Finally! My review of the Canteo Notebook

[biffybeans]

Click here for full review with pictures

 

Review: Swiss-Made Canteo Notebook. Now, if we could only get our hands on them...

 

The almighty Canteo Notebook. Swiss made, with nice attention to detail. This is the current version of the book, as it will soon be undergoing some slight modifications. Per Rolf at the Biella Group: "The production lot for 2009 will be made with a more resistant cover material - longer lasting. What means: better. And some slight revision on the silver embossing seal on the back. But the functions, the goodies and the 100grs FSC-paper will of course remain the same."

 

A full line of notebooks are available in A4, A5 and A6 sizes, in plain, lined or squared versions. The also make diaries, address books - it's really a very complete lineup.

 

192 pages of 100gm cream colored paper.

 

Logo on the bottom rear of the book.

 

The diagonal elastic closure acts as an ingenious pen clip. Goodies included with the Canteo include a pencil, and a package of page clips.

 

Canteo clips. I love the little illustration on the package that shows how to use them.

 

Cover has rounded edges, but the paper corners are square. I prefer rounded edges on paper because as I get to the bottom of a page, squared corners tend to dig into my palm.

 

Cover is an Efalin fine linen. The manufacturer will be modifying the cover material on the new *improved* Canteo for better longevity.

 

Cover is stiff, but has a bit of flex.

 

Inside front pocket

 

Inside back pocket, which I am assuming can hold a piece of A6 paper that's been folded in half. Otherwise, I'm not sure how to use it....

 

The book lies absolutely flat. The book has a long printed ribbon bookmark which does not look as though it will fray.

 

The ruling is 6mm versus 5mm in a large Moleskine, or 8mm in a large Habana. 6 seems manageable to me. Ruling is a darker gray, and I personally find it a bit darker than I'm used to. I would probably want to use the plain book as opposed to the ruled.

 

A5 Canteo next to a large Moleskine.

 

While an A5 book is only slightly wider than a large Moleskine, I'm not used to that size and it initially seems to make writing a bit difficult for me when I don't use it on a flat surface. (I often like to sit in an easy chair with a book propped on my knee.) I could get used to it.

 

Moleskine on top of the Canteo to show the difference in paper color.

 

The Canteo paper is SO-MUCH-SMOOTHER than Moleskine paper, but it is not impervious to fountain pen ink. There was minimal bleed though (mostly with the .07 CI and the Midnight Blues ink) and only the slightest feathering. (Needed a magnifying glass to see it.)

 

Did I say how smooth the paper is? It's not shiny like a Clairefontaine, and ink doesn't seem to take as long to dry as it does on Rhodia/Clairefontaine.

 

It also seemed to take watercolor paint fairly well but there was a little bleed through and strangely, the paint would sometimes resist the paper. (Look closely at the purple part to see what I mean)

 

Reverse of the page

 

Note: writing on the reverse of the page is as smooth as the front, unlike Moleskine which is a (Potty Mouth) shoot...

 

Close-up of minimal bleed-through.

 

In closing, there are currently no US retailers carrying this product, and I had a very difficult time trying to decipher where they might be available online in the rest of the world. The updated version is to be available online (US) in the summer of 2009.

 

I also wasn't able to figure out how much they would cost in US dollars. It seems as though it's somewhere in the $20-$30 range, which makes them fairly pricey, but if you appreciate a well made product (with only the most minor need for improvement) then it's probably worth the money- because overall, it's a pretty nice writing experience.

 

Link to a previous review of the Canteo on the Fountain Pen Network

[stevlight]

Biffybeans--Another GREAT review--really want one of these. Please keep us posted as to when we can get one in the US.

[biffybeans]

No problem.

 

Biffybeans--Another GREAT review--really want one of these. Please keep us posted as to when we can get one in the US.

