Black n' Red Notebook, Business Journal, 11-3/4" x 8-1/4", 96 Sheets, Ruled, Optik Paper, Hardcover, Casebound, Black (D66174)

JVrheesUnited States

Really enjoy these notebooks

I tend to use a lot of notebooks and I've tried many different types. I recently found a great small one for my daily needs, but as a writer, I needed something larger. Especially when working on something more involved (like a book for example), I always prefer to have the outline written out physically so I can go back to it easily, work on it anywhere, keep organzed, jot down random thoughts, and so on. While I've tried others, none have really fit my needs (or they've been far too expensive for me to even consider), and I always end up going back to the same old convenience store spiral notebooks. The problem with those, as anyone who uses them will know, is the paper itself isn't the best quality, and with all the flipping back and forth I do when working on something, pages will end up ripping, falling out, etc., and it turns into a big mess. Now to this book. First off, the pages are really good quality. The paper is thick and I've been able to use both sides with absolutely no bleed through (using a gel ink rollerball pen). Using the same pen with other notebooks, there's no way I could use both sides of the paper and still be able to clearly read it. Another aspect I love about this is the hard cover. It's very sturdy and does a great job of protecting the book, making it even easier to carry around and use anywhere. I tried bending the book around the way you would with a spiral notebook if you were to work on only one page. I was able to, although I probably wouldn't suggest it because I assume it would wear out a lot quicker and weaken the backing. (I did notice the same company offers spirals. I haven't tried those yet but do intend to at some point). There are a few little extras that don't really influence how useful I find the notebook, but are nice to have. A ribbon to use for a bookmark, a date planner and table of contents area in the front, and a few maps in the back. I'm very satisfied with this book and glad I ordered two. I've already been using it to work on something on an almost daily basis, and have no complaints yet. Even better is the affordable price compared to some of the other better quality options available. I definitely intend to continue using these books and will likely try out a few others from this company in the future.

Amazon CustomerUnited States

Very good value for a very good price

I give this five stars despite a couple of small reservations, but the five stars are merited because this notebook far and away delivers great value at its very reasonable price. I'm not one to like the on-sale for ninety-nine cents 'cheapo' composition books. I like a genuine hardcover and associated sewn binding, done in a quality manner. During my working career I used a different brand that cost about four times as much. The Red and Black features a good binding, decent quality paper, and light rulings. There are no margins or pre-printed page numbers, which is fine with me. The 92 sheet capacity is adequate without being bulky. The notebook is hefty enough and I would not want it to weigh more (or less, for that matter). If you fold the pages down carefully, there's no problem at all writing on pages near the front or back. I'm using one of them now to take notes in a math class at University of Hawai`i and it's ideal for the purpose. I don't think the paper is "archival" but I'm not interested in hundreds of years of longevity, either. Give me ten or twenty years, and I think I'll get that if I store the notebook in a reasonable environment. My small issues? There is a ribbon marker that isn't sturdy and shows wear very quickly. That's not a big criticism because if you think about it, a marker ribbon undergoes serious stresses. The other issue? While some people like the subway maps and all the stuff on the endpapers, I would have preferred something less gaudy and, frankly, sophomoric. I don't have a lot of use for a map of the Chicago transit system when I'm taking notes in Honolulu. Bottom line? This is a super value in a notebook and I'll be buying many more of them.

ChiaraUnited States

Great journal -- size of standard paper

I have kept journals for years, and I am picky about the size of the journal. I like the pages to be about the size of a regular piece of paper (8.5 x 11), so that I can tape in papers that are important or want to remember or whatever. I can't use smaller journals, of course, because they're too small to fit a piece of paper inside. I'd been buying my journals at Borders Bookstore. (I don't know if that store even exists anymore!) I bought all of these plain, cloth-covered journals that were just basic lined pages. They were great: they each had about 200 sheets and I could usually find them on sale for under $7. Well, years ago I saw they were clearing out their stock, so I bought all of their remaining journals on the shelves (at a great clearance price!). I'm finally about to run out of that supply of journals, and I've been shopping around for a while to find a new journal that I can start using. I wanted it to be about letter-size, and relatively cheap. I mean, it's just a blank book! I don't want something for professional use, just something to write in! I think this one will fit the bill. It's got nice thick covers and my test of the pages shows that my fountain pen won't bleed through the pages. Also, the price is good. It's certainly not the best looking journal. I don't think it would be appropriate in a professional setting, unless you're just using it for yourself, and not taking it around with you to meetings and such. OVERALL: Good, solid journal. Based on my shopping & comparing lots of different journals of comparable size, it's the best value. And -- the essential for any kind of journal or notebook -- your pen probably won't bleed.

MariamGUnited States

Excellent Notebook, Worth Buying........ See Photos~

I bought this black n' red casebound notebook (E66857) almost a year ago for just under $3. I ordered it for my husband thinking it'd make a nice notebook for work but he refused to 'waste' it because it's too nice... I've since inherited it (quite happily) and use it to jot down notes from important calls. I used to write things on post-its or random papers before getting more organized with a single notebook (and electronic notes). This product is made in Poland. It is the nicest notebook I've owned; I can't attest to owning any expensive ones. I have been provided with some nice notebooks from management jobs but this has the best paper stock of those I've owned. The paper is sewn in so this isn't good for tearing pages out of but it is great for a book of information you want to keep together. It also has a red ribbon page divider making it easy to keep your place. The cover is also quite sturdy and solid. They include a date planner to highlight appointments, I use it as a perpetual calendar for birthdays (I've grayed out our family birthdays in the photo I posted). You could use it as a tiny planner but I keep a separate planner because I don't carry this. It's not light enough for me to want to carry it daily (nor do I need to). There are also maps and travel information I don't really use but are nice. Uploading some photos so you can get a closer look. Very well made notebook. Smile. Hope this is helpful!