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When Word Processors Are Out: What's The Best Pen?
chensonny writes "Recently I was in a situation where there was no word processor, and several of us had to write, copy and sign a big amount of paper. It was then I re-realized the need for a good and comfortable pen. I saw some friends using a Mont Blanc, others like me using a felt pen or cheap ball-point pen. What does the geeks of Slashdot use for writing?" My favorite pen is an aluminum Lamy fountain pen -- can anyone recommend a good place to order Lamy ink in the U.S.?
The Logitech io Digital Pen and the USB Memory Pen.
These seem to be more for the rich geek, unfortunatly I'm only a poor geek. So I just use a Pilot Gel Pen.
Bugs are just features that have been fixed.
What is this pen device you speak about?
Uniball
Someone hates these cans.
These are excellent pens for the price- a 5-pack is $7 or so. Amazingly smooth and, uh... precise. Pilots are the best.
I don't know if they make one with a big comfy grip, though, if that's what you're looking for. I'm not sure if I like those big, comfy grips, though... they sort of make me feel like I'm in nursery school again, grasping one of those crayons that seemed to huge at the time. Wait, that's probably a good thing. I'll shut up, now.
OtakuBooty.com: Smart, funny, sexy nerds.
I prefer the old mechanical pencil whenever possible. Besides being erasable, it has such perks as:
-- Use it to label disks, and play the fun game of getting conductive pencil shavings in your disk drive
-- Graphite + Wall Socket = Fun
-- Get to shake it when your one stick of lead finishes so the next one will catch, until you open it up to insert the lead in backwards (through the tip) because its not catching, and then when you open it the lead falls out and snaps
-- Injecting graphite into people
The cheap ones. No grip, no nothing. So at least you don't feel bad for chewing it to a pulp.
Very heavy, more momentum when you write (meaning you don't need to work as hard). Buy one of those little foam gizmos that slips on the barrel, and you'll have a fine writing instrument. They're warranted for life.
I'm a writer, so I have a bit of a pen fetish. I have used all sorts of pens, including some ver' expensive Waterman fountain pens, and nothing writes for me like the Sheaffer. It has a very smooth, very precise action and nice ink flow.
For other purposes I use fine-point Sharpies.
I am a believer of momentum and curves.
Here's one on my site that can write in red or black, .5mm pencil, hilighter, and pda stylus, all in one regular-sized pen-like unit. The ultimate geek pen?
I have a big, fat, Mont Blanc fountain pen. Best pen ever.
Dont bother with a skinny one, and be careful as some of them seem to leak, but if you pick one that's good then you'll love it. No idea how much they would cost now, mine was about 300 10 years ago.
Edward
Bad analogies are like waxing a monkey with a rainbow.
They even have photographic emulsion in a spray can so that you can expose images on 3d objects. It's way cool.
Ooh! now I can take pictures of four-dimensional objects and they will be projected properly!
Karma: Meh (Mostly from meh.)
* You are in the bank depositing a bunch of checks from Indonesian gardeners, and you find yourself inexplicably without a pen. There is a little ballpoint pen on a steel chain at a table inside the bank. You would:
1. Leave and return the next day;
2. Run to the nearest Wal-Mart and buy a Montblanc;
3. Use the ball pen, but sign someone else's name on the checks;
4. Not know what the ballpoint pen is.
* Have you ever been in an argument over the actual derivation of the trade name "Duofold"?
* When watching old movies on video, do you find yourself freeze-framing to try to get a closer look at the pen Humphrey Bogart is using? Do you in fact know what pen Humphrey Bogart was using? Would you be willing to tell me?
* Do you own any of the following items:
1. A pocket protector (and you're not an engineer)?
2. A glass eyedropper?
3. More than one bottle of household ammonia?
4. Blotter paper
* Do you keep a bottle of ink in your carry-on luggage? More than one bottle in different colors?
* Do you find yourself sniffing at the end of pens (to tell whether or not they are made of hard rubber)?
