I bought the NoteTaker wallet several years ago, and it still looks great. I have replaced the ink several times because the pen comes in handy when I or someone else forgets their pen. Also, when I am with my 8 year old daughter, it is a great way to pass the time or play games, whip out my notetaker and we have an instant word game! I get lots of little bonuses like this from the wallet, not only is it a great thought capturer, but it is a great teaching tool. I have mine in my back right pocket always. One of the best habits I ever started.

At $99 a pop I'll bet you are delighted. Amazing what people will spend to feel cool!

Will a non-leather version be made available?

David,

Will this product be offered when Levenger begins to carry your things this fall? Will the Levenger products be any different?

Thanks!

I'm all about funding David's efforts to revolutionize the way we think about work. And by all means, if you have to have the coolest note pad on the block, this is the one for you. But I want to pitch in with my own perception of this item.

I don't own one of these wallets, but I did get a chance to look one over when the president of a company for which I used to work purchased one. I'm certain that the leather is absolutely top-notch, but to me (untrained in the art of leatherwork) it seemed thin and cheap. (Note that this was over two years ago; perhaps the perceived quality has increased with the new manufacturer.) The pen was nice, but wasn't the kind of pen I would expect to see for the $99 price tag. Also, the pads are a non-standard size, and while they may be available in office supply stores (I never had any reason to check), they're certainly not as ubiquitous as I'd like to see. Especially with the number of short notes I take.

Personally, I use a black leather (or pseudo-leather, I don't know) pad holder from Target. It's made by FranklinCovey under the brand "365 by FranklinCovey", and it set me back about $15. It came with a small pen that was almost as nice as David's, but I chucked it and replaced it with a Fisher Space Pen ($15 at Staples or OfficeMax, not sure which). It came with a micro-perforated note pad, but it's just as happy with the standard spiral-on-the-top note pads I can get by the pallet for $4 at Sam's Club. This setup is a little bit larger than David's wallet, but it's a whole lot cheaper, and the pen writes upside-down on butter underwater at 212 degrees Fahrenheit.

A side benefit was that since the pad holder opens the same way as the pad, I was able to fashion a permanent bookmark. I made a little "arm" out of a paperclip that sits in one of the credit-card slots on the top flap, and I tuck the used pages that I want or need to save under that arm... I can close the pad and then when I open it back up it's already holding my page for me.

And I saved enough money to get Getting Things Done and Ready For Anything on CD.

From Genuine Curiosity:

I've been waiting for many months for the "official" David Allen Notetaker wallet (aka the Getting Things Done Evening Module).  They've been out of stock for many moons, and I just noticed that David posted a note a few days ago to let people know they are back in stock.

That's old news to me - I got mine a couple of weeks ago. How'd I do that - an insider tip from David? No - I'm not that special.  Here's how I did it: [read more...]

I (strongly) second the non-leather request.

Will this wallet fit a back pocket? Or is it intended for jacket pocket's only.

FYI, the Rotring pen is $40 retail, by itself. And also the closest thing to the right size, similar to ours, in leather, for just the right amount of credit cards, with a pad, is the MontBlanc version, which is $300 (without a pen!) Re: pockets - I designed it to fit in a jeans back pocket, as well a a tux. That's also why it's so thin - I carry cash in my pocket. But, indeed, to each his/her own... - David

FYI, anyone who spends $40 for a pen is painfully unaware of the extent of the suffering that is going on in the world. $40 is more money than most in the world make in a month, and it would be better used to ease suffering than to stroke the ego.

I've attended David's two-day seminar, have both the hardcover and paperback versions of "Getting Things Done" and have the Outlook Add-In. But $99 for this may be the reason the original supplier went out of business. Check out www.levenger.com for the SwiftNotes Pad Holder. Same size, leather, $34. If you want it monogrammed, $40. Fits a back pocket and the front pocket of a men's dress shirt. Pen works great as well.

