5 ms·

The Pen, Mightier (2011)

57 points by scour 2y ago

gennarro 2y ago
Helpful companion if you want to learn more about the Pilot pen featured in the article: https://unsharpen.com/pilot-precise-and-hi-tecpoint-pen-guide/ https://unsharpen.com/pilot-precise-and-hi-tecpoint-pen-guid...
- jseliger 2y ago
  "Pens are often considered a fetish item of neurotics with disposable income" I don't have tremendous disposable income but pens are a pretty minor indulgence, which might excuse making them into a fetish item, writing pointlessly elaborate reviews of them (https://jakeseliger.com/2009/04/05/product-review-pens/ https://jakeseliger.com/2009/04/05/product-review-pens/), and so forth. Overall, I've come to like the Pigma Micron PN ("plastic nib") pens, which writes smoothly and from any angle—including above my head, which is handy for someone who likes to lie down and read. I've carried around fountain pens, but they are too expensive if (when) lost, and too finicky.
  - johngossman 2y ago
    Yeah, I think I can dispose of the ~$16 for a pack of 12 these are currently going for. Which, when you consider how many things go into the manufacture of one of these, all the little parts, assembly, is practically a miracle.
  - jmspring 2y ago
    I don't do a lot of writing, that said I use fountain pens when sketching out ideas / designs - paper is preferred to sketching / whiteboard programs. I've found the pen that works for me is a $30 Lamy fountain pen - it works better for me than ballpoints, etc.
  - cylinder714 2y ago
    Zebra V-301 fountain pens go for about USD$5 and I think they make disposable ones for less.
causality0 2y ago
My life would have taken a different and probably less computer-centered path if I hadn't found the act of writing physically uncomfortable. From the day I learned to write all the way through to the present, it doesn't take more than a couple of minutes for my hand to begin aching. How fascinating it would be to be one of those people who can put pen to page for hours at a time, or buzz out notes in real-time then look down without being repulsed at the form of their handwriting.
- johngossman 2y ago
  Fwiw...I had no hand problems and excellent handwriting. People used to ask me to transcribe their notes for handouts. And after about age 20, I almost completely abandoned it in favor of keyboards. All to say, your life might not have been any different
- cylinder714 2y ago
  A couple of thoughts: - I met a clerk at a bakery I frequented (for business, not pleasure) who made a tight fist with a pen whenever she wrote down an order. How do you hold a pen or pencil? I think the ideal is to hold it as lightly as possible with your thumb, fore- and middle fingers. - A fountain pen has the least amount of friction of any writing instrument; I learned to write with one in grade school, and managed to forget it later. But I recently picked up a cheap Zebra V-301 for USD$5 and am trying it again.
- kstrauser 2y ago
  Same for me. I bought a Lamy Safari fountain pen with a triangular grip that sort of forces me to hold it the “right” way, and it was transformative. What, handwriting can be pain-free? And I don’t have to consciously remember to adjust my grip because it pushes me that way? Miracles! More info here: https://www.themanual.com/culture/different-types-of-pencil-grips/ https://www.themanual.com/culture/different-types-of-pencil-... My hand wants to use the lateral tripod grip by default, leading to me gripping the pen too hard and my hand hurting. The Safari gets me to use the dynamic tripod grip which is vastly more comfortable. They’re both considered “mature” grips, but one is much better for writing lots of text in one sitting.
Jun8 2y ago
For those of you in the Chicagoland area, the Pen Show is happening this weekend: https://www.chicagopenshow.com/ https://www.chicagopenshow.com/
- deleted 2y ago
  [deleted]
rl3 2y ago
"No, no no no, no, that's—'The Pen is Mightier.'"
- taneq 2y ago
  White space is very important. ;)
- SoftTalker 2y ago
  My middle school brain came here for this joke.
- trollerator23 2y ago
  Dammit. I was beaten to it... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Zm7NR4-FFw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Zm7NR4-FFw
function_seven 2y ago
I have a similar “origin story” with the Precise V5. I remember how so much better it was than the ballpoints I had used before. Still use it today. That being said, I miss the old color scheme of these pens. In my day, the V7s were vividly color matched to the ink, whereas the V5s were a lighter shade of the same hue. The black V5 had a gray body, the blue one had a sky-blue body. This reinforced my opinion of V7 users as babies with their crayons, while us V5 users were sophisticated and elegant. My math homework somehow seemed more exacting because of that spindly little nub laser-focused on the work at hand.
- wrp 2y ago
  I remember using a V5 for a couple years, I think in the early 1990s, as a cheap alternative to a fountain pen. That was when gel pens were still rather stiff and globby, not much better than ballpoints. I'm completely a gel user now.
- rhombocombus 2y ago
  V5 was always my favorite, but the v7 consistently stands up to my ham handed abuse without ruining the ball. They will leak if flown with or washed, and because of a few dramatic ruptures I have been experimenting with the uniball vision fine with excellent results.
phoe-krk 2y ago
(2011)
flerchin 2y ago
This rhymes with the obsession of programmers and bespoke mechanical keyboards.
- vollmond 2y ago
  There's a lot of overlap, too. Also with fancy headphones: https://www.reddit.com/r/mechanicalheadpens/ https://www.reddit.com/r/mechanicalheadpens/
gbin 2y ago
Question for the crowd that likes handwriting: did you transition to a writing tablet? The day I bought a Remarkable 1 instead of lugging around notebooks has been a revelation for me. Now moved on to a boox 3c (with colors!) after a few years on a remarkable 2 in between.
- woodrowbarlow 2y ago
  i carry a small field notes[1] book in a slim leather sleeve that also serves as my wallet, and i tuck a pen[2] in the fold. i change out the notebook every few months when it's full. i value how compact this is, and i value never needing to charge any batteries. i also value being able to rip out a piece of paper and hand it to someone or place it somewhere. in the first few pages of a new notebook, i often find myself wishing i had access to the old notebook (sometimes i carry both for a period). i would consider switching if the form factor were small enough and the battery life were long enough. i would appreciate having full access to my archive, and the ability to backup/post-process the data. i would still miss having the ability to rip out a piece of paper. i'm honestly not sure where i'd land on the final decision. 1: https://fieldnotesbrand.com/products/original-kraft https://fieldnotesbrand.com/products/original-kraft 2: rOtring 600 w/ fisher space refills
variadix 2y ago
At one point I bought a bunch of pens from jetpens because I wanted to find “the best pen” (for me at least). I bought like 10 different kinds, some of which were I think exclusive to Japanese markets, some ballpoints, some gel rollers, etc. based on what people recommended online. Ultimately I think the Uniball Signo DX in 0.5mm and the Pilot Hi-Tec C in 0.4mm were my favorites, they felt really smooth and precise, though the quality of paper matters a lot (Rhodia is really good). The Pilot G2 is still my go to because it’s easy to find in stores and not too expensive.

