DIY Planner - Traditional three ring binder vs circa - Comments

better binder

B0TTiG — Wed, 9 Jul 2008 20:52:50 -0400

i'd suggest the better binder as well. Sturdy, yet flexible. Plastic cover pocket and interior pockets as well. Easy open "D" rings that hold quite a bit more than the usual circular ring. The best part is the rubber on the binding and edges that keep it from slipping around and falling if they are stacked.

don't forget the Mead Flex Binders

busylilnurse — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 04:28:56 -0400

They are like 3 ring binders on steroids,lol. I love them. I have three or four. The last ones were on sale for 8.00. I love that you can fold the front back, rearrange to your hearts content and they even come with plastic pocket pages.
I wish I could just get my kids to use them for school, then I'd have an excuse to buy more :)
becky
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"Meddle not in the affairs of dragons for you are crunchy and good with ketchup"

3 ring

ratter — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 19:10:27 -0400

I have used 3 ring binders in the past myself and find that buying a good quality one takes care of some of the problems mentioned here.

The ability to fold over is

Rollafool — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 19:33:51 -0400

The ability to fold over is what got me looking at Circa/Rolla too. I used to use legal pads in notepad holders, and folding the cover over to the back cracked the spine regardless of whether it was a cheap vinyl holder or an expensive leather one. In fact, the cheap ones seemed to last longer!

I also used 3-ring binders for projects, but I found that over time the rings would often misalign, resulting in torn and/or loose pages, and the open/close mechanism would gradually wear out. I didn't think I was very abusive, but maybe I was! Circa/Rolla has the advantage of having no mechanical parts to wear out.

The expense issue is a valid concern, but I've found that over time I am not spending appreciably more than when I was having to buy replacement binders, new file folders, etc. The poly and plastic last longer and the interchangeable components allow for constant reuse. YMMV, of course . . .

Speaking up for ring binders

hblanchard — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 17:26:04 -0400

Hmmm, guess I better speak up for ring binders...

Reasons I stick with a ring binder (7-ring for me, not 3) over Circa

1. Cost

2. Ease in getting materials (they're standard, from paper to punches etc., I don't have to order and wait for Levenger or some remote internet site, but I still have the option to get high quality paper, custom printing, and punch my own if I want) -- Plus there's a plentiful supply of pre-printed stuff from many vendors - if I want to partake...

3. Less damage when moving papers in and out -- maybe it's just me but I'm more susceptible to mutilating the holes in the Circa

4. Ring binders allow much more pages (this could also be considered a disadvantage as it facilitates hoarding of unnecessary pages) - I was confused about the comment of moving pages in a stuffed binder - you can get a bigger binder, whereas Circa is limited in ring sizes - it's a matter of the pages you keep, not the size of the ring

5. I can fit several different page sizes - yeah, I know, circa is touted as having this feature uniquely, but that's not my experience. I've been punching 3x5 satellite cards to fit in my ring binder for a long while. Also, other paper that is not 8.5" c 5.5" (such as Levenger old-style junior pads) can easily be punched in to fit (and my 7-ring punch was so cheap at eBay I could afford to buy 2, one for home and one for office). In fact, using my old stock Levenger pads and punching them into my binder once I fill them out is now my major path for capture and inbox as per GTD.

6. I can moved large sections of pages easily in one hand grab. I once tried this with an Atoma (functionally the same as Circa) and found I had to take pages out one or two at a time to move a whole block of pages (1/4 inch). It was very tedious.

Okay, I do grant that Circa can be folded over, and takes less desk space. However, in my method of use, this is not really a stumbling point. My binder is the center of my organizational efforts. For portable note-taking I have smaller and more portable notes, cards, and books.

In fact I have no objection to Circa or people who love them, but I have not found their siren-call to be irresistible!

I watch it way too much...

stephanie72978 — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 22:34:16 -0400

I have definatly seen his notebook but I cant remember what it was. It would seem to me that the type of character he plays may be a little obsessed with his notetaking too like us. For some reason he reminds me of myself I think that is why I like his character so much. I wonder if in reality he is truely like that...hhmmmmm. May be another faithful Levenger customer. Speaking of Levenger, whats the deal with their "stock uo sale"? I was thinking it was wonderful get it for the sale price then use the 20% off coupon. To my dismay it adjusted the prices back to the regular price and took off the 20% only which ended up being a little bit of a better deal. Although I was really hoping to get the sale and discount together. I was so excited but then got knocked down a few notches....oh well.

Ygor's got it right

flexiblefine — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 21:59:37 -0400

For me, the thing that makes a Circa notebook most attractive as a planner is the ability to fold over the cover. This means a Circa notebook can take up half the desk space a 3-ring notebook would use.

I've got a blue Circa bookcloth notebook waiting to be my new planner when I use up the paper I've punched for my ring binder. Junior/classic size. The bookcloth blue is very similar to the color of the sapphire True Writer Metalist, if you want a matching pen.

Circa bookcloth covers are currently on sale. Yes, I should have waited.

--
flexiblefine
Do you procrastinate?
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TheNowHabit/

CI Marathon today...

Glenda — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 20:46:26 -0400

They happened to show a couple of good shots of the binder. (Do they know there are people like us who are more interested than we maybe should be in things like that?)

It's definitely 3-ring, and looks like leather with a zipper. Wonder how it's fitted out inside--pockets, pen loops and notepad slots, etc?

Watching

ratter — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 16:57:45 -0400

Where I live they have reruns at 11:00pm Mon-Fri. I watch when I can stay awake.

I'm pretty sure...

caligatia — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 16:06:05 -0400

That it's three rings.

It has rings

ratter — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 14:43:02 -0400

Yes, I was pretty sure it has rings.

How many rings ?

ygor — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 14:13:30 -0400

3 or more than 3 ?
-----------------------------------
"I think the surest sign that there is intelligent life out there in the universe is that none of it has tried to contact us." (Calvin and Hobbes/Bill Waterson)

It has rings.

caligatia — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 03:50:27 -0400

I watch that show WAY too much. :)

Yup. Should be on the

xena — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 03:46:02 -0400

Yup. Should be on the recent episodes- i watched a marathon, and, also (sadly) noticed the folio. Not sure if it has rings.

Yep, Goren.

caligatia — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 23:12:47 -0400

His binder looks an awful lot like Levenger's 3-Ring Zip Folio. Although I doubt it's an actual Levenger product.

Traditional three ring binder vs circa

ratter — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 15:33:56 -0400

Levenger's CIRCA notebooks are pretty cool and one thing that is touted as cool is that yuo can remove pages and re-arrange pages. Here's the thing: you can also do that with three ring binders that we probably all used in school. So what is the deal about Circa?

Second, who wathces Law and Order Criminal Intent? The male detective has a three ring notebook that he uses a lot. Does anyone know what kind it is and where I could get one like it?

Thanks

D*I*Y Planner - Traditional three ring binder vs circa - Comments