidbyt: This retro LCD display has absolutely zero productive purpose, and that's precisely why it's terrific! It's become the unexpected star of my video calls (hanging out behind me). Visitors inevitably ask, "What's that thing?" which is precisely the point. Sometimes, the best gadgets are the ones that make you smile.
Baronfig Mastermind Desk Pad: As a dot-grid enthusiast (yes, I've collected the entire Baronfig lineup--don't judge), the Mastermind Desk Pad is my canvas for everything from concept diagrams to... well, mostly doodles during meetings that should have been emails.
DIGITAL
NotePlan: I've been a heavy Obsidian user for years, but I always struggle with keeping notes together for meetings. NotePlan, which also relies on simple text files like Obsidian, is tailor-made to collect notes for meetings, tasks, and your communication with individuals or companies. It makes it super easy to reference back discussions in previous meetings I've had with someone and keep track of tasks across a busy day. And best of all, since the data is just in text files, it's easy to migrate later, so you're not locked into a specific tool.
DevonThink Pro: DevonThink Pro is my all-purpose storage for any documents I need. This includes mundane stuff like medical records, car maintenance documents, or the manual for my refrigerator, as well as reference material I may need to review later. It indexes everything, including the contest of PDF files, and is backed by a pretty fantastic search function. It's also an excellent PDF reader on the iPad (where you can highlight and notate, which will sync across all your devices).
INVISIBLE
You are always wrong; it's just a question of degree.
