Arc New Notebook

[fpc]

Went by Staples the other day - they now have the Arc notebook with the disc at the top. Had to order extra

paper on line not carried in the store. It is the normal size not the smaller one.

 

Don

[ExcaliburZ]

So reporter or legal pad style, okay interesting.

[KBeezie]

I have one of these... I kind of like it, but the paper is slightly more expensive than I desire (though it does seem to be decent paper, but it's *almost* as expensive as Rhodia/Moleskine considering the # of pages and cost).

 

It feels great for on-the-go, but doesn't seem practical for long term storage. Plus it cost almost $50 to get a hole-puncher for it, and the one Staples sells makes the holes too tight for the disc, where it's better to get the Circa one which is made to be a little more free-moving on the disc.

 

But I do like how I can just buy a 2.50$ pack of discs in a larger size just to make the notebook larger capacity rather than buying a whole new $25 notebook.

Edited April 18, 2014 by KBeezie

[theverdictis]

I have one of these... I kind of like it, but the paper is slightly more expensive than I desire (though it does seem to be decent paper, but it's *almost* as expensive as Rhodia/Moleskine considering the # of pages and cost).

 

It feels great for on-the-go, but doesn't seem practical for long term storage. Plus it cost almost $50 to get a hole-puncher for it, and the one Staples sells makes the holes too tight for the disc, where it's better to get the Circa one which is made to be a little more free-moving on the disc.

 

But I do like how I can just buy a 2.50$ pack of discs in a larger size just to make the notebook larger capacity rather than buying a whole new $25 notebook.

Wow $50 dollars for a hole punch? Just a tad extreme. The price for good quality paper eh?

[KBeezie]

Wow $50 dollars for a hole punch? Just a tad extreme. The price for good quality paper eh?

 

 

$42.99 at Staples for the M by Staples 8-sheet capacity punch.

http://www.staples.com/M-by-Staples-Arc-System-Desktop-Punch-8-Sheet-Capacity/product_324688

 

eBay has a couple every so often that get to about the same price, but the Levenger Circa Universal Punch makes the same holes and fits better around the discs. (Staple's Arc seems to be a 'cheaper' version of what Levenger has, since it's like 80$ just for the covers for Levenger's Disc System.)

 

The Arc paper is 'ok', not the greatest but not the worst either. It's like $5-6 for a pack of 50 sheets, accessories like page dividers, pockets, post-it tabs etc range around $3-5 on average, the discs being between 2.49-3.49 depending on how big you want them (notebooks come with a 60-sheet capacity size disc, then can upgrade the disc to 150 and 200 sheet capacity). But simply put if I had the hole puncher there's paper that I prefer that I can get a full ream of for cheaper with just normal college ruled lines.

 

PS: I Got a write sample on the Arc Paper in here:

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php/topic/264921-write-samples-of-various-paper-around-houseschooletc/

Edited April 18, 2014 by KBeezie

[Blue_Moon]

I've got an ARC system and love it. Never had any difficulties with my ARC punch - turning pages or otherwise. Also, no the paper is not Clairfontaine, but it's great paper.

[PJohnP]

There are regular sales at Staples on Arc notebooks and the supporting gear. I picked up the large Arc punch sometime back for 35 or 40% off of the regular price, but that may have been an outlier. Sales in the 25% or so range are more common. This applies as well to paper, discs, etc.

 

The Circa punches come up on eBay pretty regularly, too. I acquired one sometime back for maybe 50% of the regular price. One has to be cognizant that there is an "old" and a "new" punch design with the latter one having the slightly larger punches for the "smurfs". However, since the Circa desk punch, not the portable one, is built like a tank out of good metal, the punch should be sound for many years of usage, making the pre-page-punch-cost pretty low.

 

With Office Depot entering the fray with their own Circa/Arc sort of notebook this year, I anticipate seeing more competitive prices.

 

On the paper front, using Double-A paper, available again at OD, makes the cost for an excellent FP quality paper for almost any format pretty simple and relatively cheap.

 

 

 

John P.

Edited April 18, 2014 by PJohnP

[KBeezie]

The 40% off coupon works for the arc hole puncher in store, just got it, that coupon expires tomorrow.

