Does Anyone Use Filo Faxes?

[theverdictis]

Hi,

 

Was thinking of getting a filo fax for my new job. Was wondering if anyone uses these? If so what is the paper like for FP'S? Or is it better to use a ball point? I'm considering spending some £££ on a really nice ball point. Any suggestions would be helpful?!

 

I have been looking at the Mont Blanc ball points, I understand that the Mont Verde refills are made for the MB ballpoints? Is this correct? Do the refills also fit over Ball points?

 

Thanks

[pmutze]

Not a true filofax 'binder', though I do use a 'filofax flex' which is basically a slightly more versatile journal cover. They'll accept any A5 notepad (eg Rhodia No.16) and so can use whatever paper you want and more suitable for taking notes imo. You can also alter the binding with an elastic band similar to a midori traveller cover. I've never used an actual filofax as they look like you'd need to hire a PA just to keep it organised, which defeats the purpose!

Edited May 26, 2014 by pmutze

[petravana]

I use an A5 Filofax. The paper that comes with the system is not very fountain pen friendly. Lots of bleed through. For my purposes it doesn't matter. It really depends on how you'll use it. I keep contacts in my phone and on my computer, so the only Filofax paper I use is their Diary/Calendar. For all other stuff I buy blank A5 paper, use it that way or print lines or dots on the sheets. All sorts of templates can be found on the web so you can make your own pages if you're so inclined. Philofaxy is a great resource: http://philofaxy.blogspot.com/p/files.html.

[madden11]

I do! I've used a personal size for several years now. In fact, my Avatar is a picture of my Osterly. Filofax paper is not FP friendly, but there are many choices. I use Louis Vuitton calandar inserts, which were a bit of a splurge, but I like the layout and they work for me. For my notes and to-do lists, I use RayMAy Da Vinci inserts from JetPens, which is Tomoe River paper. This is very FP compatible like the LV paper is, but at a fraction of the cost. I'm considering switching to the RayMay cal next year. I'm a member of the Philofaxy group mentioned by Petravana above, and they have lots of free inserts you can download and print on your own paper. (I've tried using some of these myself, but I haven't mastered printing front to back).

 

With both the LV and the RayMAy, I'd suggest using a pen with a F or EF nib.

 

My filofax is my PA and it keeps me organized!

[bogiesan]

careful your agenda/planner decision is not made based upon an imaginary status symbol. Neither Filofax nor Mont Blanc enjoy or deserve the same status they once held. Get a planner that has a page format and paper quality that suits your needs; there are literally hundreds of planner formats. Like leather and looseleaf? Get a binder that suits your style. There are hundreds on the market, Use a pen you enjoy writing with and that works well with your paper of choice.

[Guernseytim]

I have two, not because of status (I presume most people have forgotten they exist), but convenience.

 

My personal is ideal for work as I have a day per page diary with my hourly clinical slots individually marked so I know what clients I'm seeing that day. Similarly I can organise my time on my days I don't have clients.

 

My larger a5 one is my desk diary and houses my to do lists.

 

The a5 likes fountain pens more than the personal - maybe it's because I use different pens/different inks?

[madden11]

Well said Bogiesan. I discovered Filofax after finding myself unhappy with my regular bound planner after years of use. I loved the concept of the loose-leaf, very customizable system. But, neither Filofax nor Louis Vuitton (nor any number of creatively-priced pens for that matter) would be of any use if they didn't actually work for me and keep me organized and on task.

[_Stormin_]

This is one of those places where I've gone completely digital. My phone and computer are in sync, and that keeps my contacts and appointments all lined up. I have to much stuff that shifts around on my calendar to bother with a physical paper one.

 

Money I saved buying refills for the calendar and on the item itself, easily goes to more Rhodia for note taking throughout the day. Heck, given how much some of the calendar refills cost these days, one of them covers a six month supply.

[sotto2]

I used a Filofax Personal planner for 25 years (the same one). Looks great now, however it sits in a drawer since I discovered a Scully 5007A pocket-sized planner. Very compact, luxurious-smelling leather planner made in the Napa Valley. Outstanding craftsmanship. You buy annual inserts for it, and it also has a separate address book insert. I could never put the Filofax in my pocket.