* Are your pens cleaner than your kitchen?
* Can you identify the pens shown on the boxes of various word processing software packages? Do you feel resentful when you don't find any of those pens inside the boxes?
Pen Geek Check
The Pilot G-2 07 is, by far, the best refillable gel pen for the money. Just be careful -- your fellow workers, classmates, family... ANYONE.... will walk off with them if you're not careful!
I think your link is wrong. Is http://www.zebrapen.com/ the site you were looking for?
Karma: Meh (Mostly from meh.)
I would much rather have a pencil not only because it's eraseable (mentioned already), but because you don't need to worry about getting it on your clothes or it exploding. I would have to vote for the Cross Classic Century Pencil...
It's very comfortable, and lasts a long time. The only disadvantage is that it does NOT work as a small pry-bar...which is why I need to buy a new one ;)
--<Mike>--
Sad, really.
Bush: He's Liberal in all the wrong ways.
Using a fountain pen rather than a roller-ball is like using C++ or Java rather than VB. Sure if you're used to VB you'll create crap using C++/Java, but if you know how to use the tool the results and significantly superior.
Or it's the same as the difference between a Mac user and a PC user. The former values quality is prepared to pay for it, the latter doesn't and isn't. ;-)
Edward
Bad analogies are like waxing a monkey with a rainbow.
It's got excellent smooth gel ink, a comfortable grip, and pulls apart to expose the point. So you can snap it open, scribble, close it, and throw it in a pocket...all with one hand and without getting ink on anything.
Cheap, too - only about $20.
"I woo women with my sensuous and godlike trombone playing."
FYI...a less expensive alternative is made by Koh-i-Nor (~$10, plastic)
Just found a stash of them in my school bookstore a year or two after their discontinuation. A godsend. Great for chewing on and an amazing writing instrument. You can even take off the clip and any other exztraneous pieces nonessesntial for writing.
I will die with one of these pens in my hands.
---- The real Slashdot is still here. You just have to browse at -1 to read the comments.
Zebra pens are really awsome. The gel-ink flows out super easy, you barely need any pressure at all.
I've tried hundreds of pens, and I like Zebra pens the best. They are like $25 for a pack of 12. Get them in any store like Office Depot.
- Voxel
Modesty is one of life's greatest attributes
Blood. No one breaks those contracts.
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Rock!
A medium-cost Parker fountain pen is the pen of choice for me. (By medium cost I mean about 35, I can't remember exactly how much or what model it was because it was a long time ago I bought it.) It writes very smoothly and the combination of gold (plate), brushed steel and black is just too cool. I like the way their cartridges have an "emergency reserve" thing so that you don't just run out of ink at a crucial moment, too. Having said that, they're pants for writing on CDRs.
"'I pass the test,' she said. 'I will diminish, and go into the West, and remain Galadriel.'"
- JRR Tolkien.
Had you used it long enough to wear in the nib? Until you do, they tend to be quite scratchy. When it is worn in, it will be smoother and easier than a rollerball. It will glide over the paper. I've always beens happy with the cheap-o ones from WH Smiths (UK), and I'm still using one I bought theere ten years ago. Never let anybody else use your fountain pen either, unless you want problems. I found with a fountain pen that my hand writing doesn't deteriorate as the writing session progresses.
The Fisher Space Pen has pressurized ink and is waterproof. You can write upside down and in zero G. You can even write underwater.
"My God, this must be a truly remarkable corn chip, to be so widely and confidently touted."
Try a Parker. I've worn out one pair (a pen and a pencil) and now am going through my third set. The first one got lost at some time. No fuss, the pair is just plain smooth steel.
Parker's website doesn't show the very basic model I use. The closest match in both style and size would be their 'Inflection' set. Around here, you can find these basic items in any decent bookstore that sells study and office supplies.
And to your being a leftie, the ones I'm referring to are completely round and symmetrical.
There is no such thing as good luck. There is only misfortune and its occasional absence.
