Mead Cambridge City Zipper Binder, 3 Rings, 1" Capacity, 11 x 8.5, Black

What I didn't know when I was buying this binder was that there was a legal pad and calculator included (see pictures). Nice bonus, since the calculator sits perfectly in the pocket. The binder measures 12.7 inches tall, 11 inches wide, and 1.5 inches thick. It measures 22.5 inches wide when open. The binder inside is a 1 inch. The interior of the front side is lined with a pocket to stick folders that opens up about 2 inches. The outside of this pocket has 6 cardholders, 1 business card holder, 1 mesh pocket w/ velcro, and 1 calculator slot. The picture would indicate that there is a mesh business card holder, fabric pen holder, and another pocket with a zipper, but in fact, there are not. There is however, an elastic pen holder on the inside of the back cover (see picture). The back of this binder is bound with a smooth, matte plastic material, and the rest of the fabric feels like a rough nylon.As far as the false picture goes, at the time that I am writing this review, there are separate Amazon listings under different sellers that use this picture, so for all I know, the picture may be accurate for those other binders. For the one I received, it was not accurate. I bought my binder from Bison Office supply.I like this binder for a few reasons. Firstly, the zipper. It keeps everything in, so if you have an oops!-moment, you won't be embarrassed and have to scramble to pick up all your stuff. It also keeps paper edges from getting damaged and looking shabby. The zipper itself has a nice curve where you hold it that makes it easier to grip, and therefore, easier to zip. There is only one zipper on this binder, and it would be a nice extra if there were two. The zipper has a hole, so you could attach a key chain if you wanted to.The second feature I like about this binder is its slimness. It does measure about 1.5 inches rather than 1, but the binders advertised as 1.5 inches usually end up being 2. I hate unnecessarily bulky things, and at my college, we get those chairs with dinky little desk things attached, so small is a must. Furthermore, I only have the rest of my semester's notes in this at any one time. I don't need a 2 or 3 inch binder for that; the 1 inch is great for exactly that amount of notes. I also like the fact that I can keep my wireless notebook and planner inside of this. There's enough pockets for all of the things I need in a class, and I am tempted to just carry this around instead of a bag. I might even try that out.The seams on this are tight and durable. When I first received it, I realized that there was a place to put the cardboard backing of a legal pad (to hold it in place inside the binder), but not a place to put the cardboard backing of a notebook, which is what I needed this for. The main difference between these two pockets is that the insert pocket for pads is horizontal and the pocket for notebooks is vertical (see pictures). I really wish that they had included a vertical pocket behind the horizontal one, so both pads and notebooks could be secured inside. It's kind of stupid that Mead doesn't just make a pocket for it. I used my pocketknife to rip out the seam to the side of the legal pad pocket, and now my wireless notebook can be secured just as it could have if it had come made with a pocket for it (see pictures). While I was ripping, I did come across an adhesive around the seam to further secure it. This just goes as further proof to how durable the seams on this binder are. As I slid the back of my notebook in, I came across some more nasty adhesive. To remedy this, I cut the backing of my notebook down to size.On a side note that is related, I'm notorious at school for having the most tidy (and most borrowed) notes around. I'm often asked for tips. Since this binder is a key part of my note-taking system, I thought I would share:I prefer to have extra paper under whatever I'm writing on. I find it very hard to write on one piece of paper with a hard desk underneath. It doesn't give the right amount of cushion to write neatly. Plus, if I'm writing on my home desk, I don't want to scratch or put writing indents on the surface of it. I remedy this situation with a loose-leaf pad (commonly dubbed "wireless notebook" on Amazon... Norcom 3-Subject Wireless Notebook Wide Ruled, 10.5 x 8 Inches, 5 Assorted Colors, 132 Sheets, 1 Notebook per Order, Color May Vary (76132-24)). I have tried marble notebooks and I have tried spiral notebooks. Marble notebooks don't have large enough pages, and they aren't able to tear out without ruining the binding. Not to mention, you can't keep the pages in a binder or in any kind of an organized fashion after you rip them out. Spiral notebooks, on the other hand, have sharp wires that tangle with other spiral notebooks, annoyingly perforated pages that never rip where the perforation is, and leave behind tiny bits of paper that go everywhere. The solution, my friends, is a loose-leaf pad. There's a nice little place in the back of this binder where the pad will fit. I remove the pad from the binder when I have to take notes, since binders are too big for my workspace. I keep the binder under my chair until the end of class, at which time I tear out my notes and secure them into the proper section in my binder. I tab each subject with a blue tab, and each unit with a pink tab (Avery NoteTabs, 2 x 1.5 Inches, Neon Blue and Magenta, 40 per pack (16293)). I also use BIC 4-Color Ball Pen, Medium Point, 3 Pack, Assorted Ink (MMP31-ASST) to help differentiate texts. The different colored inks are useful for recording problem solving steps in math classes or writing side-notes in English classes. I try to avoid highlighting things because it looks sloppy and tends to bleed through or fade. When I finish with a semester or course and I don't need notes on hand anymore, I stow them away in a cheap, regular binder at home. I have found that this is the most pleasurable and effective way to take and keep notes.

