Moleskine Fact

[pshinkaw]

I discovered them for the first time last October. I use one of the small ones to log each roll of film that I load into a camera. That way I can recall which camera has film, what type it is and when I loaded it. I now know that since the beginning of November I shot 33 rolls of film and that I've had a roll of Efke 100 sittingf in my Nikon EM since December 15. Need to shoot that up.

Around here the franchise bookstores like Brentanos and Barnes & Noble sell them.

-Pauyl

 

[yossarian]

Poor Moles.

Brother, you said it. My dog has "played" with three moles which I have had to put
to rest, and they are so ugly they're adorable--and so, so, soft. Yes, I confess, I like
moleskin, but I am so conflicted....

Fred

 

[MP/CLE]

I think the tactile quality of my leicas is the same tactile quality that I find appealing in the moleskine. Its my protable desktop since I really can't get into the idea of a pda or blackberry.

 

[sf]

weird - an entire other obsession! I had no idea these things even existed, let alone that they would be such a massive hit!

gotta get one.

 

[lkgroup]

I keep extensive notes but in small index books, but I like these so i ordered a Moleskine Pocket Squared Notebook to keep my notes. Looks live about the right number of pages for a year. So a notebook each year.

Leo

 

[ywenz]

There are few things that I don't get. This, I'm afraid is one of them...

What happens when the paper run out? Do you have to get moleskin brand paper put in?

 

[andyturk]

A friend of mine turned me on to Moleskine and I'm hooked now. For what it's worth, the exterior pocket on the Domke F-5XB is a perfect match for the Moleskine large notebook. The main compartment of the bag also houses a rangefinder of and extra lens.

I load the outer pocket first with my Parker Sonnet (fine tip, Waterman ink) at the bottom and then the Moleskine, spine first, on top. The big notebook is for diary entries only and I don't like to muss it up with freeform notes, telephone numbers and such. For that, I also carry a pocket size Moleskine "cahiers" journal with the tear-out pages.

This combo worked perfectly during a 10-week romp through Southeast Asia last year. One of my favorite memories is pulling out the fountain pen to write a diary entry by candlelight on the steps of a Buddhist monastery in Myanmar.

 

[ywenz]

One of my favorite memories is pulling out the fountain pen to write a diary entry by candlelight on the steps of a Buddhist monastery in Myanmar.

Precisely the kind of marketing this type of product needs.

 

[MelanieC]

Wait, I'm confused. This is basically a pad of paper, but the cover is really soft?

I've finally decided that it might be profitable to write down notes when I take photos (shutter speed, aperture, etc. since I can never remember what I used and I basically don't meter), but I figure I can just enter that stuff into my datebook and then I'll know when I took pictures too. Do these things have a built-in organization system or something? And if so, can I get one implanted in my head?

 

[Trius]

Melanie: If you piss someone off sufficiently, I think one can be so implanted ... but it's gonna leave a mark. 😀

 

[DougK]

I admit, it's hard to explain the appeal of these notepads if you haven't used one. The cover is high quality as are the binding materialsand the paper used. They're meant to last for a long time, thus they make great journals.

Contrast with your average drugstore spiral-bound notepad, which is meant to record information as well but is not necessarily expected to last more than a few years (less, if you've seen the way I handle them).

I look at it this way: if it's worth taking the effort to commit to paper, then it's worth taking the time to do it right and make sure the words last as long as the photos they describe. I just wish my glass pen was more practical for casual carry so I could really write in style all the time.

 

[MelanieC]

Thanks for the explanation. I couldn't figure out if they had special features, or if it was simply that they are well made and a pleasure to use.

 

[MP/CLE]

I think "practical" features is a better description. The pages are hardbound, the covers are semi-hard and not flimsy, the rear, inside cover has a "binding facing" pocket to hold externally sourced (!) notes and an elastic band attached at the rear can quickly be folded over the front cover to hold the notebook closed. I think it is just more fun/pleasing/satisfying to use than your run of the mill notebook. Then there is the historical quality...

 

[markinlondon]

I think "practical" features is a better description. The pages are hardbound, the covers are semi-hard and not flimsy, the rear, inside cover has a "binding facing" pocket to hold externally sourced (!) notes and an elastic band attached at the rear can quickly be folded over the front cover to hold the notebook closed. I think it is just more fun/pleasing/satisfying to use than your run of the mill notebook. Then there is the historical quality...

Exactly!

I was turned on to these by my bookbinding partner who just loves the way they're made. They don't come unbound like some, the paper feels beautiful to write on and even gel ink doesn't smear and the pocket is invaluable for all those irritating little bits of paper you collect on a day out. I keep my Oyster card (London's electronic travel pass) and some sticky labels for labelling cassettes in mine.

Mark

 

[T_om]

Thanks for the explanation. I couldn't figure out if they had special features, or if it was simply that they are well made and a pleasure to use.

They are a pleasure to use because of their quality.

The special features include binding like a fine book instead of a throw-away found in Wal-Mart.

The signatures (groups of paper that make up the pages) are sewn in, not glued. There will never be a problem of pages falling out of a Moleskine, they are there for life, no matter how many times they are opened.

The cover is durable and waterproof.

The most pleasant thing about actually using them is that because of the construction, they lay really flat so writing that comes near the gutter is not such a pain.

Last, they are one of the least expensive high quality items you can treat yourself to. You get a lot for very little money.

Tom

 

[Jeroen]

I use plain A5 dummy books from a dump store. They cost me 2 euros a piece and are about two centimeters thick. I'd love to try a Moleskine too, someday - especially since I'm a journalist. Gotta have 'em.

 

[Memnon]

As mentioned earlier, I only write with fountain pens, moleskinpaper is very thin, comes out both sides. I use the litlle sketchbooks, blank cream thick paper, I use about 50 a year (2005) but this covers everything I do, job, hobby, photography, developing, meeting etc. etc. I have devised a colour code system which I have been using (and extending) since my time at university....
I allways carry a canvas/leather bag ( for my M6 ... now my M4 some films, extra lens or 2 and about 7-10 notebooks.
My wife getting sick of trying to locate my lost or misplaced notebooks bought me a palm 2 years ago.. I colour coded it and filed it between my 2004 notebooks.
I dislike things with batteries ......

Actually, I don't know if you know the IKEA billy bookcases, 60cm wide.. I have about 20 in my study, 1 is completely dedicated to my notebooks

 

[Gordon Coale]

And don't forget the ribbon place holder to keep your place in the 192 (pocket sized) pages.

 

[rpsawin]

Fie on all of you...lol. Once I realized what you were talking about I went on the website and placed an order. I really like the reporter style...

Bob

 

[PeterL]

I love them too. I started using one for day-to-day notes, then I bought one dedicated to notes about my dissertation. I do write using a fountain pen, but writing too much for 3 years after 7 years of hardly holding a pen is acting up: my writing hand now hurts so much I really cannot afford jotting down large amounts in such a tiny notebook anymore. I'm now using a cheapo A5 notebook for the dissertation notes.

However, after reading this thread, I'll probably tuck the first Moleskine into my coat pocket next to Zorki. The reporter style looks cool. And then I could of course get a larger Moleskine, though that would kinda beat the purpose of a carry-everywhere notebook. I'll think about it when I get back to regular job life and customer visits. I might go for an A5 Filofax, though, another high quality product, and the standard A5 size makes it easy to add your own inserts.


Peter.