My Pelikan M800 Fine was very smooth out of the box, like it was supposed to be.
Arjen
MarsMicro 775 0.5mm 2B + Staedtler Plastic Eraser.
From Deutschland. Vorsprung durch Teknik and all.
Has anyone tried the Kyocera ceramic ball pens? I've always wanted to know how well they write.
My first training in the arts was at a young age of about 8, my parents thought I had crappy handwriting (they were right) so they enrolled me in a calligraphy class. I still have crappy handwriting. Well, actually, nowadays my Japanese handwriting is much better than my English handwriting. Since that time, I've tried hundreds of pens of all manufactures, anyone who is really interested in writing wel should visit an art store, especially one that imports lots of oddball Japanese pens.
Anyway, I prefer fountain pens, mostly because nobody will ever borrow them so I never lose my pens to theft. IMHO the most bang for the buck is the Lamy Safari, it's cheap and writes well. I prefer the Lamy "joy" pen, it has a wider nib that satisfies my calligraphic urges. But you have to know how to write italic to use the joy pen properly.
But my favorite pen of all time is a cheapo crap Cross ballpoint. Mine has the IBM logo on it, I got it as an award for selling my first $1million of IBM equipment. I use it solely for financial transactions, it's sort of a weird superstition of mine.
Pencils are another story. Everyone should have a really good mechanical pencil. The best kinds have retractable points so you don't poke holes in your shirt pockets. The Japanese have this one completely nailed. The Sanford Logo II 0.5mm is my favorite, although it doesn't retract the tip. For a good retractable-tip pencil, the Yasutomo Grip500 can't be beat. Rotring makes awesome mechanical pencils, although I don't personally like the harsh German design, I find them uncomfortable and hard to hold.
I'm a pen snob. And I'm not ashamed of it. In most situations, I write with a Pelikan Souveran 800 fountain pen. The nib is the most repsonsive of all of the fountain pens I've ever used, and the ink flow is superb. My two 800s are the best pens I have ever used.
In situations demanding a more durable pen, the Rotring 600 series have never failed me. They're made of solid brass, and are almost invincible. The list of potentially deadly situations my 600s have survived is long.
As a collector, user, and frequent gift-giver of high quality writing instruments, I have found Joon, a company based in New York, to be without match in all of my pen purchase needs. Check them out on the web at www.joon.com. For Timothy, they carry the entire line of Lamy inks and refills.
And just an aside- I've noticed some folks above me in this topic talking about Levenger. DON'T buy pens or ink from Levenger. They put a markup on their pens so high it's absurd, and their ink is shite. If I wanted to write with colored water, I'd buy food coloring.
--Use this space for notes--
I used to own a janitorial service. You wouldn't believe the stock of pens I collected. If it was on the floor, behind a desk, it was trash. It was mine.
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Dr. Phil Agre, UCLA Professor of Information Studies, has an entire page dedicated to the topic of cheap, high quality pens. Highly recommend checking it out: http://dlis.gseis.ucla.edu/people/pagre/pens.html
Urban legend. Graphite shavings in 0 gee is bad. The russians also use Fisher space pens since the 60s.
I've always loved fountain pens. I have a small collection built up over the years of both modern, and vintage fountain pens. I've actually found that a restored fountain pen from the 20's or 30' can have the most pleasant feel when writing. A good one holds a huge amount of ink (as opposed to those wimpy cartridges that the modern ones tend to use. This is good because the older pens also USE a lot more ink. The ink almost leaps onto the paper, making a nice dark line and also lubricating the writing process. Unfortunately I type a lot faster than I write, and since almost everything ends up in a computer these days it's hard to justify writing instruments at all. Unless you are very famous, no one is likely to read your diary when you're gone.
Like many, I went through a phase of using a Palm Pilot (or similar device) for recording thoughts when away from any computer keyboard. I've since gone back to just using these devices for addresses and appointments (which mean that the sub $100 ones do just fine). So I'm back to carrying a pen whenever I go out and generally a small notebook (the paper variety) too.
