[xmattxyzx]

I received a Quo Vadis Habana Minister from the fine folks at Exacompacta and here is my obligated review! (It's written in the form (but not really style) of a novel I had been reading when I wrote the review.) I wrote this review a while ago but I hadn't posted because I hadn't taken any decent pictures. I still haven't taken any decent pictures, but I felt that I should still post the review.



The Minister:


The Part About My Happiness:
-Relative to the Moleskine notebooks I carry in my bag I am very happy with the larger size, as it is easy to distinguish it from the other books in my bag. This note is purely subjective. I suppose the relativity notwithstanding I would still appreciate the larger size.

-The paper is very fountain pen friendly, of course. For me, this means that ink (I solely use Noodler's) dries reasonable fast (tangentially I have noticed that Field notes paper makes everything dry incredibly fast) and is smooth (but not too smooth!). So, yes, these are all applicable.

-The paper is startlingly white, which I really appreciate in a planner. i suppose it imbues an immediacy--a sort of "Pay attention do work and don't procrastinate, idiot!" feel. It's a stark contrast to the almost plangent, almost romantic impression I get from ivory/cream pages.

The Part About My Discontent:
-There really needs to be a ribbon, or something, especially considering the useful/nicely distracting reference material--maps, payment charts, etc.

-The tabs probably won't be very effective until I am several weeks in 2009, and even then I imagine it will be a little bothersome to deal with. Also, I find the tabs uneccessarily wasteful and irksome. Here's a photo:


The Part About the Other Parts:
-I wonder about the cover's durability--it's already showing some signs of use.
-Why does the day start at 8am and end at 9pm?
-It's part of some "Green Agenda" which sounds subversive in some way!

The Part About My Conclusive Impressions:
-I'm very thankful to receive this planner--I will assuredly use it for the year.
-The format of the planner is definitely not the best format for me. I am no minister or fat cat on Wall Street and never have hourly things to plan ahead for.
-That being said, the format will take time getting used to me as to me it seems a little counter-intuitive.
-Definitely recommended!

Here are some more photos:

[Jersey Diabolo]

Nice review.

Most of their planners come in a variety of covers. I use a Quo Vadis Prenote desk planner for work. I picked the ‘Club’ cover. It's held up beautifully thru three refills.

I also use an Exacompta Visual weekly desk planner as a food and exercise diary.

The paper is wonderful. I use an MP to record appointments but, with a Fine nibbed FP, it's all good. The Prenote size, layout, and format is thoughtful and has turned out to be ideal for me. I like the tear-off tabs at the bottom. A couple of weeks in, on a weekly calendar, and I find I appreciate this last feature more & more.

After using the Quo Vadis, I would not go back to the cheap, standard issue, desk calendars at work if they paid me. Oh, silly me, they do pay me.

Why does the day start at 8am and end at 9pm?
My father-in-law's a minister. That sounds like his day. What he wouldn't understand is why the space for Sunday is so small.

Love your second to last photo. If your physician belongs to FPN, placing it there just might save your life.

This post has been edited by Jersey Diabolo: 27 December 2008 - 08:52 AM

[Ghost Plane]

I use the times as suggestions and frequently overwrite them as my days often start at 0530 and range to 2300 and beyond! Fortunately Quo Vadis didn't print them so dark that I can't write over the top.

[limesally]

The Part About the Other Parts:
-I wonder about the cover's durability--it's already showing some signs of use.
-Why does the day start at 8am and end at 9pm?
-It's part of some "Green Agenda" which sounds subversive in some way!

The Part About My Conclusive Impressions:
-I'm very thankful to receive this planner--I will assuredly use it for the year.
-The format of the planner is definitely not the best format for me. I am no minister or fat cat on Wall Street and never have hourly things to plan ahead for.
-That being said, the format will take time getting used to me as to me it seems a little counter-intuitive.
-Definitely recommended!

I used the Minister for about three years while I was not a minister or fat cat but I was a mom who was keeping track of family activities as well as my own work hours, which were not regular - I was teaching yoga about 6-7 times a week at different locations and times, and my kids had various activities in the evening, not to mention appointments, school field trips, etc. This was the best planner for me at the time - I'd use a different color for each family member, work vs. sport or play appointments, etc. Starting the day at 8 and ending at 9 made perfect sense!

It was usually on the desk so cover wear wasn't an issue, but I can see how it would be.

I don't use it anymore because our schedule changed and became much more regular, so I no longer needed to plan by the hour. But it was great during a time of my life that I did.

You did a very nice job on this review!

[diplomat]

Excellent review and pics.

I received a "Ministro" (as it is called here) as Christmas gift. The first impression upon seeing the gift was "no way I am going to betray my weekly large Mole". But then... after careful and diligent examination of the product, I decided it will be my Y09 mate for the office.

Major drawback is that the space for "general notes" is really small, and even to write inside the day will require a "fine" as a minimum (but that's good, my vintage Sheaffer's will have their year here...).
But on the other hand I really enjoy the concept which is much more "business oriented" than the Mole, and the paper, well, it's just right for FP.

Unfortunately I will have to switch the cover (or, after some first enquiry on the local shops, to buy a new one since it seems that no one is selling just the covers...) with something better since I get the "plain" leather-like-but-from-far-away version.

Which one will you suggest? I understand that the Club seems more sturdy and durable than the Habana, what about the Nappa Leather?

Thanks again for the nice review,

Andre

[drifting]

Sorry if I missed it, but is this planner bound into the Habana cover (like the Habana notebooks), or is it a refillable cover (like most other Quo Vadis planners) in the Habana style?

I'm using the Minister Prestige this year, which has a similar, but not identical, layout on ivory paper with red and black lines and text. Unfortunately, I also seem to be on one of my periodic forays into digital calendaring/task management (using iCal and OmniFocus synching to my iPod Touch), so I'm not sure how much use I'll get out of this in the next few months.

I'm really getting into the large Habana notebooks, and the idea of a matching planner tickles the paper geek in me. A reusable Habana cover is even better.

Ryan.

[diplomat]

So, at the end of the day, I did purchase a new one with the black Club cover today. I was not able to find an Habana cover in my region, they seem to be sold out at this moment. The Club looks nice and sturdy, much better than the previous one I got (see post #5 of this thread). The lack of a rubber band means I should limit my load of small cards and tickets, alas!

It will be my 2009 companion.

p.s. drifting: I don't recall exactly, I only had the Habana Minister in hand once in a shop, but I think the whole concept of this series is the refillable unit, so the Habana must be detachable cover.