John-- It appears that my advice and experience (8 years) may run slightly contrary to the previous responses here. I started out writing brief notes...the sweat dripping on them posed a problem here, at least in the summer. And how do you write notes in a dark crawlspace? I quickly started using a digital voice recorder. A very quick dictated note can still give more data than a fairly long written note could convey. I tried different brands; I always come back to Olympus. And no, I own no stock in the company! I carry mine around my neck on a lanyard, so no worries about accidental dunks...unlike my cell phone. That's another story. When I get ready to record a note, I lift it up to my mouth and speak quietly. Anyone close enough to hear that has to be REAL close. If the seller is around, I have politely asked them to allow me to do my job in peace previously. As for Bob. E's comments, I don't quite follow them. I understand the value of a pic, but I don't take a pic of everything. If there's a constantly dripping faucet, or an outlet with reversed polarity, for example, I call it out by location. I don't think that needs a photo; it needs to be identified by location. A voice recorder does that perfectly, and very quickly. Others may disagree. Maybe it's only me, but I find that the act of dictating notes into a recorder somehow burns the item into my memory better than writing it down ever did. When I sit down to enter the data, I write from memory prior to accessing the notes. I find I can remember at least 90% of the items without even accessing the voice notes. I write what I remember and then skim through the notes afterwards. Usually, I only need to add an issue or three to the report. I've never lost or accidentally erased a file. To erase one (on Olympus, at least), takes a conscious effort. Some types use a pocket clip. My first one did. (RIP) Bad idea for my use. Perhaps that's the origin of Jim Katen's comment about surviving a dunking. Gotta be on a lanyard. Never falls off. Buy what brand you like, but I recommend that you look closely at the controls. The "round" thumbwheel type controls allowing quick recording and scrolling are great. Forget buttons laid out in straight lines--you have to look at those. And as for style, I DO NOT use a checklist type report. Mine is a narrative. I don't see any downside to using the recorder unless you generate the finished report while you inspect. I don't. I like to produce a detailed report. To do so, what works best for me is to 'write' it on the computer back at the office in a comfy chair, not on the job. As for price, there's a huge markup in these things. I buy off eBay, frequently "last year's model" but new, not refurb. Big savings possible.