Just before Christmas I received this Quo Vadis IB traveler from Karen at Exaclair (thank you once again-what does the IB stand for?). In 2009 I used a Moleskine Pocket Monthly and was pleasantly susprised by how much I used it and enjoyed using it. I wrote a couple of blog entries on the topic. So I have to admit to being a bit nervous about changing my planner again. The diary is a week on two pages and while I would say it is handbag size it's not really pocket sized. At 9cm x 17cm it's just too long for most pockets. Perhaps a gent's inside pocket? In fact it does remind me of the diaries my father used to use when he worked but inside there is room for a bit more detail than he had. That perhaps initially coloured my response in that these days if it isn't Moleskine pocket sized it isn't cool enough, however I think I'm over that.
The appointment section is on the left hand side of the diary and has Monday to Saturday listed. There is time slots and I've certainly found enough space for my appointments and venues to fit in. I rarely have appointments less than 2 hours though and that helps. I do have to be in different places on different days so in order to plan my week I like to see the week ahead and even the month in one view. The month view in this is not as good as Moleskine but then that was the whole point of a monthly view diary. I am able to colour code the days in the month view so that I know what area I will be in which may prove enough for me.
The right hand page has sections for Week's Priority, Phone, Fax/Email, See-Do, Notes and Sunday is there too. In the past I've liked putting date specific actions in my diary but couldn't really do this with the Moleskine montly but can with the traveler. The paper is pure white (not all my pictures show the true colour) and is 64g. You can imagine that it wont cope with some pens and there will be some show through but I only use pencil in my diary so that doesn't bother me at all. I assume that heavier paper would result in a thicker diary and as this is aimed at being small and portable there has to be some compromise. I do find the places for notes, to do etc opposite each week quite useful so far. Obviously you're always going to have occasions where you have a longer to phone list than space allows but I would just use the right hand page less rigidly I think. It also comes with a removable address/phone book but I just removed that as I keep all my numbers in my phone. Handy to write your contacts out once and take them with you to the next year's diary though. It also has maps in it. Now I know it's called the traveller but I cant really see any use for these maps. The scale just shows you nothing and so if you needed these maps I'd question whether you should be travelling in the first place....
The appointment section is on the left hand side of the diary and has Monday to Saturday listed. There is time slots and I've certainly found enough space for my appointments and venues to fit in. I rarely have appointments less than 2 hours though and that helps. I do have to be in different places on different days so in order to plan my week I like to see the week ahead and even the month in one view. The month view in this is not as good as Moleskine but then that was the whole point of a monthly view diary. I am able to colour code the days in the month view so that I know what area I will be in which may prove enough for me.
The right hand page has sections for Week's Priority, Phone, Fax/Email, See-Do, Notes and Sunday is there too. In the past I've liked putting date specific actions in my diary but couldn't really do this with the Moleskine montly but can with the traveler. The paper is pure white (not all my pictures show the true colour) and is 64g. You can imagine that it wont cope with some pens and there will be some show through but I only use pencil in my diary so that doesn't bother me at all. I assume that heavier paper would result in a thicker diary and as this is aimed at being small and portable there has to be some compromise. I do find the places for notes, to do etc opposite each week quite useful so far. Obviously you're always going to have occasions where you have a longer to phone list than space allows but I would just use the right hand page less rigidly I think. It also comes with a removable address/phone book but I just removed that as I keep all my numbers in my phone. Handy to write your contacts out once and take them with you to the next year's diary though. It also has maps in it. Now I know it's called the traveller but I cant really see any use for these maps. The scale just shows you nothing and so if you needed these maps I'd question whether you should be travelling in the first place....
So overall I'm quite pleased with the IB traveler and although I'm still getting used to it I think I shall be happy to use it throughout the year. I'll post again towards the end of the year to let you know how I'm getting on with it.
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