Yes, it is rather expensive for a notebook, but the quality is well worth it.  This notebook can be used alone, but it is intended to be used with the Evernote App for apple.  I have been using Evernote for several years and this notebook allows you to take traditional paper notes and then capture them with your phone/ipad and always have your notebooks with you.  I could write a very long review of Evernote, but it would be easier for you to just go to the evernote website and see how it works.  Great product.