[kstenerud]

So, the actual issue is that transcription doesn't correlate with retention, and people who type tend to fall into the trap of transcription more easily.

There's nothing wrong or inferior about taking notes with a computer vs a notepad so long as you're not transcribing.

But, "Don't take notes with a laptop" is punchier.

[nstart]

Mmm. My two cents...

There's some extrapolation here. I've tried multiple models of taking notes with digital tools. They all come with this assumption that our brains are thinking in a single mode at any given time which is not practically true. I can be understanding what a person is saying and in my head categorising the information (table) while picturing what connections that info might have to something else (drawings?). And then I remember that Ellie from the other team/class had done something similar and I note down to set up a meeting (todo/calendar). All this while noting down questions of my own (free form text).

The point is, analog allows us to take notes and organise on the go. Digital tools, especially laptops (and typing in general), assume our thoughts are organised before we digitise them.

So unless using a pen on a tablet nothing comes even close in the digital world to recording notes the way our brain actually wants to.

Therefore don't take notes with a laptop is valid advice. It's not a tool made for taking on the fly notes and you'd have to be really really special at what you do to bend it to actually be useful in this scenario.