How do you work?
edw519: Pen and paper.This is a hard and fast rule that I have always followed and is absolutely critical to my success.  Just a few of the reasons:1. I firmly believe that analysis, design, and planning is much more effective if it is done away from the computer.  These are totally different activities from programming and they take a different mindset and environment.  That's pretty tough to do if you use computerized tools to organize.2. I like to spread out my notes, plans, diagrams, lists, etc. on a table to work on them.  I also tack them up on the wall above my work space, both at the computer and in the other room.  I want to give my mind every opportunity to see the "big picture" when it's appropriate.  Again, tough to do with a computer unless you have 5 monitors.3. I carry my notes with me whereever I go.  You never know when inspriration will hit, and I don't want to carry a laptop everywhere and wait for it to boot up.4. Bedtime is critical thinking time (both at night and in the morning).  I always have my notes and multiple colored pens with me in bed.  Some of my best ideas have come at this time.  I can't imagine the same thing happening with a laptop.  I have addressed this before here:http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=191275and herehttp://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=290842Hope this helps.