 

The other day I was stunned to see a stack of about 15 brand-new Filofax Personals (red leather ones) at a garage sale, in their plastic wrap and filled with inserts, priced at $3 a piece. No one was paying any attention to them. Yesterday I saw that my wife, who had bought one, had thrown hers on a work bench in the garage with a bunch of other junk. So, that's where things apparently are with Filofaxes these days.

[Guernseytim]

It's all personal choice.

 

Ive tried using the functions a filofax has on both my iPhone, iMac and iPad but I never use them. I get bored really easily, end up looking on the internet, checking emails, wasting time instead.

 

It's healthy to be non-digital at times.

[Bigeddie]

I have had a number of filofax products, I found them all to rigid a system in the end. My Midori has replaced my Moleskine (slightly smaller than A4) desk diary and I now make my own week to view format from a gridded Midori notebook. From my experience: it's the system that has to work for you first, the paper quality is a secondary concern.

[RLTodd]

FiloFax is a little pricy in the States, so I skipped it and bought into the similar Day Timer system.

I used a Day Timer for about twenty years and found it extremely useful (I really wish I had discovered it in High School & College) and well worth the yearly cost of refills, which kept increasing.

 

The DayTimer paper was not especially fountain pen friendly, I only tried a couple of inks before staying with a pencil.

 

Now days I have much less to keep track of and just use my cellphone calendar.

[Cake]

I'm a regular user of Filofax-type agendas/planners because they work better for me than solely using an online calendar. The A5 is perfect for keeping track of personal and work appointments along with storing other information or papers. I find it's quicker to open the agenda to view or write a new appointment or jot a quick note, compared to taking the necessary steps to use the calendar on my iPhone. Also, since I work in a school, it isn't always ideal for me to have my phone with me, so the paper agenda is the next best thing.

 

The quality of the Filofax brand inserts isn't amazing, so I print calendars and such on better quality paper I've purchased at Staples.

Edited May 26, 2014 by Cake

[oregano]

I started using Filofax this year. Franklin Covey inserts have somewhat thicker paper--much less show-through than Filofax--with fine nibs, but the paper is not smooth like Filofax paper. Re: Filofax note paper, it is hard to write on both pages, but doable if you're using darker-colored paper (green or blue) instead of cream or yellow. Gel pens show through just as much as fountain pens.

 

[Tanzanite]

I use the Filofax A5 one day per page planner in a Burde binder. Burde has more fp friendly paper but the layout of Filofax suits me better. As other har commentet the Filofax paper is not fp friendly. I use a steel Pilot Frixion ball with eraseable ink.

[Namru]

I use a Midori for such things. Call me vain, call me shallow, but being a bright young thing I wouldn't actually want to use a Filofax, you know, in public. In my head, they sit in the Rolodex catorgory of things from the 80s. Plus, with the Midori I can just cut down an A5 Rhodia or Clairefontaine notebook and stick it in or print and bind my own stuff.

[Guernseytim]

I use a Midori for such things. Call me vain, call me shallow, but being a bright young thing I wouldn't actually want to use a Filofax, you know, in public. In my head, they sit in the Rolodex catorgory of things from the 80s. Plus, with the Midori I can just cut down an A5 Rhodia or Clairefontaine notebook and stick it in or print and bind my own stuff.

Retro stuff is trendy!

[da vinci]

Before you buy I'd have a look at the staples ARC system (fp friendly standard inserts and I print templates on fp friendly paper ). I love my Hobonichi planner.

 

I'd also have a look at a Yard o Led Retro ballpoint rather than a MB!

[Runnin_Ute]

I have been a Franklin planner user since 1986. Paper is ok, but could be better. The original green paper "may" be slightly better than the other designs. (I use the Monticello, which is a bright white paper with blue) I use electronic for some things, but for some things paper is best. I use the "Classic" size which is approximately A5 size. (81/2 x 51/2)

 

I tried a couple of other systems before settling on the Franklin. (Day Timer and one I don't recall what it was) Found that from top to bottom it worked best for me.

[hsianloon]

Tried using planners before for work, found it easier to digitalize everything.

 

Fpn's end up being just for study, letters, journals.