Comments on: Tuesday’s Tip: Get a Good Pen http://www.productivity501.com/tuesdays-tip-get-a-good-pen/201/ Pieces of the productivity puzzle. Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:02:23 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Ruth P http://www.productivity501.com/tuesdays-tip-get-a-good-pen/201/comment-page-1/#comment-130961 Ruth P Thu, 05 Nov 2009 12:50:33 +0000 http://www.productivity501.com/tuesdays-tip-get-a-good-pen/201/#comment-130961 I definitely agree. A comfortable attractive pen begs to be used. :) I love pens ! I like to leave them in a display case when I'm not using them. I collect them but not just for show. I prefer using them but when they're sitting around waiting their turn to be used I think it's nice to display them and in a place where they won't get dusty. I have a gripe. Why is it that expensive pens don't have any better (sometimes worse) ink than their cheaper counterparts? It's like all the money from the price of the pen gets poured into the color, design, etc but *not the ink.* It's next to impossible to get a good ball point ink. Bic is one of a very select few that writes boldly and smoothly and seems to write the minute that you set pen to paper while other pens' ink have to be coaxed out, first. The tricky thing is too, if an ink manages to be bold and smooth writing, it has a tendency to clot on the paper and your hands. Although, as I say, Bic, and I think PaperMate don't have this issue or the issue is not as bad as with other inks. I'm not saying that there are not others - it's just that I seem to get stuck with the brands that have terrible ink. You shouldn't have to buy a refill in order to have a decent ballpoint ink. That should already be inside your new pen. Any thoughts? I definitely agree. A comfortable attractive pen begs to be used. :)

I love pens ! I like to leave them in a display case when I’m not using them. I collect them but not just for show. I prefer using them but when they’re sitting around waiting their turn to be used I think it’s nice to display them and in a place where they won’t get dusty.

I have a gripe. Why is it that expensive pens don’t have any better (sometimes worse) ink than their cheaper counterparts? It’s like all the money from the price of the pen gets poured into the color, design, etc but *not the ink.* It’s next to impossible to get a good ball point ink. Bic is one of a very select few that writes boldly and smoothly and seems to write the minute that you set pen to paper while other pens’ ink have to be coaxed out, first. The tricky thing is too, if an ink manages to be bold and smooth writing, it has a tendency to clot on the paper and your hands. Although, as I say, Bic, and I think PaperMate don’t have this issue or the issue is not as bad as with other inks. I’m not saying that there are not others – it’s just that I seem to get stuck with the brands that have terrible ink. You shouldn’t have to buy a refill in order to have a decent ballpoint ink. That should already be inside your new pen. Any thoughts?

]]> By: Tim Price http://www.productivity501.com/tuesdays-tip-get-a-good-pen/201/comment-page-1/#comment-104914 Tim Price Tue, 27 Jan 2009 19:41:23 +0000 http://www.productivity501.com/tuesdays-tip-get-a-good-pen/201/#comment-104914 Foray Precision Poing .05. Good stuff Foray Precision Poing .05. Good stuff

]]> By: Patrick Mackaaij http://www.productivity501.com/tuesdays-tip-get-a-good-pen/201/comment-page-1/#comment-104912 Patrick Mackaaij Tue, 27 Jan 2009 19:13:25 +0000 http://www.productivity501.com/tuesdays-tip-get-a-good-pen/201/#comment-104912 I carry the small Inka Pen as part of my keyring. Very convenient indeed. See the URL for more info. I carry the small Inka Pen as part of my keyring. Very convenient indeed. See the URL for more info.

]]> By: Nils Davis http://www.productivity501.com/tuesdays-tip-get-a-good-pen/201/comment-page-1/#comment-98060 Nils Davis Tue, 28 Oct 2008 18:46:52 +0000 http://www.productivity501.com/tuesdays-tip-get-a-good-pen/201/#comment-98060 Since my original reply a year ago, I've started making my own pens. You can see a few of them <a href="http://lumberjocks.com/projects/8262" rel="nofollow">here</a>. I'm really enjoying writing with pens that I've made! Nils Since my original reply a year ago, I’ve started making my own pens. You can see a few of them here. I’m really enjoying writing with pens that I’ve made!