Sometimes I carry a fountain pen, but more often I'm in a hurry and grab a ballpoint. For cheap ones I like Parker clickable ballpoints. The ink capacities are huge and they write smoothly. For $20 or so though I'd recommend the Rotring ballpoints which are all steel, have a textured grip, large ink supply and are nice and techno looking. You can enhance either Parker or Rotring pens by replacing the ink cartridge in it with one from Fisher (the makers of the original "Space Pen"). These really will write upside down, under water and on practically any surface. When writing on ordinary paper they have a nice feel too.
I remember in the 60's Bic did a series of commercials on how durable their pens were. They shot them from guns into tree trunks and then took what was left (not much) and wrote with it. They also "simulated" strapping one to a car to see how many miles you could write with one. Very impressive. Unfortunately I think cheap pens are not what they used to be. I've found that many of these if left unused for a year or so refuse to ever write again no matter how much you tap, shake or scribble with it trying to get it started again. Unfortunately many of these more expensive specialty pens (like the ones with the special grips) have the same ink mechanism used for the cheap ones. So, go with ink mechanisms from Parker, Fisher, Rotring, Lamy, Mont Blanc, or Cross, unless you are in a situation, such as a waiter, where your pens are constantly stolen.
Finally, and most importantly, if you are going to write anything that you need to last for a long time, do the following experiment:
Take all your candidate pens and make a test mark (sign your name or whatever) on several types of paper that you typically use. If you use colored ink, do this in all the colors you plan to use too. Just as a control, make the same marks with an ordinary pencil, and also pick any ordinary black-ink ballpoint (not the gel pens though, plain old ballpoint).
Tape these papers to a window or somewhere else where they will get direct sun. The back window of your car will do too. Check them in a month. You might be surprised, and if you are writing for any sort of archival purpose you might change your mind about what you want to use.
Not only is the Parker "Jotter" a great value, it will last you forever! I used a Jotter for 2 years straight nearly all day long. I had no access to a computer for 2 years, so the Parker and slips of paper were how I got things done. I also wrote countless letters. After two years I finally got back to "civilization" and had a computer again. I have heard from several people that use Parkers that they have recieved 5 years or more of heavy usage using the Parker "Jotter." You can pick one up at your local mass consumer outlet (ie. Wal-Mart) for ~$15.
RED is best for faxes, copies, scanning, etc. It shows up as black. Blue is the worst, esp. light blue. When I used to do a lot of faxing, I used red felt-tips exclusively.
"Would it kill you to put down the toilet seat?" -- Maya Angelou
, Watermans, Cross and Schaeffers all look pretty good and feel good but the writing quality depends on lots more than that. I collect pens -- got dozens of high end one -- their worth actually rivals the dozen or so computers around my house -- but most sit in their display cases. For fountain pens the nibs and the writing paper make the greatest difference. But fountain pens are an acquired taste and not for everyone. For the others -- roller balls, ball points -- the quality depends entirely on the refill. If you're like me, I don't like a nib or pen that's too smooth or puts too much ink down so most roller balls are out of the question. Favorite pens? Zebra 301 ($5 a pack) and the Zebra mechanical pencil.
There was a related story (sorta) to this Why Johnny Can't Handwrite a few months earlier.
When I was in school, we had to do a buttload of writing. Then I came to college in mi. I think I did more writing in the 5th grade than I did in 3 years at college. If it wasn't on computer, I probably wouldn't touch it.
The only stuff was signing credit card bills at convenience stores and taking the odd note in class.
Now I've taken a break and am studying by myself(maths, phy, elec engineering). I finish a 160 page double side A4 size notebook in about 10 days. I've used up about quite a few of those notebooks(>30). Biggest problem here is not writing but motivation. But I digress.
My hands hurt too when I did that much writing but I am used to it now. You gotta take it slowly just like the gym regimen.
