Circa/arc System

[ClassicHippie]

I've done tons of reading about the Circa/Arc system and while it looks great, I guess I don't really understand what makes it so much better than a regular binder. Either one allows rearranging of papers and a variety of size options. Pleas help me understand what makes the Circa a superior option.

[AlecG]

I can only think of it being a little bit smaller and less obtrusive?

But otherwise I haven't understood either the big deal about circa and the likes.

[jmw19]

Well, both have their strengths and weaknesses.

 

I think the multiple disks of the Circa/Arc system hold the paper better than three-ring binders, and with the open shape of the "mushrooms", it seems more resistant to tearing out. Then again, the little reinforcements for three-ring punched pages are easier to find than their Circa counterparts.

 

I find the multiple disks a little easier on my wrist when writing (I'm a leftie). They're closer together, and so have more even distribution of pressure. Often I write on the "back" of the page, with whatever binding method along the right edge of the page.

 

Three-ring binders need to be clicked open and shut each time a page is moved, while Circa pages can simply be lifted out (with a neat accompanying sound), and pressed back into place in their new location. The three-ring binder is probably faster, especially for a letter-sized page, but it's much less distracting in a group setting.

[jleeper]

For me Circa is much more portable. I can open my Circa notebook and fold the front cover completely behind the back cover, like a spiral notebook, so that I have a notebook only a little more surface area than the sheet of paper I am writing on. With a 3-ring binder, I can't fold the cover back completely and I'm stuck with something that is 17x11 plus size when open. I just can't prop that up on my knee and write with it. And it a meeting, the 3-ring just takes up too much space on the table.

 

In a briefcase, the Circa is much thinner with the equivalent number of pages.

 

Personally, I find the system a little less secure than a 3-ring, and it seems easier to mess up the edge of Circa. For permanence, I'd go with 3-ring, for portability, Circa.

Edited January 19, 2011 by jleeper

[tdcackler]

For me, I like that I have a small pocket notebook and a large letter notebook that I can put the smaller pages in with not additional punching. When I travel, I like to get info from people I meet and that goes back into my larger notebook back at my "homebase" daily so I don't loose it. To me, that's the biggest perk of the Circa/Arc System.

[Roberto_Notecardo]

Since the disks are equidistant in their spacing, you can transfer punched documents from one size notebook to any other. This offers great flexibility. For instance, I carry notecards extensively (hence the "notecardo" handle) and can circa punch them for archiving in any size notebook. If I want to transfer from one size notebook to another, no problem!

[ArchiMark]

Having used both systems, the main advantages of the circa system are flexibility in the sense that

 

A. you can easily, quickly, and quietly (important in meetings...) rearrange pages without having open and close binder rings....Also, don't have to worry about binder rings that get misaligned sometimes and binder doesn't close fully, etc....

 

B. you can easily create your own binder with circa discs by punching cover pages yourself and

 

C. you can later on when binder gets full either put pages into a new binder with larger discs or archive some pages and keep going, etc...

 

Having said all this, obviously, both systems work, so, in the end, it's really a matter of personal preference and what's most important to fit your needs...

[Conan the Grammarian]

Circa/Arc

• The Circa/Arc notebooks are slimmer. They fit more easily in a bag or briefcase and are easier to carry around the office than a three-ring binder.
  
• Because the mushroom punchouts are equally sized and spread down the edge of the page, pages can be transferred from any size notebook into any other size notebook (works better if the receiving notebook is larger).
  
• Business cards and smaller note cards can be punched to fit a Circa notebook (the rings are too far apart to punch a business card to fit a letter-sized three-ring binder).
  
• Style. The Circa/Arc systems look stylish and are different than most other notetaking materials (spiral, three-ring, folio pad).
  
• Large amount of accessories to meet any needs. Levenger offers a wide range of accessories to the Circa line that will fill in any blanks in a user's personal filing and notetaking system.
  

 

 

Three-Ring Binder

• Ubiquity. Three-ring binders and hole punches are available in any office.
  
• Loose papers can easily be stashed in a three-ring binder and punched to fit later.
  
• Inexpensive to add or replace binders. Three-ring binders can be purchased at any office supply store and can be easily filed according to color, size, etc. on shelves.
  
• Spine for labelling. Three-ring binders have a spine to which a label can be attached making the contents of the notebook known without removing the binder from the shelf and looking inside.
  
• Accessories. Dividers, pockets, rulers, etc. that fit inside a three-ring binder are inexpensive and available in any office supply store.
  
• Once removed from a three-ring binder, the loose pages are easily stacked up and even mixed with non-punched paper. Circa/Arc pages tend to have the edges of the mushroom punchout turned up which makes stacking them as loose pages difficult.
  