Nils

]]> By: Cody http://www.productivity501.com/tuesdays-tip-get-a-good-pen/201/comment-page-1/#comment-97949 Cody Mon, 27 Oct 2008 11:19:50 +0000 http://www.productivity501.com/tuesdays-tip-get-a-good-pen/201/#comment-97949 I would agree -- I feel more motivated to work well when I've got good tools to use. My personal favorites are the Zebra F-301 Ball Points (Fine). I would agree — I feel more motivated to work well when I’ve got good tools to use. My personal favorites are the Zebra F-301 Ball Points (Fine).

]]> By: Mark Shead http://www.productivity501.com/tuesdays-tip-get-a-good-pen/201/comment-page-1/#comment-17872 Mark Shead Fri, 11 Jan 2008 15:17:19 +0000 http://www.productivity501.com/tuesdays-tip-get-a-good-pen/201/#comment-17872 @Doug - When I was writing a lot of music, I used a 0.7mm mechanical pencil and found it seemed to work best for what I needed. @Matthew - Last time I tried on of those it seemed to want to "eat" the paper. Maybe I write to heavy. @Doug – When I was writing a lot of music, I used a 0.7mm mechanical pencil and found it seemed to work best for what I needed.

@Matthew – Last time I tried on of those it seemed to want to “eat” the paper. Maybe I write to heavy.

]]> By: Doug http://www.productivity501.com/tuesdays-tip-get-a-good-pen/201/comment-page-1/#comment-17750 Doug Thu, 10 Jan 2008 21:07:51 +0000 http://www.productivity501.com/tuesdays-tip-get-a-good-pen/201/#comment-17750 Oddly, I have mostly now stopped using pens and have switched to a mechanical pencil, typically a 0.5 or 0.3 mm lead. This works well a Hipster GTD system where I can write more precisely with less effort. It also helps to remember that most written notes are temporary, so doing them in pencil instead of ink is no problem. There are lots of good pencils out there, but my recent favorite is a $5 rubber barrel one that I picked up at Muji in NYC. Oddly, I have mostly now stopped using pens and have switched to a mechanical pencil, typically a 0.5 or 0.3 mm lead. This works well a Hipster GTD system where I can write more precisely with less effort. It also helps to remember that most written notes are temporary, so doing them in pencil instead of ink is no problem. There are lots of good pencils out there, but my recent favorite is a $5 rubber barrel one that I picked up at Muji in NYC.

]]> By: Matthew Cornell http://www.productivity501.com/tuesdays-tip-get-a-good-pen/201/comment-page-1/#comment-8756 Matthew Cornell Thu, 18 Oct 2007 20:16:37 +0000 http://www.productivity501.com/tuesdays-tip-get-a-good-pen/201/#comment-8756 By far my favorite is the "Pilot Better" (fine tip). Cost: ~$1.50 Writes great, inexpensive refills, feels fine in the hand. More here: http://www.amazon.com/Pilot-Better-Retractable-Ballpoint-Translucent/dp/B00006IEB8 By far my favorite is the “Pilot Better” (fine tip). Cost: ~$1.50 Writes great, inexpensive refills, feels fine in the hand. More here: http://www.amazon.com/Pilot-Better-Retractable-Ballpoint-Translucent/dp/B00006IEB8

]]> By: Barbara Blackwell http://www.productivity501.com/tuesdays-tip-get-a-good-pen/201/comment-page-1/#comment-8438 Barbara Blackwell Sun, 14 Oct 2007 22:17:59 +0000 http://www.productivity501.com/tuesdays-tip-get-a-good-pen/201/#comment-8438 Check out the Namiki retractable fountain pen. They are not inexpensive (best deals on ebay) but I love mine (red with gold, medium nib, deep purple ink). I definately write more when I use it, it feels great to write with. Check out the Namiki retractable fountain pen. They are not inexpensive (best deals on ebay) but I love mine (red with gold, medium nib, deep purple ink).

I definately write more when I use it, it feels great to write with.

]]> By: LJ http://www.productivity501.com/tuesdays-tip-get-a-good-pen/201/comment-page-1/#comment-7884 LJ Tue, 09 Oct 2007 00:25:12 +0000 http://www.productivity501.com/tuesdays-tip-get-a-good-pen/201/#comment-7884 I can't agree more. As a left-handed person, most pens don't work for me. I have collected and discarded enough pens in my lifetime to outfit a small school. Right now the favorite pen is a fountain pen. The ink doesn't smudge down my hand and arm, and it's big enough to be comfortable. I love the feel of a good pen on good paper. Nothing like it! I can’t agree more. As a left-handed person, most pens don’t work for me. I have collected and discarded enough pens in my lifetime to outfit a small school. Right now the favorite pen is a fountain pen. The ink doesn’t smudge down my hand and arm, and it’s big enough to be comfortable.

