Comparing Cambridge & InTouch Wide Margin Bibles

When the InTouch wide margin Bible arrived the obvious thing is to compare it with my Cambridge wide margin Bible. What else?!

Physically, the InTouch is beefier but narrower - a whole inch narrower. In real world use, that 1" is significant. It terms of portability, like carrying to the church, the InTouch is more "manageable". Sounds odd for just 1" difference but its true - at least for me.



While the Cambridge is bound in goatskin, InTouch has calfskin binding. Both Bibles are exquisite & beautiful on the outside. I do, however, favour the InTouch calfskin slightly more... And somehow I also prefer the "casual" look of the InTouch... ;)

Unfortunately, InTouch isn't as "perfect" as I would like it to be.


One common "complaint" on the InTouch wide margin Bible in the blogsphere has to do with its "paper wrinkling" in the gutter. Well, I don't really notice that in mine... or at least it doen't really bother me that much... not enough to distract me from reading it.



But there is one MAJOR issue that I wish InTouch Bible could be as good as Cambridge Bible. When u open up both Bibles, Cambridge is just amazingly "flat". No other Bibles open up like the Cambridge's. Perhaps the only close competitor is R.L Allan's.

For these wide margin Bibles, there is a MAJOR advantage in being able to open up flat.


The usefulness of the inner margin is greatly enhanced by the "flatness" as u can see from the pictures above.

This is my only gripe for InTouch.


The 1" wider disadvantage (in terms of portability) mentioned earlier becomes advantage here for the Cambridge Bible - the outer margin area. The extra 1/2" margin is significant. U will be surprised how much more u could write in that 1/2" space.

Update @ Dec 9th:

After using my InTouch WideMargin for a while, I realise it actually has MORE space for ur notes! Simply cuz of the Verse-Format presentation.


The other features that make the Cambridge wide margin Bible a more "serious" tool - a whole stack of lined papers & phonebook like pages for u to scribble all the notes u want.


Another feature - center-column references - could be important for some in their bible study of which is lacking in the InTouch. Or others might prefer the bigger typeface InTouch offers.


Lastly, the gorgeous art-gilt makes the Cambridge Bible just so much more..."classy". Like a English Gentleman ;)

In summary, I LOVE both.

Perhaps the Cambridge wide margin Bible is a better tool for classroom or "serious" note taking. Whereas the InTouch Bible excels in "casualness" - like journaling? Or as a Preacher's Bible?


God bless Dr Charles Stanley for his preaching & his InTouch Wide Margin Bible!

A Quick Look - InTouch NASB Wide Margin & NASB Ref

After nearly 2 mths' wait, my 2 NASBs finally arrived this week. A check on the cartons showed Pos Malaysia seemed to be using some 3rd party contractor to handle part of the delivery. Most surprising of all, they actually used SHIP to ship the shipment from KL to Kch! Literally!


Both came with a nice velvet soft case inside the box. Nice to know they are "protected" enroute as much as possible but once the Bibles are out of the box, these velvet covers don't serve much purpose anymore.


Very nice longish and wide ribbons. InTouch comes with 2 & NASB Ref 1.


Surprised to see that the InTouch version is still printed in the good old U.S of A. While the other is printed in China.


One design I don't quite understand though - why THAT on the back of the beautiful calfskin???


And...despite the fact that the NASB Ref is marketed as ULTRATHIN... it is FAAAAR from being thinline... But I love the "thickness".