After reviewing all the recomendations, this looks like a fair price - that is, if you value your time (versus driving out to Target and building your own); and the Levenger item is not quite the exact duplicate as claimed in the post.

As to the gentleman concerned about world poverty, these types always forget the fact that capitalism has eliminated more poverty and increased the standard of living for more people than any other system. This product is a perfect example - the designer, manufacturer, distributor, web site developers, delivery folks, the banks and credit card companies - all EMPLOY people who then buy other goods and services - and yes, donate large sums of money to the less fortunate.

So buy this product (if it fills your needs), feel good about it, then go out and be productive to improve the world.

I just wanted to say to David Bravo for listening to his customers many who have been begging him to brin g back the note taker wallet. It is obvious that quality is important to David and thus the unit carries a high price tag.

Sure some might find it expensive which is fine and as customers we don't have to buy it. It is also obvious that David took great care that the wallet and pen were maid of top quality materials. Bloggers such as Marc Orchant give it great reviews I believe Marc has gotten close to four years use out of it and he uses it daily see his post here http://blogs.officezealot.com/marc/archive/2005/06/26/6521.aspx

Anyway thanks again David for listening to your customers. Maby you should consider bringing out a lower quality version priced around $40.00.

Cheers!

Johann

Johann: That's correct. Four years and my NoteTaker is still going strong (and has broken in quite nicely as fine leather products often do). And yes, I do use it daily. It is my preferred "Inbox" for the little things I think of that I need to get into my system as well as the always-there capture device for those occasional epiphanies that come to me in the strangest of places.

When I do the "rationalization math" on this investment, it works out about $2.00 per month, fifty cents per week, less than seven cents per day. Pretty cheap peace of mind IMO.

Hey Phil, why don't you buy a one way ticket to the third world so you can help the suffering. I'll be thinking about you while I'm drinking my $4 latte, putting $40 worth of gas in my SUV and especially when I go downtown to watch the million dollar fireworks display on Monday, July 4.

G'day Mark: Actually, I just recently returned from Hyderabad, India. Enjoy your luxury; Bathe yourself in opulence. For someone like yourself, a trip to India is something I would highly recommend. When you look into the face of the deepest poverty, and see true suffering, your world will never be the same! But then again, maybe you wouldn't care.

(1) I too would love to see a nonleather version available. (2) Are these paper pads available generically at an offoce supply store?

David - love your products! How about a faux leather version for about $40? Keep up the good work.

I like the design of the NoteTaker Wallet, and am tempted to snap one up. However, I really prefer to use 3x5 index cards for quick on-the-go notes, ever since I was given a Levenger pocket briefcase almost fifteen years ago.

Does anyone know of something that is comparable to the NoteTaker Wallet, but holds index cards instead of the pad of paper?

David -- how about this as a product to develop with Levenger? A David Allen NoteTaker Pocket Briefcase?

--T.

I like the design of the NoteTaker Wallet, and am tempted to snap one up. However, I really prefer to use 3x5 index cards for quick on-the-go notes, ever since I was given a Levenger pocket briefcase almost fifteen years ago.

Does anyone know of something that is comparable to the NoteTaker Wallet, but holds index cards instead of the pad of paper?

David -- how about this as a product to develop with Levenger? A David Allen NoteTaker Pocket Briefcase?

--T.

Ouch. Sorry for the double-post up there.

I just browsed the Levenger site again, and noticed the International Pocket Briefcase. This might be what I'm looking for, if it's not too big for my pockets. I'll have to cut some cardboard to the size of the International PBC and experiment.

Tetsujin:

U am also a 3X5 Fan. I bought http://www.traveltools.com/jotters.htm and it works well for me. A little bigger than ideal, but that's the 3X5 form factor...

How much did you spend on your computer Phil? I bet you have $40 worth of things you didn't absolutely need. Plus isn't one $40 pen better for the environment than 40 99 cent pens?