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> I also just tried out the new "sidekick notepad" from Cortex. Very expensive (overpriced), but I was happy to support their work. The sidekick notepad is a p

> I also just tried out the new "sidekick notepad" from Cortex. Very expensive (overpriced), but I was happy to support their work. The sidekick notepad is a pretty nice idea, but $32 + $12 shipping is a lot for a 60 page pad. I've been using a Notsu dot-grid landscape notepad (great paper!) but it's 8.5" x 5.5". I just wish it was larger. The Sidekick looks like a pretty nice size... How hard is it to get custom pads made? I'm guessing non-standard dimensions are a bit of a blocker when you only want to order a dozen or two.

ticviking 4y ago
I've had reasonable luck at local print shops. They can do custom sizes in a plastic spiral binding for a reasonable price. I haven't found someone who can do a sewn binding, but I wonder about asking a leatherworker in town if his machine could do 30 pages if I bought a few spare needles.
- criddell 4y ago
  The Notsu pad that I like has the pages held in by some glue along the edge. I like it better than a spiral and I think I like it better than the tear-away style that the Sidekick is using. The glue seems relatively easy to do, so all I really need is somebody to print me 12" x 7" dot-grid pages.
fencepost 4y ago
The minimalismart.com softcovers that GP linked to have a B5 (10x7.6) size as well, including dot grid option.
- criddell 4y ago
  True, but it isn't landscape and it doesn't look like the pages are designed to tear out cleanly and easily.
  - LaffertyDev 4y ago
    Can confirm, they are not tear-friendly.
  - fencepost 4y ago
    If you haven't looked at them before, the Rhodia dotPad or Top Wirebound Notepad might be a fit for you and usable in either orientation. Rhodia's "pad" products seem to all have perforated pages (they tear nicely) where the "book" products are non-perforated. Edit: the wirebound has an A4 size page option, the dotPad has an A4 and a longer-than-A4 option. ~$10-16 depending on color and where you order, Amazon is not the cheapest option out there.
    - criddell 4y ago
      The longer-than-A4 option is intriguing. I’m wondering if a print shop would be able to cut off the top binding and change it to a glue edge along one of the long sides?

ticviking 4y ago

I've had reasonable luck at local print shops. They can do custom sizes in a plastic spiral binding for a reasonable price. I haven't found someone who can do a sewn binding, but I wonder about asking a leatherworker in town if his machine could do 30 pages if I bought a few spare needles.

criddell 4y ago
The Notsu pad that I like has the pages held in by some glue along the edge. I like it better than a spiral and I think I like it better than the tear-away style that the Sidekick is using. The glue seems relatively easy to do, so all I really need is somebody to print me 12" x 7" dot-grid pages.

fencepost 4y ago

The minimalismart.com softcovers that GP linked to have a B5 (10x7.6) size as well, including dot grid option.

criddell 4y ago
True, but it isn't landscape and it doesn't look like the pages are designed to tear out cleanly and easily.
- LaffertyDev 4y ago
  Can confirm, they are not tear-friendly.
- fencepost 4y ago
  If you haven't looked at them before, the Rhodia dotPad or Top Wirebound Notepad might be a fit for you and usable in either orientation. Rhodia's "pad" products seem to all have perforated pages (they tear nicely) where the "book" products are non-perforated. Edit: the wirebound has an A4 size page option, the dotPad has an A4 and a longer-than-A4 option. ~$10-16 depending on color and where you order, Amazon is not the cheapest option out there.
  - criddell 4y ago
    The longer-than-A4 option is intriguing. I’m wondering if a print shop would be able to cut off the top binding and change it to a glue edge along one of the long sides?