NOTE: First off I'm not in any way associated with the company, I just like the product...

A long while back I told my story about how I used my mini-notepad and pen, which I always keep as a part of my EDC, to write down the plate number of some jerk who hit a girl he was with at my local store. WELL, I don't know whatever happened with those people. Sorry I can't give you more of an update there...

However I DO know that I have a problem with keeping a notepad or even paper scraps in my side pocket. Even after a day or so of being in there they get beat-up, wrinkled, and even torn up, depending on the quality of the paper that's in the notepad. And for a while I was looking for a mini-notebook that had a metal cover to protect it.

Well while I was out the other day looking for a present for someone at a fancy outdoor decoration store I found these at the front counter:

FlipNotes Mini-Notebooks

They come in all kinds of colors and although it's just a tad pricey it's exactly what I was looking for. They've got a built-in pen and once you pull it out the spring-loaded cover comes right open. Just wanted to pass this along for people that have the same problems with notepads that I did...

thanks!! I have seen these at my local office supply store and I just thought that the ones that they had there, not all of the ones on the link, were really girly, maybe they should come out with a plain aluminum one, or black.

I’m hooked on my Palm Pilot for a lot of things, including notes. I write myself notes about things every day. And every day I back it up on the computer so I have the notes with me all the time (Palm Pilot) and a copy of them on the computer. It’s very handy to have all this info with me all the time.

I normally carry my notepad in my hip pocket, so I would bend one of those badly in no time at all. But if it works for you, go for it!!!

I had a same problem with the "girly designs" myself, until I found one at the counter that was all brown and had a design on it that kind of resembled an old rustic cabinet or desk. And that's the one that I went with.

I also got a pen and pad refill. Again, just a little bit pricey but it was exactly what I was looking for without having to upgrade to something like a Palm Pilot (which I would never use, I barely get any life out of my PSP)...

or you could always get the hipster PDA!!! (:

I bought one of those for my Mrs. about a year ago... She carries it with her everywhere in her purse.

It really is a pretty decent product and stands up to some abuse.

Now, if you were to combine a strong case with Write in the Rain paper, then you would have me sold!