 

It really comes down to personal preference and long-term storage needs.

Edited January 19, 2011 by Conan the Grammarian

[jsonewald]

Conan ... summed up the differences pretty well. From trying both, I prefer the 3 ring style.

 

The Circa/Arc system is really attractive, and the ability to mix small and full size pages in a single full size binder is useful. The generally slim nature of the binders is also an advantage. However, a usable punch is really expensive, and I found that the pages didn't withstand the continual "in and out of a carry bag" handling that I subjected it to with a moderate travel schedule.

 

My wife uses a Circa system heavily, and is very happy with it, however she is also a 100% office worker.

[physicsgirl]

You can fold it over like a spiral bound notebook.

 

The pages also stay in the binder better. Every 3 ring binder I used always had pages ripping out of it, and I always had to use those little page reinforcers.

[LuckyDog10]

Avery now makes a 3 ring binder with a flip-back cover for note-taking:

 

Avery Flip Back 360

 

I've not tried one yet, but I will soon. The ubiquity of the 3 hole punch is my primary reason for using the traditional binder system, so if this notebook is a failure, I'll just go back to my usual 1/2" standard binder.

[jleeper]

The Avery Flip Back does allow you to fold the front completely back, but it is too easy to tear the punched holes of the paper. I wish this worked, but for my purpose, it just doesn't.

Edited January 20, 2011 by jleeper

[ClassicHippie]

Are there any issues with durability of the Circa being carried and taken in/out of a backpack frequently?

 

Is the weight comparable to that of a binder?

 

If I used the Circa as a student, would any handouts need to be kept in a separate folder and punched at home or is there a pocket option?

Edited January 20, 2011 by ClassicHippie

[AlecG]

There is a 23 ring system in Europe, where there is much less tear out. It's a bit heavier then a four ring system, but it works fine.

[Conan the Grammarian]

If I used the Circa as a student, would any handouts need to be kept in a separate folder and punched at home or is there a pocket option?

 

There's not really a pocket option in the base leather notebooks. There is a pocket in both the Circa and the Arc systesm, but it's not functional for carrying more than a few pages. The non-leather versions don't have pockets, but they can be purchased separately (you can also do that with the leather versions) and will easily handle loose pages.

 

In addition, you can get larger rings (from Levenger) and dividers and personalize the system quite nicely, turning it into a multi-subject notebook.

 

The clear covers on the Levenger version mean you can create your own top page which essentially means you're creating your own cover.

 

Are there any issues with durability of the Circa being carried and taken in/out of a backpack frequently?

 

I've carried mine as a consultant on and off planes and into various offices quite a bit and had no issues with durability.

 

Is the weight comparable to that of a binder?

 

Pretty comparable.

 

It's not as bulky as a binder, so it's a little easier to slip into a briefcase or messenger bag.

[Conan the Grammarian]

One thing that bugs me with three-ring binders is that if I don't use sheet lifters, the act of closing the binder traps papers between the top cover and the binding mechanism resulting in bent or torn pages. I have to fold all the pages back over and then close the binder. I don't find myself having to do this with the Circa/Arc system.

 

Neither system allows you to yank or flip haphazardly through the pages with no consequences in the way that you could with a bound (spiral, sewn, etc.) notebook. You must be somewhat gentle with either system (probably more so with the Circa/Arc due to it not having a closed loop on the page for binding).

[ClassicHippie]

I went to Staples yesterday and I like their Arc system a lot. It's definitely cheaper than the Circa, however, the one thing holding me back is the lack of an Arc punch (or the expense of a Circa punch).

 

Is it worth the investment? Does the cheaper portable one work as well?

[Conan the Grammarian]

I bit the bullet and bought the full-sized one a few years ago. It worked for me. I've never used the portable, so I can't comment on it. I did speak to someone who said it worked for small amounts of paper.

 

You could always hold off buying a punch and stash your loose papers in a pocket page. Then, if you really like the system, you could spring for a punch. If you don't like the system, then you can three-hole punch your loose papers and copy your notes into a new notebook.

[caligatia]

Rollabind are the ones who originally made the disc-bound system, and I've used their stuff mixed in with Circa with no problems. Rollabind is also cheaper. I bought the smaller (portable punch) for $29, which is $10 less than the Circa model. They also have a one-page notebook punch for $12.95. I haven't used that one. Yet!

[inkyindi]

i bought the metal levenger punch a few years ago and it has really paid for itself. it's an absolute workhorse. sometimes folks will sell punches on ebay, so you can try to get a bargain there.

 

i didn't get the portable punch for the circa system but i did get one when i used the junior franklin covey system and it just never really worked out for me. the portable punch, that is. i use the leftover blank fc pages with my circa punch to save paper.