[MissChief]

I have two of the ARC notebooks now, one Junior and one full size. I love them! I did buy the punch and, with the 32 lb Xerox Expressions paper I bought through work, I'm happy.

[KBeezie]

So got some 1" rings for my leather notebook, then using the hole punch and spare 60-page rings, I made this out of some old file cabinet dividers. (some of the arc paper, the rest the G&P Super Premium [28lb, 97 bright])

 

 

[Gloucesterman]

The hole punch is a very worthwhile investment. It lets you punch anything, even already 3 hole punched stuff, to fit into and ARC/Circa set up.

 

If you have the ARC punch, you DON'T have to buy all new divider or anything else.

 

BTW, +1 for checking out Staples' often repeated 40% discount on ARC stuff. (okay, sometimes it's only 25%).

Edited April 18, 2014 by brgmarketing

[KBeezie]

The hole punch is a very worthwhile investment. It lets you punch anything, even already 3 hole punched stuff, to fit into and ARC/Circa set up.

 

If you have the ARC punch, you DON'T have to buy all new divider or anything else.

 

BTW, +1 for checking out Staples' often repeated 40% discount on ARC stuff. (okay, sometimes it's only 25%).

 

Yea I noticed the holes don't interfere with the 3-ring holes if you got them pre-punched, which means you can in essence buy the cheaper notebook dividers if you don't just want to make one of your own. I was able to punch a bunch of Mead grid paper which already has the 3-hole punch, but the arc punch doesn't interfere with those.

 

I wonder what's the heaviest cardstock/vinyl the punch can handle individually, if it can do 8 @ 24lb (seems like 6 is the limit for 28lb)

[wikeh2004]

 

 

$42.99 at Staples for the M by Staples 8-sheet capacity punch.

http://www.staples.com/M-by-Staples-Arc-System-Desktop-Punch-8-Sheet-Capacity/product_324688

 

eBay has a couple every so often that get to about the same price, but the Levenger Circa Universal Punch makes the same holes and fits better around the discs. (Staple's Arc seems to be a 'cheaper' version of what Levenger has, since it's like 80$ just for the covers for Levenger's Disc System.)

 

The Arc paper is 'ok', not the greatest but not the worst either. It's like $5-6 for a pack of 50 sheets, accessories like page dividers, pockets, post-it tabs etc range around $3-5 on average, the discs being between 2.49-3.49 depending on how big you want them (notebooks come with a 60-sheet capacity size disc, then can upgrade the disc to 150 and 200 sheet capacity). But simply put if I had the hole puncher there's paper that I prefer that I can get a full ream of for cheaper with just normal college ruled lines.

 

PS: I Got a write sample on the Arc Paper in here:

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php/topic/264921-write-samples-of-various-paper-around-houseschooletc/

 

Levenger has two desktop punches, one for 6 sheets and a heavy duty one for 15 sheets. Kinda below and above the Staples punch. Levenger's are more expensive, as you'd expect, but they changed them a few years ago to punch slightly larger holes. That makes moving the paper a lot smoother. Makes a difference. http://www.levenger.com/Circa-Notebooks-326/Circa-Punches-328.aspx

 

I bought the standard desktop punch and use it all the time with decent quality paper such as HP Premium or Hammermill. It will take a while, but you can save money buying your own paper and punching them yourself. Plus, that means you can also print custom designs on the pages (and sizes) to suit your needs, not to mention making your own covers, dividers, tabs, index cards, notebooks, pads, etc.

 

So yeah, the initial cost of the punch is high, but the versatility and long-term savings are real.

 

I've punched single sheets of 80lb cardstock or thin plastic index dividers. Circa/Arc discs are good for making 3x5 reporter style little notebooks that fit in your shirt pocket! Stole the idea from Levenger. http://www.levenger.com/Circa-Notebooks-326/Circa-Notebooks-339/Circa-Jotlet-Translucent-Notebook-5654.aspx

 

With two discs, you can make one that uses business card size cardstock paper. That was their idea too, but they don't sell that size anymore.

[kitsrock]

I have the leather-bound one that I use as a planner and meeting notes. I plan on using it in conjunction with the stapler and Staples Sustainable Earth Sugarcane Paper and print styles I want.

 

I'm currently debating between Cornell Lined and Cornell Graph while I work through my stock paper.