I just love it..... recently a purchase a five star mead binder portfolio for my collage and importantdocuments but it was a little big and heavy to be with it all day.... it was 3 inch ring binder but it was to thickfor my backpack an even feels to large. So i decide to get another portfolio that have pocket for important documents andand paper and at the same time a binder for all a write on class and these was wonderfull and perfect it has even a pocket insidethat i use for collage id and pen drives... The best of all its that comes with a calculator and a note book inside. I love the feel of theoutside just because it looks elegant for having documents and presentations.

I just got this! UPS was here like 5 minutes ago and let me tell you something! I ordered this binder yesterday afternoon. I got an email from Amazon (yesterday) saying it was going to come as early as May 6th. So I figured I just had to let you know (and it probably depends on your location), the delivery is super super fast I got it in less than 24 hours.Im happy with this product and obviously I havent had the chance to use it yet! I played with the calculator, it works just fine. Comes with the cambridge legal pad, Zipper seems fine.Large pocket on the inside could fit a couple magazines in there, not that Im going to put magazines in it, but its just to let you know what you could fit in there. There's a pocket on the front you could put stuff in there, maybe like the less important stuff because it doesnt have a flap or anything to close it; this pocket takes up a little more than half of the front of the binder, its very minimal looking.Overall Im just using this to get a job. Im going to put copies of my certificates in it with some resumes. So It'll do what I need it to do, Im sure. It has everything I need, its zippered, it had binder rings, it has the legal pad, a calculator is a plus, spots for the business cards could be useful.PS - Now that Im looking at the picture on amazon, compared to the binder I received, it's not EXACTLY the same as the one in the picture. The only big difference I see between the one I have and the one in the picture, is that I dont have the little slot for my pen. Big deal! /sarcasm

I'm always trying to find a better way to organize my business and personal lives. I have used this for over a month and so far it is working. I can put file folders and my tablet in the pocket on the left. There is room for business cards, a small pocket, and came with a calculator. I keep my planner, etc. in the 3-rings, and it came with a pad of paper for the back cover. What's nice is once I zip it I don't need to worry about loosing anything inside. There is also a pocket on the outside of the front cover.

Professional. Organized.I purchased this binder for job fairs and interviews. I wanted to get a binder that was not too bulky, but was silk and professional fitting everything I needed. This one did the job! Comes with a built in calculator and legal pad. The business card holder is PERFECT during job fairs to store contacts in. Also, the left pocket was great for me to insert resumes to easily hand out to employers. The legal pad can also be removed and placed in the front of the binder to take notes! This is GREAT for job-seekers, college graduates, etc.

I am disappointed in this item as I have only had it about 3 months and the rivet at the top has come out. I can put it back in but that's not the point and soon I am sure that will not work. I am not a "heavy" user in that i don't use it every day or even multiple times per day so I don't think this is built very well. I will try another one and obviously not mead this time.Also, the calculator is hard to use IMHO so I use my phone.Only having a 30 day return policy will make me not buy another one of these. I could have just gotten a defective one but I won't know since I can't return it and I won't buy another one just to test it with my own money.