Writing is best done with a fountain pen, rolling ball or gel pens. If you are going to write a lot, ballpoint pens are the worst.
Ballpoints are made for convenience. The viscosity of the ink is what tires the palm and elbow faster than the the rest.
Whenever I buy a fountain pen, I buy extra nibs. If the nib is smooth, nice; otherwise I use fine sandpaper. Sometimes this works, sometimes not.
I use Hero pens( Hero). Its pens and nibs are cheap. Availability is not a problem.
I've also used parker and schaeffer cartridge pens. Instead of buying new cartridges everytime, get a syringe and a nice ink bottle to refill the cartridges.
Rolling balls are nice but nearly everybody just uses and disposes them. It is actually possible to take the nib contraption out and refill its ink. Pilot makes rolling ball ink but its not sold in the states. Each of its 15 ml bottle is good for 8-10 refills.
Uniball's are decent too but not really suited for cursive writing.
---
Bush is on fire and its not good for my lungs.
If you get the silver one, it's easy to have it engraved. I carried one such for many years. When I lost it, I immediately bought another one.
This just came out, and is still hard to find as not all Mont Blanc stores have them in stock (but they all have a tester you can go try), and it is by far and away the BEST writing instrument ever. If you have a standard (not the "Grand") huge fat one) mont blanc rollerball pen, these new fineliner refills will fit inside. They're like a mini felt (but not felt) tip pen with a spring so it doesn't get squished. It simply writes better than anything else I've ever tried. Google for "mont blanc fineliner" and get yerself one. If you already have a rollerball just pick up some fineliner refills.
As for cheapo disposable pens, my favorite has always been the Pilot "Precise" V5 (extra fine) or V7 (fine). They always write wonderfully. But the Mont Blanc Fineliner is the greatest thing ever (and no, I do not work for them or any pen company).
Stupid people make stupid things profitable.
Mont Blanc is easily one of the most recognized names in fountain and rollerball pens today. However, my local independent pen merchant had only negative things to say about them when I dropped the name, and with a little more experience and research, I have to agree with his position: they're overrated.
For the money, Mont Blanc pens tend to be ridiculously fragile, and repair costs range from $35 to $400+ (USD). Sometimes leakage is a result of improper pen storage and/or maintenance, but with Mont Blancs the problem seems to be suspiciously epidemic.
Don't take my word for it, but don't blindly trust the name either. If you have access to a fine pen shop, spend some time learning about the subject, then do the comparitive research. Imho, if you really want a pen that will last a lifetime, Mont Blanc is not the one.
When doing a lot of writing, I prefer my Parker fountain pen; however, I also write well with a fibre-tip (preferably a fairly thick one like the Paper Mate nylon). Mechanical pencils are also good for some things (B or 2B lead).
These days, I use my Psion to make notes more often than paper, though.
Ceterum censeo subscriptionem esse delendam.
Prior to China's communist revolution, they were more or less capitalist. When the communists came to power, the capitalists fled to tawain.
China has made no secret of the fact that they consider Tawain to be a rogue colony, and support reunification, with military force, to be a goal.
Trade with Tawain provides them with valuable money with which to buy US military equipment to prevent a Chinese invasion.
First, I cant imagine how anyone could unintentionally subject themselves to an environment without a word processor. I didn't believe a story like this would be possible these days.
Two years ago, however, I went on a sabbatical from computers. I had enough of CS and wanted to spend some time out and about with friends. After finding out that pen writing was a bad choice for me, I researched typewriters (the movie Naked Lunch helped quite a bit). A good old Royal typewriter can really do wonders and even make you want to write again.
I tried several typewriters, and gradually I learned what to look for in a typewriter.
1) Keyboard and button size, make sure they are comfortable. Same rules for a keyboard.
2) Availability of ribbon, does someone still make a replacement? I've had to respool several ribbons onto the old spools to make them work.
3) Weight of keys, how much force does it take to activate a key. I light a heavy key for its momentum, they leave a nice dark imprint, but it has to be balanced very well, otherwise it takes a lot of force to get it moving.
