Circa question

[dragons in the flower bed]

I have read through the threads, looked at the webpages. Still, I wonder. What is the advantage to this system over the old one (ring binders)? I'm pretty happy with my three-hole punch and my binders, so why would I switch? What's the difference? Both make books with removable content, right?

[gandpsmommy]

I just don't get it. What is the draw? Why is it so much better? I want to understand; I really do! I just don't. I hope a circa enthusiast drops by and explains it for us.

[Karenciavo]

Here is the biggest plus in my home; my boys hate writing on paper in a three ring binder so they remove the paper to do the work and then 50% of the time it piles up until it gets back in, sometimes it gets lost. With Circa, their work stays in the book, no need to remove it and the cover folds back like a spiral bound book and they like that.

Once you buy the punch Circa books wind up being cheaper than binders (I reuse covers.) Rollabind rings from Ebay cost around $2-$3 a book. You can reuse the rings, but I haven't yet.

For some things I will continue to use binders; I can't imagine putting a TOG year plan into a Circa Notebook.

[Mama Lynx]

I hate them. They're clunky. I end up with piles of paper sitting aorund waiting for me to file them in the binder.

With the Circa, I think it will be easier to just have the boys put their own work in. It just *seems* easier to me than the clunky binder. Maybe it's not. But it *seems* that way, and perception is important.

For me this is the un-clunkiness of something spiral bound, but with the flexibility of a binder.

[dragons in the flower bed]

For me this is the un-clunkiness of something spiral bound, but with the flexibility of a binder.

Ah, I see. Right now, I don't use ebooks much because I neither want to snuggle with my kids and a binder nor my kids and a laptop. Maybe Circa would help with that problem.

[dragons in the flower bed]

Once you buy the punch Circa books wind up being cheaper than binders (I reuse covers.).

Not knowing how much covers cost, I think I'd have to make twenty books to make up the savings over buying, say, from Yesterday's Classics. At Lulu, maybe, 10 books? Hm . . . this is starting to look like a better idea.

[TraceyS/FL]

Here is the biggest plus in my home; my boys hate writing on paper in a three ring binder so they remove the paper to do the work and then 50% of the time it piles up until it gets back in, sometimes it gets lost. With Circa, their work stays in the book, no need to remove it and the cover folds back like a spiral bound book and they like that.
This is what happens here. One week into school - she'd taken all the package of lined paper out of the binder rings because she hated getting one out to use for each class. Then she never puts them back....

I"m hoping it solves some paper chaos we have going.

I hate them. They're clunky. I end up with piles of paper sitting aorund waiting for me to file them in the binder.


Piles and piles and piles..... paper paper everywhere....... and kids that don't like to contain it yet. UGH.

[*anj*]

I hate them. They're clunky. I end up with piles of paper sitting aorund waiting for me to file them in the binder.

With the Circa, I think it will be easier to just have the boys put their own work in. It just *seems* easier to me than the clunky binder. Maybe it's not. But it *seems* that way, and perception is important.

For me this is the un-clunkiness of something spiral bound, but with the flexibility of a binder.
That's exactly it for me. And the reasons that Karen gave as well. If the three ring system works for you, keep going with it, by all means. But I am really looking forward to the flexibility that I think this will offer. Another nice feature is that if you have a piece of paper that is smaller than 8.5x11 and you punch it with the three-hole punch you will likely only have two holes available to hold the paper in place. With the Circa you can use half a sheet of paper, index cards, whatever, punch them and stick them in the binder.

Pieces of regular notebook paper always find a way to release themselves from the binder in my house. I'm hoping that the Circa'd pages will stay put.

[Alenee]

I'm trying to get the full gist here...so does this special circa thingy majig act like a binder? For instance, I can punch my special pages, then add to the book or take some of the pages out? I just bought a new Wise Guide (SWR)...it's not spiral bound anymore. I have been contemplating having the binding cut off and three-hole punching it, then page protecting it and stick it in a 3-ring binder. Would this circa thing be better in your opinions?

[Amy in Orlando]

Wow - color me clueless. I know nothing about Circa or Wise Guide or nothing.

We're old-school 3-ring notebook people (from first edition TWTM) and I don't think I can change now.

[RenayofRohan]

Here is the biggest plus in my home; my boys hate writing on paper in a three ring binder so they remove the paper to do the work and then 50% of the time it piles up until it gets back in, sometimes it gets lost. With Circa, their work stays in the book, no need to remove it and the cover folds back like a spiral bound book and they like that.

I'm glad you brought up this point. One of my sons writes with his left hand, as do I, and we both despise writing in a 3-ring binder, so we take out the paper. We do try to remember to get the paper back in there, but it doesn't always happen.

[H.S. Burrow]

Ok. I watched the video link and I like that you can add in different sizes of paper BUT *how* does the paper stay?!?

I don't understand? :confused: Why doesn't it fall off? Is it as sturdy as a 3-ring binder? Can I stand the book vertically?

I *really* like the way they look. We use plain notebook paper for all written assignments and after I look it over, the kids "file" their work into their binders. We never attempt to work from the binder so that would not be a reason for me to purchase a Circa.

Someone...anyone...give me a reason! It looks soooo cool!

[Alenee]

Ok. I watched the video link and I like that you can add in different sizes of paper BUT *how* does the paper stay?!?

I don't understand? :confused: Why doesn't it fall off? Is it as sturdy as a 3-ring binder? Can I stand the book vertically?

I *really* like the way they look. We use plain notebook paper for all written assignments and after I look it over, the kids "file" their work into their binders. We never attempt to work from the binder so that would not be a reason for me to purchase a Circa.

Someone...anyone...give me a reason! It looks soooo cool!

What video???????:confused:

[*anj*]

What video???????:confused:
This one (http://www.levenger.com/PAGETEMPLATES/STATIC/Generic.asp?blink=Y&Params=category=326-888|level=2-3|link=LN). It's on their site. :001_smile:

[Patty Joanna]

I have a theory here, even as I labor over deciding whether to let WTMindy have her way with my will and agonize over getting a Circa.

Here is the theory; it is related a la a true story in golf. Didja know that *everyone* improves their putting by getting a new putter? It's a fact. Now, think about it. If I have putter A and go to putter B, my score improves. If you have putter B and go to putter A, YOUR score improves. Why? Not because of the putter--it's because it is human nature to work harder to make something new work better. I paid a lot of money to get putter B...it had better improve my short game...and it generally does because I *pay attention* to my short game.

I have a feeling that this is at least a big part of the reason why going to a new organization system will improve your organization...for the short term, at least.

The rest of the story is this: people keep buying new putters. Golf nuts have 4000 of them in their garages. Is their putting improved 4000x? No.

That's why I haven't yet bought the Circa, although I will admit that I sat down at the computer this very session to order a cheap starter so I could have a look-see.

Anyway, it may be that Circa is better--and I can think of reasons why it might be...but I can also get pretty eloquent on putter B.