Notebooks that I think are cool

[redrose]

I like Moleskines, but they're expensive for something made in China. The Picadilly notebooks that I'm trying out as a substitute do not seem to have very good elastic.

I find these intriguing:
http://www.ecosystemlife.com/

Made in the USA, of 100% recycled -- and recyclable -- materials, by a subsidiary of Barnes & Noble. Comparable price to Moleskines.

I've got a set of smaller lined ones, and we'll see how they go.

Comments

[fadeaccompli]

I have both a Moleskine and one of those Ecosystem notebooks. Overall, I much prefer the Moleskines; I like its feel in my hands, I like the line size better (the Ecosystem ones seem to have weirdly close-spaced lines, even in their medium version), and I like the feel of the paper itself more.

That being said, I don't find the Ecosystem notebook bad; if I didn't have the Moleskine to compare it to, I'd probably be happy enough with it, once I got used to the line spacing.

[redrose]

Interesting.

I haven't used the ecosystems enough to have an opinion on them yet beyond "Ooo! New notebooks! Shiny!"

[al_zorra]

Moleskines are the only kind of notebook for tropical climates. The paper may bubble a little, but it remains perfectly writable, and the ink doesn't run. As I know from experience if you are in a conference etc. in the Caribbean, it will not be held in an air conditioned university ampitheater, but in a much more pleasant semi indoors, open at the top of the walls to the sea breezes, and with ceiling fans. You try to write in a conventional paper notebook you're screwed. Because your fingers, hands, wrists and arms are damp from the humidity.

Love, C.

[al_zorra]

Gads, that ice walking fox looks funny next to the subject of the comment! But that's my outside reality at the present.

Love, C.

[redrose]

Mine too!

[redrose]

[[grin]]

I've spent my life in New York State, so these considerations have never crossed my mind! If I find I have a spare ecosystem book, would you like me to send it to you for Caribbean trials?

[al_zorra]

BTW, a marvelous depiction of this is in Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart -- the District Commissioner has to go through a variety of manuevers in order to write reports in the early colonial days of Nigeria. (Or is this from another novel set in colonial Nigeria? It's been a long time since I read TFA ....)

This is before typewriters, of course, at least in the Nigerian colonial offices. Typewriters presented their own problems in these climates, as various insect life ate the ribbons, and the climate rusted the keys.

Yes, I'd be happy to Caribbean or other tropical spot test the Eco notebook. At some point in the next 18 months a prolonged stay in Angola is being set up.

The other thing about the Moleskinnes as another commentator mentioned is that they are really sturdy. I keep Vaquero provided with the journalist short one -- and he's incredibly hard on the things. They travel with him constantly all day long, are pulled out for everything from taking notes to new acquaintances writing in their e-ddresses and phone numbers, stuffed with receipts, sketching designs, and surely other activities as well.

Love, C.

[redrose]

Drop me a line at my email (LJ username at juno dot com) and I will have it in the mail to you, maybe even tomorrow!