4) Key return, how fast a key returns to a safe or resting position, a quick return is good but can add more force.
5) The Mechanics, are the keys likely to hit each other while in action? Are they equally aligned both horizontally and vertically?
6) Physical Properties - A Heavy typewriter is good for home use. A later 70's plastic briefcase style typewriter might be a little better for travel, for when you want to write that novel or code at a coffee bar.
Every typewriter is a little different so it may take a while to find a good one. However, these days, its sometimes easy to pick one up for $5 or $10. Just hearing the clickity clack of the keys is enough to inspire one to write.
Personally I like the Cross Ion. It's small, easy to carry, quick to use. As long as you don't mind gel ink, it's great. I've used mine for almost a year straight, and loved it. It's also fun to flip open like a switchblade...
Makes for a good pocket pen, and it really confuses your friends when you hand it to them unopened.
I have been writing with these pens since the mid 80's. The balance feels just right and the ball glides pretty well. The only problem is people keep stealing them. Also, be careful if you fly with these, this is not a safe pen to keep on your breast pocket (insert pocket protector joke here).
I thought I was the only one that was so picky about pens, but a few weeks ago I found a coworker that did just that. When she was in high school she found a specific pen that she liked and that is what she has purchased ever since. Since she is now the ops manager that happens to be the main brand of pen she buys for the office.
Pedro
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The Insomniac Coder
Perhaps the best all-around fountain pen is the Namiki Vanishing Point. For a street price of around $100, you get a nice pen. It has a gold nib, takes both a cartridge or a convertor (for bottled ink), and is a good size (not too large, not to small). It has a very sharp look. I personally perfer the pre-2000 models, but I hear the current ones are pretty good.
Oh! I forgot to tell you the best part. In its own right, the VP is a great pen--perhaps the best to be had for that price point. It earned this on the basis I described above. The really cool thing is, it is retractable--the only retractable foutain pen in current production! So, no cap to have to manipulate. Since I get a lot of golf shirts, it is particularly nice.
A runner up for a fount is a vintage Parker 51. The areometric ones (produced from 1948-1970ish) are generally regarded as the best fountain pen ever. They can typically be had for under $100.
Mont Blanc used to make very good pens. However, as they became hyped as "the best" (a dubious claim to begin with), the quality went down, support became worse, and only the rep had remained. They are said among collectors to have a very brittle plastic (I know from first hand reports), and the service is iffy.
If you need a ballpoint, might I suggest the rotring 600 tri? Two ball points and a
It writes decently, and you get a pack of twenty for $.99 if you shop around. I end up losing a lot of them, but it's OK, because at $.05 each I don't miss them.
I've had (and lost) $50.00 pens. The Bic seems to work just as well. And, when they don't, you can snap them in half and throw them away. Great stress relief.
I haven't been able to leave a pen on my desk for five minutes in years without someone stealing it. No one seems to clue that those nice pens I buy are not from departmental stock cabinets, or everyone would already be using them! Then people wonder why I lock everything up in my desk, even when I'm "just" going for lunch.
I do not fail; I succeed at finding out what does not work.
If ever you stuck the thing into a wall socket, I'd make you hold on to it.
If you get funny ideas about sticking me with some wimpy little pentel, just forget it.
Tell me some storries about graphite in disk drives. If you mess with MY drives, I'll crack you over the head with my Model M keyboard.
Friends don't help friends install M$ junk.
An informative thread, this; to recap:
1) Paper makes a big difference; you need good paper for fountain pens.
2) Good fountain pens write smoothly out of the box
3) Don't let others use your fountain pen too much
4) Use a biro for signing credit cards, payment slips etc
I use a Mont Blanc Meisterstuck (medium sized). My friend Steve (hi!) let me have a go with his about 14 year ago, and it was a revelation after the Parkers I had used until then. It cost two and a half times as much, but was incomparably better... I got one that evening and am still using it... (and yes, my hand does hurt)
I collect fountain pens and pencils, and I taught myself an Italic calligraphic style of writing several decades ago, which I have never regretted. I believe that the brand and make of writing instrument best for you will depend entirely on your reasons for buying it. I warn you that I am a collector and tend to buy pens and pencils costing at least $100 apiece (current U. S. list prices), and usually at least triple that.
