» Soft Cover Notebooks
We have recently received several requests for soft cover notebooks. 
“Any plans to make the webnotebooks in SOFT cover? I’ve been using the webby, and love them, but I wish it came in soft cover!”
Rhodia does not make a soft cover Webby. Should we? Do you think there would be a large enough demand vs. hardcover?
The Rhodia Unlimited pocket notebook has a very soft touch cover. However, it has a lot less sheets than a Webnotebook, and only comes in pocket size. Our sales for the Unlimited continue to grow, especially since it is now available in ruled as well as grid.
The ePure line by Rhodia (which is currently not imported to the US since the paper is made in Asia, not France,) includes soft cover leather journals and a thin, flexible leatherette cover. Both are available in large and pocket. The leatherette version is thicker than a Webby.
I have a few samples of ePure available if Webby owners want to try them out and share what they experience with others on Rhodia Drive. Please comment and let me know of your interest.
Comments
I would definitely be interested in trying out an ePure!
I’ll ask the zentanglers what they think about softcover. It would be lighter and more portable. If the price were less than hardbound, I think it would be very popular.
Well, I might not be what you are looking for – I’m looking for a new sketchbook. Basically, I love Rhodia paper, and have a little stack of dotPads that I love to draw on – but they leave me with stacks of loose papers!
I draw in pen and ink, fountain pen, and pencil. If you are looking for a doodler to try out a notebook, I’d love to volunteer!
I don’t have a Webbie sadly :( My local Rhodia retailer (Librerías Lápiz López in Chile) seems to have stopped getting new products and they’re selling the stock that’s left. I really wanted a Dot Webbie, blah.
I’m of two minds. If I used the softcovers for manuscripts, it might be really attractive. Currently 4 Clairefontaine staplebounds = 40k typed words and are easy to fold back on themselves with a clip when I transcribe to the computer. I use webbies for writer’s conferences, journals, etc. I’d have to feel how the thickness works in bending for transcription, the line width, etc. Is it the same absorbancy as the current Webbie paper? I do a lot of my hot and furious manuscript drafting using 3B nibs. I don’t mind using only 1 side of the paper if they don’t fold completely back on themselves, but I WOULD be annoyed if the ink bled through like it did on the old Webbie v1 paper or the 64g on so many other products.
How’s the line width? I don’t want anything so narrow that it slows me down and breaks the flow.
But I WOULD love something easy to clutch to myself on a lapdesk and easier to transcribe to the computer. Yell if you think I’m a good test subject. I’ll need to start a new notebook in roughly 10-14 days. Otherwise, I’ll check in for the results. I currently buy the multi-packs of the Clairefontaine staple or soft bound, preference for staple due to the easy bend. But I’ve also gotten my hands on some of the top stapled Rhodia pads with the perforated tops to pages that are pre-punched and I’m looking to try those for the next manuscript when this is done. So I am looking for a new product/format.
I would love to try the ePure and report back for the avid readers of the blog.
I would love to try one out!
If you would be so kind as to bless me with an EPure, I’d give it a go and write a review for you. I’m strictly a writer and not a graphic artist, but if you’d like a ink/pen review I’d be more than happy to help.
As for the hard/soft cover Webbie, I have the hardcover Dotweb notebook I won last year and what I like most about it is that i can sit with it on my lap when I write and I don’t need a lapdesk or a table. I’m not sure if that would be the same for a softcover, but a softcover might fit better in my bag. There are tradeoffs in every product though so I’m not sure – I’d have to try one. I’m not against softcover notebooks in general though. Some of my favorite journals have been softcovered ones.
Would love to try one. I use moleskines a lot for their soft colors, the quality of the paper does not thrill me… Love your hardcovers for home use, but not to keep in my purse and work bag where I need to be as light as possible….
I would be more than delighted to try out the ePure line. Probably would make good use for note taking at cooking and painting classes.
I would love a soft-cover dot or narrow lined Webbie! The perfect notebook for me would be Rhodia dot or 5-6mm lined paper in a pocket Moleskine soft cover. The hard covered Webbies are classy but I prefer a flexible soft cover for notebooks that I carry in my purse.
I am a Notebook freak from India. I have tried out hundreds from all over the world and am ever hungry for more. Would just love to try out an Rhodia ePure Softcover and give a feedback on your blog. Try me!
I carry the unlimited with me everywhere in my pocket. I didn’t know there was a Dot version available. A larger version (soft-sided Webbie) would my new capture journal of choice!
I love the dot webbie and would enjoy it even more it if were a soft cover. Other than my dot webbie, the majority of my books are soft. I would happily test out a soft cover and report back my findings to you. I feel I could write a fair critique since I’m such a soft cover lover already.
Count me in the ‘love the Webnotebook, would love it even more in softback’ camp. I recently tried out a softback Leichturm notebook, and while its paper can’t compare to Rhodia’s, the overall feel of the book is great, and much neater and lighter in a bag.
I would love to try an ePure, were one available.
Jonathan, I also just finished a leuchtturm soft cover and I really enjoyed using it. You cannot compare the paper to Rhodia, but I liked the format and the feel of it. In fact I had to be careful what I wrote with in it as some inks take a LONG time to dry in the leuchtturm.
CurtisB: I *really* had intended to check the spelling of Leuchtturm before I submitted that. Evidently I forgot.
Anyway: yes, they have a lovely feel. Regarding the drying times, I’m currently writing in mine using the J Herbin Rollerball pen (the one that takes fountain ink cartridges): I actually find drying time to be OK, but concurrently, there is reasonably bad feathering. Of course, this isn’t the case with Clairefontaine paper, which is why a softback Webbie is my dream notebook right now.
I make sure to be the first of my friends and fellow coffeehouse regulars to show off my Rhoda notebooks and journals, and can tell you that I am constantly asked about all of my Rhodia gear including my webbie, however if I showed up with a softcover journal like what you are describing I would be the envy of all. I am a slightly obsessed with Rhodia and Clairefontaine products guy, and I have every shape size and well two colors when it comes to Rhodia which I love of everything I can get in the U.S. I think a softcover is a great idea and would be a great success. And, yes I would love to take one for a test ride. <3 Bodah
I would love to try one out!
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