This WAS going to be the year I started too....
I think I prefer paper and pencil, seems a little more permanent and flexible, but the computer data base approach like excel would be useful for searching and sorting. I like Bloos appraoach of keeping notes and transferring to the computer, best of both worlds. IF you keep notes, an "Engineers Field Book" is worth looking at if you can find one. These are the pocket-sized yellow notebooks that surveyors keep notes in -- heavy duty, weatherproof paper, can really take a beating