I think your on target.

Of course it all depends on a person's opinion of price vs. quality.

I'm willing to pay more if the quality is there. I think most people think the same way, but I'm sure some people want to go as cheap as possible, not necessarily to sacrifice quality but to keep costs down. It's just a matter of personal opinion.

I think if anyone is considering a notebook system like a Franklin Covey or Day Planner or whatever, the Circa should be in the running for consideration. It's just simple and works. Just like Apple... :D

Not having a mac, I can't really argue for or against :)

Levenger products, like so many other "luxury" items, have a measure of quality and detail that create a better user experience. I tend to compare them to a custom-made suit, a bottle of fine wine, a quality shaving soap, or a high-end luxury sedan. Sure, you can get by (and quite happily) without such things. I know I do on a regular basis. I don't need a shirt-pocket briefcase or a leather-covered circa, or a fountain pen. I could just as easily be productive with a legal pad, stack of index cards, and a supply-cabinet ballpoint - and my wallet would thank me. But so-called luxury items have that "look forward to" quality not found in the everyday.

Ironman, I agree.
Personally, I tend to weigh price and quality. I'd rather something last for years rather than requiring continual replacement. Quality need not be expensive.

Not Mac-bashing (too much) but there is quite an important difference, IMO. While both aim at the "high quality" and "nice to use" objectives, Apple tries to control the entire user experience quite precisely, whereas Levenger provides tools to use as you will in a wider context. The former can be great if you like what they provide and don't want to have to think about it too much. Personally, I prefer the latter approach, as a "feature" I can't control/configure can often become extremely irritating to me. (I use Linux and BSD Unix, as it happens.)

There is also a difference in relative expense: although a Mac is generally more expensive than a PC (for a given systems spec) the difference between generic stationery products and Levenger stuff is (I think) proportionally much greater. Thus I think that Levenger vs generic is much more of a luxury than Mac vs PC.

Not that any of this is particularly useful; just a mildly interesting subject ;-)

aef

Reviving an old post here:

The only problem with the Levenger - Apple analogy is that Levenger's leather products remind me too much of board rooms and executive offices.

And where does one find leather, monograms, fountain pens? In the executive offices of the Windows dominated corporate world.

Or among an upper-class that hires others to use computers for them.

I would have to say that the clean, hip simplicity of index cards and legal pads reminds me more of Apple than the cigar-room ambience of Levenger's embossed leather.

But each to his/her own.

Interesting.

But perhaps DayTimers and Franklin-Covey planners are the stuff of board rooms and Windows-using execs.

Like Macs, Levenger products are coveted, slightly more expensive than products from Office Depot, and do what they're supposed to do extremely well.

:D :D :D

You raise a very good point. Yes, now that I think about it, I may be confusing Levenger with the padded, faux-leather dayplanners and cheesy folios that I've seen in the corporate world and that grace the aisles of Office Depot. The kind that seem to have about half an inch of padding (tissue?) on top of the cardboard and beneath the plastic leather.

But Levenger, I suppose, is much more like Moleskine. To tell you the truth, I think I'm in a state of denial. I've convinced myself that index cards from Target (1/2 a cent per card) are all I ever need in order to avoid the irresistable lure of the Levenger products.

So in the end, yes, I think your analogy holds. But I do have to say that Office Depot sells a mean set of very cheap legal pads--so long as you don't mind have the Office Depot name, number, web address staring back at you in bright red as you write. :)

I think I'm a little late on the whole Rhodia notepad thing. (Maybe it's because I don't live in New York.)

But if you're looking for a notepad that's closest to Apple's elegance/simplicity, I would suggest this. And they're cheap--which arguably ruins the analogy.

And obviously, all these notebook companies have learned a lesson or two from Apple in marketing. (I.e., turning a utilitarian piece of equipment into a slick, well-designed, coveted consumer object.)