Earlier this week I received an exciting package from FPN member inkypete - exciting because it contained an A6-size Orange Rhodia Webnotebook! Webnotebooks are very recent additions to the Rhodia line-up - and their take on the Moleskine.
(I am not a Moleskine user, so this will not be a detailed comparison review of both products.)
Having been forewarned that Rhodia have not used their traditional vellum-finish paper in this notebook, I was disappointed when I handled the notebook for the first time. It looked and felt so good; it is an ideal little notebook in many ways - why would Rhodia spoil such a neat thing with sub-standard paper?
The paper is thin (~80 gsm), but I didn't find that ink on the other side of the page showed through too badly - of course, I tend to use fine nibs and colored inks - a wet nib with black ink will tell a different story. The Rhodia logo in the bottom corner of page bothers some people... I'm not one of them. If this was a sketchbook, then I can see a problem, but the Webnotebook only comes in a ruled / lined paper configuration - not a blank sketchbook, so for me the logo is a non-issue. The paper is better quality than your average Moleskine / Moleskine-esque notebook, but it is still not very good. The right-hand pages show more feathering than the left-hand pages do:
Writing Sample, front of page. (430Kb image file) 
Writing Sample, back of page. (340Kb image file)The soft, matte-finish leatherette cover might be a bit of a concern – it seems as if the elastic will mark it quite easily, and I can imagine it will be a bit scuffed before too long. A notebook like this would tend to live between my handbag and my work satchel, so I think this pampered lifestyle will see mine hold up well.
Overall, it's a nice notebook. Ideally, the cover should be made non-matte and more durable, and the paper should be changed to regular Rhodia velum-finish – white is fine, no need for ivory.
I'll enjoy the A6 Webnotebook that I have, but I cannot see myself buying more.