 

[biffybeans]

Just received an e-mail from Rolf - he provided me with additional information and updates on the Canteo. I've added that infor to my blog: http://biffybeans.blogspot.com/2008/11/rev...tebook-now.html

 

 

First, there's one thing I have to state more precisely: The Canteo journals are not made in Switzerland. The brand is swiss, the range is developped in Switzerland. And it's predecessor is the legendary "Bundesordner - Classeur fédéral" - product range. All swiss. But in Switzerland, there is no more manufacturer that would be able to produce Canteo as it is. So, we had to find a fitting partner to offer Canteo-journals with the attributes it should have to be Canteo. We found that notebook-production-partner in Corea. I visited this factory in summer 2007. And I did never see such state-of-the-art technical equipment for printing and thread stitching in Europe. Thread stitching is the best possible technique to bind books. It allows the book to lie absolutely flat and to avoid securely a loss of sheets during use. The factory combines technical advance with a quality consciousness which is on the same level as the swiss. This is why they are the perfect fitting production-partner for this range. We know, there are other countries where one could source books cheaper - but with the well-known limitaitons in quality. No option for us.

The lever arch files, dividers and document folders (other products from the Canteo-range) are indeed swiss made - Because for these product families, Biella's own facility is one of the leading on the market.

 

About the details in your review:

_The silver embossing on the back cover will remain silver, but it will be modified. Just a question of design.

_The index Clips will wear the logo of CANTEO - instead of the swiss cross. We want to establish more the brand name CANTEO.

_The back-pockets are built-in for putting the available supplemental booklets into it: monthly planner, address-booklet or blank notes.

_The print of the ruling: We will try to print the lines even thinner. Or if that doesn't work, we'd choose a lighter grey. We already work on that.

_Canteo WILL be available online in the US in 2009. Preciser data will follow in the newsletter.

_The price-range you describe is quite correct. But it is not yet precisely defined. We work on these issues actually with the importer.

[misterh]

Great review, thanks also for the update. I really want to try one of these, but have been unable to find any information as to when they may be available in the UK. I will keep checking and hope that there will be developments in 2009.

Edited November 11, 2008 by misterh

[Beardy]

Looks like a big improvement over my Moleskine—which I do still use occasionally, just not as much as my pre-FP days. I'd be interested in these when they hit the USA, but that price is a little high.

 

Edit: Oh, and thanks for the review!

Edited November 11, 2008 by Beardy

[nkk]

Truthfully, I wish they would keep the Swiss cross on the clips, as opposed to the brand name. I just like them more, makes it seem like a more elegant accesory to use.

 

Great review, and I agree. I have the grid one (A4), and had less bleedthrough (MB B-B in a Reform 1745) than you described.

 

Thanks,

Nkk

[nails]

About the details in your review:

_The back-pockets are built-in for putting the available supplemental booklets into it: monthly planner, address-booklet or blank notes.

 

Thanks for the update. Supplemental booklets? That sounds very intriguing. I can't wait for these to be available.

[biffybeans]

Look at this page - http://www.canteo.ch/e/sortiment.asp and scroll the bar to the right and you will see the supplemental booklets.

 

 

Supplemental booklets? That sounds very intriguing. I can't wait for these to be available.

 

[zerobuttons]

.....

Review: Swiss-Made Canteo Notebook. Now, if we could only get our hands on them...

.....

I´m in Europe, and I cannot get my hands on them either. The company that apparently owns the trade mark, Biella Switzerland (a Company in the Billa Group) has made it clear to me that they don´t wish to market the notebooks outside Switzerland. They did that in the following manner:

 

I found the contact information in the www.canteo.ch page, and wrote to the first email address: info@canteo.ch to ask about dealers in Europe. The email bounced from the canteo.ch mail server with a message telling me that this email address is not in use.

I tried the next address: info@biella.ch and recieved this answer today:

Dear Mr. [removed],

many thanks for your demand. We are sorry but have no representative in the mentioned countries and do not sale in small quantities for individual use.

Thanks again for your kind interest and best regards.

Katia Schwab

Export Sales Representative

I had, in my email, asked about sales representation in Denmark, Germany or the UK. Since Biella´s export sales representative answers to only exactly that, I have now written to them once more and asked whether or not they have sales representation in any European country besides Switzerland.....

