HN Explorer

Ask HN: Why don't we use 6-ring A5 paper more?

3 points by eternityforest ↗ HN
In the US, everything is Letter, but A5 has so many advantages:

* Close enough to half a letter size, compatibility in a pinch

* A5 binders are nice and portable, Letter binders are backpack stretching monstrosities

* In the digital age paper is often used for smaller amounts of text, letter is less necessary

* Less desk space needed if it's something like a diagram or plan you're working on

* A6 is even more awesome, but most cheap A6 binders are fake and actually some other kinda ugly IMHO aspect ratio

* Fits in smaller bags and boxes

* Easily hold the binder with one hand to write in while standing

* 6 holes has way more redundancy than 3 for when the paper tears

* Less waste if you frequently do stuff that doesn't entirely fill up a Letter size

* If holding an individual sheet, it's got less leverage to flop around and will feel more stiff and solid than letter/A4.

* Most books are closer to that size, and books are like, everyone's favorite thing to do with paper

Why aren't we using this more? Or are we? Have any offices or schools started using it?

11 comments

[ 4.8 ms ] story [ 41.7 ms ] thread
aurizon
And remember, we use Roman wheel spacing on roads....
jaclaz
Maybe, or maybe not:

https://skeptoid.com/episodes/4818

aurizon
The old stone Roman roads became rutted over long time spans =wheel spacings were dictated by these ruts. Wrong space = broken wheels. Railroads had many early spacings, from narrow mine rail carts to longer distances. Railways need long gradual slopes 1-3% in most cases. This required causeways as well as cuts. Back in the day rock blasting cuts was very costly = iron drills and black powder blasting = $$$. After dynamite and carbide drill inserts, this became 80% less expensive. Dynamite shattered rock and insert drills cut holes. The old black powder/iron drill made wide cuts = $$$ = need for narrow gage to save $$. Long rail lines in USA led to the need for a common standard. The narrow cuts were blasted wider with dynamite etc, and many were abandoned. There is little connection between Roman roads and various wide/narrow US gages. There are also dual gage rail cars with 3 wheels on an axle - for Russia - Europe cars.
ggeorgovassilis
This feels like the opening scene of an episode of "The Office" and made me nostalgic. I'd love a 10th season.
adamquek
I prefer A5 notebooks that are bound. Precisely because they are so portable, I don't ever want a binder that give additional and unnecessary girth. Binder for A5 is also not very conducive for writing, unlike notebooks.

For loose sheets, I'd go with B5, 26 holes paper and binder. They are two-third the size of letter, which is a good compromise to have some empty space for writing and drawing, while not that small (like A5) that are a hassle to bind.

eternityforest
I can't say I personally like the girth of binders either. Perhaps some new future tech will make them thinner?

But the ability to swap out pages for correction or archiving, swapping in printed pages, and the ability to use accessories like card sleeves makes the binders win out for me, other than maybe if I was going to start paper journalling again.

brudgers
In the US, letter size paper is the norm.

That's why we use it.

Letter size is the norm in the US because the paper size system in the US has practical economic advantages over the A/B system used elsewhere.

The economic advantage is that larger sheets can be cut into smaller sheets...letter is half 11x17, 11x17 is half 22x17, and so on.

But it's actually more than that. Because 8.5 x 11 can be finished from 9x12, 11x17 from 12x18...

This means standard size rolls from paper mills.

It means printers can inventory only large sheets and get standard sizes from them.

All of that tends to make printing cheaper and easier and more accessible.

Anyway, if you want a special size paper, a paper cutter is perhaps the simplest thing that might work. It will let you take paper size matters into your own hands, though at the risk of losing a finger tip or thumb.

Good luck.

simonblack
The economic advantage is that larger sheets can be cut into smaller sheets...letter is half 11x17, 11x17 is half 22x17, and so on.

That's exactly the same advantage with the 'A' and 'B' series, etc.

A2 is exactly half the size of an A1, A3 is exactly half the size of an A2, A4 is exactly half the size of an A3, A5 is exactly half the size of an A4, .........

This means standard size rolls from paper mills.

Once upon a time, that was true. Nowadays, most paper rolls are imported into the US. Most paper rolls produced and used around the world are standardised on metric, not imperial sizes, and as such there are larger economies of scale when using the 'A' series instead.

eternityforest
Paper cutters are actually safer than scissors now, if you get the slide type instead of those insane guillotines.