Several people have commented on the non-utility and beauty of fountain pens. Undoubtedly the most lavishly beautiful but non-functional fountain pens made today are the collectors' editions by Montblanc, ranging in price upwards from $500 or so, at discount, in the United States. I own several collectors' editions by Montblanc, and they are a joy to see and handle. However, I would not advise actually writing with a Montblanc, since every single Montblanc that I own leaks, from their bottom-of-the-line fat cigars (I own two) to my collectors' edition Hemingway (a gorgeous ink sieve.) Carrying a filled Montblanc fountain pen is a great way to ruin your clothes. The Montblanc rollers, ballpoints, and pencils that I own never worked well for me in daily use either, since they also tended to be fragile and difficult to buy supplies for. Montblancs are more "collectable" than the other brands I will mention, so it is easier to re-sell them, I have been told. Montblanc is a foolish choice for a calligrapher, a P. T. Barnum high-price-tag brand, in my opinion.
The most beautiful fountain pens made--that actually work--are Pelikans. I own a couple of very expensive Pelikans ($1000 range at discount in the U. S.), and these collectors' pens also are completely functional and virtually leakproof. However, I do not recommend Pelikan's ballpoints, rollerballs, or pencils, since mine have proven to be fragile. Also, I have sometimes had some trouble in obtaining refills in the U. S.
My favorite brand of working writing instruments is Parker. Parker fountain pens are beautiful, not overly ornate. Every single one I own works flawlessly. Parkers' rollerballs are the best I have ever used. I am not a big ballpoint user, but the ballpoints I own by Parker also serve when needed. I also use and love their high-end automatic pencils.
My current favorite writing instrument is a Faber Castell automatic pencil that cost me $100, full list U. S. price. Other brands of fountain pen that I have enjoyed actually carrying and writing with are Conklin, Delta, and Aurora--all good functional, real, working fountain pens.
gday. i worked for a Pen Shop (yes they do exist and sell exclusively pens up to $50,000!!) for several years and can offer pretty good opinion on pens. First out... Mont Blanc are a wanker's status symbol and a crap pen...we know it, they know it, but damn it sells well. If you are a ballpoint user go for a Cross or a Waterman (excellent), Lamy, Fisher Space Pen (personal favourite), or a Rotring. If you like fountain pens, definately head more towards the Waterman or the Montegrappe...but they can be pricey. If you are a pencil man, then Faber Castelle, Lamy or Rotring are excellent. These i recommend because of weighting, ease of writing, value for money, and excellent warranty. I'd generally say spend up to $250US will still result in quality for money...after that it's artwork, silver, brandname, prestige...etc... enjoy! PS Personal use : Space Pen. writes anywhere. kicks ass for engineers. Otherwise a Montegrappe Heritage is my point of choice!
http://www.spacepen.com/
Writes in zero gravity/upside down, in freezing cold , under water but best of all...
Can fit inside your front pants pocket (for when your shirt has no front pocket).
Oddly enough, it was a Seinfeld episode that turned me on to these.
Gee, if only there was some kind of searchable, massive collection of computers that were all hooked together somehow, and contained this kind of information. If businesses were a part of it, it would be even better.
My beliefs do not require that you agree with them.
Nobody on the first page mentions the Zebra F-402.
I've been using these for years, and while I've never needed an external source to verify my assessment of quality, these pens bear the mark of a champion: Everyone is constantly stealing them from me.
If I fail to clip it inside my shirt collar, I can measure the time between when I lay it down, and when it turns up missing, in minutes.
For those that would die defending it, Freedom
has a sweet taste that the protected will never know.