It’s Time to Put the Field Notebook to Rest – Here’s What I Use Instead

If you’ve ever operated a farm (or any business for that matter), you already know: the list of things to keep track of never ends.

• Something needs to be replaced.
• Something else needs to be ordered.
• An employee needs a day off.
• A customer wants to schedule a meeting.

Meanwhile you’re trying to actually run the business. Before you know it, the entire day feels like you’re spinning in circles just trying to keep up with operations. For decades, farmers handled this the same way — a field notebook. Write it down now. Deal with it later.

It worked well enough… until technology finally gave us something better.

A Fresh Device That Changed My Workflow

A few years ago, a startup called Rabbit launched a strange little device called the Rabbit R1.

At first glance, it looked like something between a toy and a gadget prototype:

• About the size of a stack of Post-it notes
• Bright orange — almost aggressively orange
• Minimal hardware: a screen, a camera, a scroll wheel, and a single button

It definitely wasn’t a phone. Which made me wonder…Who exactly was this thing for?

As someone who enjoys exploring new tech (I would refer to myself as a “tech-splorer”), I was intrigued. I watched the launch videos and read the early reviews. Most of them were brutal. A lot of tech reviewers wrote it off as another failed AI gadget — comparing it to the Humane AI Pin. I passed on it. At least at first…

The Moment I Realized the Rabbit R1 Could Hold Value

One day while I was out by my fish ponds, it hit me. How many times per day do I pull out my phone to:

• jot something down
• look something up
• remember something for later
• check the weather
• convert measurements
• calculate numbers

The answer? Constantly. But pulling out a phone isn’t always convenient when you’re in the middle of something — whether that’s fixing equipment, counting fish, or dealing with employees. What I really wanted was something simpler:

• press a button
• say what I need
• get an answer
• move on

No screen time. No distractions. Just natural voice interaction. A few clicks later, I ordered one. Two hundred dollars and a few weeks of waiting, the little orange box arrived.

Learning What It Could Actually Do

Just like when I bought my drone, I didn’t immediately throw it into daily use. First I asked a simple question: What can this device actually do for me? Not according to YouTube reviews. Not according to tech blogs. But for my workflow.

What I quickly realized was that the Rabbit R1 wasn’t trying to replace my phone. It was carving out its own space in my pocket, next to my phone.

My Voice-Powered Field Notebook

After a few days, the R1 basically became my digital field notebook. Imagine this scenario:

I’m in the middle of counting fish and one of my employees walks up. “Hey, we’re running low on soap.” Instead of stopping what I’m doing, grabbing my phone, unlocking it, opening a notes or shopping app, typing something, then putting it away (but not before seeing all the distracting notifications)…

I just press a button and say, “Make a note: we need more soap.” Done.

Later, when I’m back at my desk, everything I told the device is waiting for me in the Rabbithole — Rabbit’s web dashboard where all interactions are logged.

From there I can:

• turn notes into tasks
• order supplies
• schedule follow-ups
• or just reference what happened that day because my memory is not so wonderful

It’s ridiculously simple. And that’s exactly why it works.

Then It Became My Pocket Information Assistant

The value didn’t stop at task management. Pretty quickly, I started using it for everything. Things like:

• Figuring out how to change the oil on a specific piece of equipment
• Grabbing weather forecasts for a specific date
• Understanding dragonfly season (that has a huge impact on our ponds)
• Asking about hurricane updates during storm season
• Converting dimensions into gallons of water
• Identifying species of birds I would see while working

Anything I was curious about — or needed to remember — was just a button press away. No screen locks. No typing. No scrolling. Just ask.

It Even Became Useful Off the Farm

The funny thing is… I started carrying it everywhere. Not just on the farm. I found myself using it in situations where pulling out a phone just feels wrong.

For example:

While driving – I could ask questions and get answers without taking my eyes off the road.

Before jumping in the shower – I’d ask it for a quick news rundown so I could listen while I showered.

With my kids – it became a surprisingly helpful learning tool.

And that last part I hadn’t anticipated…

My Kids Love It

After a few months, my kids started asking: “Daddy, where’s your rabbit? I need to ask it something.” They don’t have smartphones yet, and honestly I’m in no rush to change that. But the R1 was perfect for them. It was simple to use, voice-based, no social media, no inappropriate content. Just answers. Even my 5-year-old could use it. For a $200 device, that’s pretty incredible.

The Smartest $200 I’ve Spent in a Long Time

Right now, the Rabbit R1 might be the best $200 I’ve spent on technology in recent history. Not because it’s flashy. Not because it’s more powerful than a phone. But because it solves a simple problems really well:

• It eliminates the distractions that my phone creates.
• It replaced my field notebook.
• It answers questions instantly.
• It helps me remember things.
• It even builds little tools when I need them.

And the best part? The developers keep shipping updates that add even more value. Which means this little orange box is probably going to keep getting smarter.