I love the feel of a good pen on good paper. Nothing like it!

]]> By: Mark Shead http://www.productivity501.com/tuesdays-tip-get-a-good-pen/201/comment-page-1/#comment-7562 Mark Shead Fri, 05 Oct 2007 03:27:47 +0000 http://www.productivity501.com/tuesdays-tip-get-a-good-pen/201/#comment-7562 I'm still partial to the Pilot G2 Gel Pen. They are inexpensive and so far, I haven't found a non-disposable pen that I like better. I would like to try the Fisher Space Pen sometime. I’m still partial to the Pilot G2 Gel Pen. They are inexpensive and so far, I haven’t found a non-disposable pen that I like better. I would like to try the Fisher Space Pen sometime.

]]> By: Fred Schechter http://www.productivity501.com/tuesdays-tip-get-a-good-pen/201/comment-page-1/#comment-7419 Fred Schechter Wed, 03 Oct 2007 14:27:05 +0000 http://www.productivity501.com/tuesdays-tip-get-a-good-pen/201/#comment-7419 Great call on a good pen, however, sometimes the solution of Good pen can be affordable. As a designer, my "office pen" is a simple papermate rollerball. Once you really learn how to draw with them, they're great and don't screw up too badly with markers. For my at home and Moleskeine writing I LOVE the Fisher Space Pen. It's my favorite but it can get a tad smudgy at times. The feel is outstanding though, and they're not too expensive. I've been debating for years about getting a Cross Ion too. Cheers! Great call on a good pen, however, sometimes the solution of Good pen can be affordable.

As a designer, my “office pen” is a simple papermate rollerball. Once you really learn how to draw with them, they’re great and don’t screw up too badly with markers.

For my at home and Moleskeine writing I LOVE the Fisher Space Pen. It’s my favorite but it can get a tad smudgy at times. The feel is outstanding though, and they’re not too expensive.

I’ve been debating for years about getting a Cross Ion too.
Cheers!

]]> By: Nils http://www.productivity501.com/tuesdays-tip-get-a-good-pen/201/comment-page-1/#comment-7354 Nils Wed, 03 Oct 2007 00:04:54 +0000 http://www.productivity501.com/tuesdays-tip-get-a-good-pen/201/#comment-7354 This is so true - I get happy when I write with my Uniball Gel Impact RT. I also like the Signo gel pens. They write so smoothly, and my physical writing style gets much more free and flexible when I use them vs a regular ballpoint. This is so true – I get happy when I write with my Uniball Gel Impact RT. I also like the Signo gel pens. They write so smoothly, and my physical writing style gets much more free and flexible when I use them vs a regular ballpoint.

]]> By: Basu http://www.productivity501.com/tuesdays-tip-get-a-good-pen/201/comment-page-1/#comment-7341 Basu Tue, 02 Oct 2007 17:35:15 +0000 http://www.productivity501.com/tuesdays-tip-get-a-good-pen/201/#comment-7341 I wouldn't say that I'm a pen fiend or anything like that, but I do choose my instruments with care. In fact when I moved the US for college, I brought a whole box of my favorite pens with me. I wouldn’t say that I’m a pen fiend or anything like that, but I do choose my instruments with care. In fact when I moved the US for college, I brought a whole box of my favorite pens with me.

]]> By: Brad Newman http://www.productivity501.com/tuesdays-tip-get-a-good-pen/201/comment-page-1/#comment-7337 Brad Newman Tue, 02 Oct 2007 16:36:21 +0000 http://www.productivity501.com/tuesdays-tip-get-a-good-pen/201/#comment-7337 Really good tip. I always carry a pen with me that has meaning. It's not the price of it, but rather where it's from or who used it before me. I like to get pens from my favorite hotels for some reason.... Really good tip. I always carry a pen with me that has meaning. It’s not the price of it, but rather where it’s from or who used it before me. I like to get pens from my favorite hotels for some reason….

]]>