30 August 2013

Free For All Friday No. 250

I don't often get asked this question.. but I do wonder sometimes what my what my response would be.

What would you recommend if you were asked the question. 'I want to buy my first Filofax, what size should I get?'

But as it is Friday please feel free to discuss anything Filofax related or any other ring bound planner related matters.

Have a great weekend.

16 comments:

  1. Personal. Best compromise between page size and portability.

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    1. .. unless you're left-handed, have big handwriting, write a lot, sketch or draw, have several projects on the go, are largely office based or want to print out information to insert into your organiser. If any of these apply, A5 is likely to be your best bet!

      If you spend most of the day on a smart phone or tablet, consider one of the small sizes for use as a wallet, jotting down notes and information you need to access quickly. Slimline is the only model that will fit in a jacket pocket.

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    2. So true, Tim!
      I started using A5 Malden as a notebook because it allows more ample space for notes and random scribbling. Because it only holds some notepaper, it no longer weighs a ton and now travels with me from desk to tote, if I happen to be out and about. I also have put some gadgetry on the zipped pocket and there´s an address book on the back pocket. I do the whole chronodex- thing and journaling on MTN- hack and while that´s personal to me, it´s nice to have a neutral binder to whip out when needed.
      So yeah, it depends.

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  2. I would say: what are you wanting to use it for and how and where will you carry it? I cannot recommend something fit for purpose until I know the purpose!

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  3. I'd ask what they needed it for, but the majority of the time I would say Personal. It's in the middle. A lot of people find the pockets too small, and A5s really big to carry around so personal seems like a good starting point!

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  4. Like my book recommendations, I would customize this for the person asking. Most likely it would be a Pocket or a Personal. I think most people I know would find the Personal much too large to carry around since they rely so much on their smart phones already.

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  5. A4 or A5 size. You know you're headed the right way when the binder is big enough to have a handle so you can carry it around like a little briefcase. My Franklin Covey has ballooned to 3 1/2 lbs.

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  6. Typical lawyer answer: It Depends!

    As others have said, I'd need to know whether the person was going to take the FF everywhere or if it was going to be deskbound. If deskbound - A5 no question. If used as a constant companion / "external brain" then personal for portability.

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    1. Hahaha! Sorry! That cracked me up! But it was exactly what I was going to say.

      (People do tend to get supremely annoyed with the "it depends" answer.
      Friend: "Can't you just answer 'yes' or 'no'? I just wanna know if this is ok!"...
      Me: "I cannot."
      Friend: "Aaargh!")

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  7. I think A5 - but it all depends on what it is used for.

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  8. Hey there all - a little FYI regarding the Charleston range: filofax.dk has the pocket version listed on their website including an interior shot. Looks like it could be made to accomodate some form of tech e.g. phone. Have to say the leather looks gorgeous.

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  9. Si c'est une femme, je dirai pocket parce qu'elles ont pas toutes des gros sacs à mains et si c'est un homme, je dirai A5.
    Bon week-end à tous...

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    1. Traduction: If it is a woman, I shall say pocket because they have not all big handbags and if it is a man, I shall say A5.
      Good weekend in all...

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  10. I'm in the "It Depends" camp. I use a slimline as my main organizer and wallet, because it needs to fit in a jacket pocket to be with me. I use Personals and A5 for other uses, but am finding at my age that the print on Personals is often to small, so I have been upsizing my collection. My stay at home on my desk planner is a B5 Deskfax.

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  11. Hi guys! I'm very much looking forward to the Philofaxy meet-up in London at the end of September!!
    Do you guys have any requests for things we should do, e.g. funny photos we should take, questions we should ask the Filofax people, etc!! I know a lot of you can't make it to the meet-up, so I'd love for you to take part in some way, then we can report back to you in blog posts :D

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  12. Ah, as a librarian, I can say this question is much like "can you recommend a good book to read." The secret to giving an appropriate answer is to conduct a reference interview. In other words, ask all of the questions mentioned above: what will you use it for, will you carry it with you, etc. the person standing before you might not be happy with an answer of "it depends" but it really does depend! You have to know what the person is looking to get out of it before you can recommend the appropriate planner (or book). What I like and prefer is not necessarily what someone else will like and prefer. So those (annoying) questions need to be asked.

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