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Hello! I just recently posted a long (and very picture heavy) review of the Arc notebook system from Staples on my blog. If you would like to read it, you can find it here. However, in case you don't have time to head over there and read the full post, here's my closing thoughts: Overall, I highly recommend this notebook system if you are looking for something more polished than a binder but that has all the same wonderful features and conveniences. They aren’t cheap, at ~$25 for the basic leather notebook, $3+ per accessory and refill pack, and ~$45 got the punch. On the other hand, I’ve heard this system is much more affordable than the one by Levenger while looking just as nice, so the cost issue will have to be a personal decision. I can tell you that I think you get a lot of utility for your money, and I haven’t regretted my purchase at all.

Does anyone own or has anyone owned these hole punchers. I just bought the Staples Arc punch. I have heard that the Levenger Circa punch punches a bigger hole, so it is easier to turn the pages when installed. Is it true that it punches a bigger hole than the Staples brand Arc puncher, or is the hole the same size? Price is not an issue. I will get whichever one functions better. Will the Levenger last a long time, or is it just an expensive piece of junk? With the Levenger Circa Leverage punch, I estimate I can fit about 10 pages to punch at once (I will use 32 lb bond / 120 gsm). With the Staples Arc punch, I can only fit about 7 pages to punch at once, and most of the pages have come out slanted. I may have gotten a defective one. The slanted-ness may have been affecting the ease of page-turning and making it tougher, maybe even more so than the small holes. Should I be exchanging or returning?

The Visconti Millenium Arc Moonlight Rainbow Fountain Pen - Design resembles the time from past to future. Visconti entitles the Millenium Arc design indicating the merger of the arc of time with the arc of history ( time in motion for 2000 years). The arc represents the continuity of time, from the past to the future as we know that without a past there can be no future. Now available in store! Stop by and see it or purchase via the website or by calling 410-992-3272.

I'm starting to use discbound systems and have liked Arc a lot so far, but hear that the Levenger Circa aluminum discs are easier to turn pages on than the plastic Staples discs, does anyone here have personal experience with this they can share?

Just saw the ad for week of 1/5 -1/11 2014 @ Staples (in the U.S.) 40% discount with the ad to be found at: http://weeklyad.staples.com/StaplesSD/LandingPage?storeid=2278777#!/store/2278777/promotion/Staples-140105 Check out the ad to find out if this is what you want. and good shopping!!!

For those who have been waiting, Staples is running a 40% off sale this week on Arc notebooks. The Staples Arc line of disk based notebooks is somewhat comparable in quality to the Levenger Circa series, but the MSRP at Staples is typically much less than Levenger. A 40% sale is about as good as it gets for these notebooks. Important Note : This is a "coupon needed" sale, so make sure that you have a downloaded and printed coupon before heading out to a Staples store ! Check the Staples site for the local "Weekly Sale" and then click on the coupon shown for your specific area. John P.

I've been searching for the best journal solution for my life/work flow, and I think I've finally found it. I'm an architect, and I write and draw with fountain pens all day. I take notes, I sketch, i doodle ideas for details, I make to-do lists and check them off. My criteria for an excellent journal: - Must have excellent, smooth, top quality paper. No bleedthrough, feathering, minimal ghosting. I'm a Clairfontaine guy. - A5 is the perfect size for me. - For note taking and basic journaling, I like lined white paper. - For sketching, I prefer blank white or cream paper. - I work through one journal after another, and I archive them all for future reference. - I like pockets in my journal for business cards, receipts, little shreds of paper, etc. I've tried all of the basic choices: Rhodia Webbie, Habana, Leuchtturm. All good, but all having some drawback or minor/major inconvenience that caused me to move on. For the last couple of years, I settled in on the Clairefontaine Basic Clothbound A5, which is excellent, but I've found it difficult because it doesn't lie flat, and when you get to the end of the book, it's a real pain to write in. So, I decided to try a Circa Junior Lev-Tex Notebook, which was on sale. And now, after six months or so, I am a big Circa fan. http://i646.photobucket.com/albums/uu188/ErikEvens/IMG_2913_zps6d15aac2.jpg http://i646.photobucket.com/albums/uu188/ErikEvens/IMG_2911_zpse8053239.jpg I think it's handsome and professional looking. I bought a punch and I can put any kind of paper in it I want. I have been using Clairefontaine Lined Triomphe, which is perfect for me. It's actually a bit less expensive than the Rhodia Circa from Levenger, and I just love it. Another big advantage for me is that I can also insert blank drawing pages anywhere I want. I punched some nice thick cream drawing paper, and I keep a bunch at the back of the journal. When I want to sketch, I pull a sheet out and insert it right into the current day's notes, and draw away. This is fantastic for my workflow. http://i646.photobucket.com/albums/uu188/ErikEvens/IMG_2915_zps433dee3e.jpg A few other advantages of this system: I can insert pockets for business cards, etc. (Got those from Staples. The Arc system is great and the accessory bits are fully compatible and cheaper). And the journal lays flat, which makes notetaking much easier. I added the nice ribbon bookmark as a custom modification. When I fill the journal, I take the pages out, and put them in an Archive Circa notebook which sits on the bookshelf, and add new paper. It's really an efficient way to store my notes. I was worried that removing and inserting sheets would be difficult, but it's really easy. http://i646.photobucket.com/albums/uu188/ErikEvens/IMG_2914_zps7fc7d5a5.jpg I held off posting about this until I had used this system for a few months, to see if I could find any problems with it. So far I have found none. I think this is just about perfect...for me, anyway -EKE

Just read the circular for the week of September 8 - 14. Staples is offering a 40% on ARC notebooks and (I think) accessories. Not sure if this offer includes the United Kingdom. See image of ad and check the Staples site for coupons or they are probably in the weekly circulars. BTW, please let me send me an PM here on FPN, know if I am violating any copyright issues by posting a copy of this ad and I will delete it if I can do so. No affiliation, just love sharing good discount news. Good luck and enjoy...