 

 

[zerobuttons]

.....

I have now written to them once more and asked whether or not they have sales representation in any European country besides Switzerland.....

.....and the dear girl responded promptly and pointed me to list of Biella offices in different Europen countries. She did return today, however, with another message in which she told me that the Canteo product range is available in the Netherlands, Belgium and Portugal. There will be a list of actual dealers at www.canteo.eu after the end of week 49 (last workday in that week is Friday 5. December 2008). She also claims that Biella is actively hunting for distribution partners for the Canteo product range.

Stephanie PM´ed me with the contact details for a Canteo representative whose name I have seen mentioned in the Canteo related threads here, earlier. I´ll wait and see what has happened by the end of week 49. If I cannot get hold of a dealer that can sell to me in Denmark, through information that should be available by then, I will perhaps contact this person.

 

[biffybeans]

Cool Beans. Keep us posted!

 

.....

I have now written to them once more and asked whether or not they have sales representation in any European country besides Switzerland.....

.....and the dear girl responded promptly and pointed me to list of Biella offices in different Europen countries. She did return today, however, with another message in which she told me that the Canteo product range is available in the Netherlands, Belgium and Portugal. There will be a list of actual dealers at www.canteo.eu after the end of week 49 (last workday in that week is Friday 5. December 2008). She also claims that Biella is actively hunting for distribution partners for the Canteo product range.

Stephanie PM´ed me with the contact details for a Canteo representative whose name I have seen mentioned in the Canteo related threads here, earlier. I´ll wait and see what has happened by the end of week 49. If I cannot get hold of a dealer that can sell to me in Denmark, through information that should be available by then, I will perhaps contact this person.

 

[dandelion]

Thanks for an excellent review - especially the pics. I'm (as always) in the hunt for the perfect notebook and this seems to be something worth chasing.

Petra

[Splicer]

My one and only complaint about my Canteo: I think the ruling is too generous. However, that mightn't have been an issue for me if I'd gotten an A5 instead of A6.

 

Also, the diagonal closure is very cool, but stresses the notebook in a non-uniform manner. Over time (I've had mine for six months) the notebook "leans" to one side. That gives it some personality, but I suspect it doesn't bode well for the overall durability of the notebook.

[biffybeans]

Having just finished up a Mole, I decided to take the Canteo for the full ride. I'm with you on the ruling. It is too wide, even in the A5. I feel like I'm writing on loose leaf paper in high school.

 

 

My one and only complaint about my Canteo: I think the ruling is too generous. However, that mightn't have been an issue for me if I'd gotten an A5 instead of A6.

 

Also, the diagonal closure is very cool, but stresses the notebook in a non-uniform manner. Over time (I've had mine for six months) the notebook "leans" to one side. That gives it some personality, but I suspect it doesn't bode well for the overall durability of the notebook.

 

[xena]

If it comes into the same price range as the mole in its 2009 debut, I'll try one. Till then, I have been relatively pleased with my moleskines.

[biffybeans]

Just a quick update as I am about 1/4 t0 1/3 of the way through the Canteo. It's really not for me. The book is too wide for me and so is the ruling. I'm also not keen on how thick the paper is. This is all personal preference, it still is a great book for people looking for these features.

[chainwhip]

I received my Canteo notebooks today and it seems they've been listening to your feedback BiffyBeans - the page corners are now rounded (I purchased the A5 and A6 blank notebooks).

[biffybeans]

Sweet!

 

I received my Canteo notebooks today and it seems they've been listening to your feedback BiffyBeans - the page corners are now rounded (I purchased the A5 and A6 blank notebooks).

 

[nkk]

I received my Canteo notebooks today and it seems they've been listening to your feedback BiffyBeans - the page corners are now rounded (I purchased the A5 and A6 blank notebooks).

 

Purchased? As in not a free sample? Where/from whom?

 

THanks for the info,

Nkk