57 points by scour 2y ago

Helpful companion if you want to learn more about the Pilot pen featured in the article: https://unsharpen.com/pilot-precise-and-hi-tecpoint-pen-guide/ https://unsharpen.com/pilot-precise-and-hi-tecpoint-pen-guid...

jseliger 2y ago
"Pens are often considered a fetish item of neurotics with disposable income" I don't have tremendous disposable income but pens are a pretty minor indulgence, which might excuse making them into a fetish item, writing pointlessly elaborate reviews of them (https://jakeseliger.com/2009/04/05/product-review-pens/ https://jakeseliger.com/2009/04/05/product-review-pens/), and so forth. Overall, I've come to like the Pigma Micron PN ("plastic nib") pens, which writes smoothly and from any angle—including above my head, which is handy for someone who likes to lie down and read. I've carried around fountain pens, but they are too expensive if (when) lost, and too finicky.
- johngossman 2y ago
  Yeah, I think I can dispose of the ~$16 for a pack of 12 these are currently going for. Which, when you consider how many things go into the manufacture of one of these, all the little parts, assembly, is practically a miracle.
- jmspring 2y ago
  I don't do a lot of writing, that said I use fountain pens when sketching out ideas / designs - paper is preferred to sketching / whiteboard programs. I've found the pen that works for me is a $30 Lamy fountain pen - it works better for me than ballpoints, etc.
- cylinder714 2y ago
  Zebra V-301 fountain pens go for about USD$5 and I think they make disposable ones for less.

causality0 2y ago

My life would have taken a different and probably less computer-centered path if I hadn't found the act of writing physically uncomfortable. From the day I learned to write all the way through to the present, it doesn't take more than a couple of minutes for my hand to begin aching. How fascinating it would be to be one of those people who can put pen to page for hours at a time, or buzz out notes in real-time then look down without being repulsed at the form of their handwriting.

johngossman 2y ago
Fwiw...I had no hand problems and excellent handwriting. People used to ask me to transcribe their notes for handouts. And after about age 20, I almost completely abandoned it in favor of keyboards. All to say, your life might not have been any different
cylinder714 2y ago
A couple of thoughts: - I met a clerk at a bakery I frequented (for business, not pleasure) who made a tight fist with a pen whenever she wrote down an order. How do you hold a pen or pencil? I think the ideal is to hold it as lightly as possible with your thumb, fore- and middle fingers. - A fountain pen has the least amount of friction of any writing instrument; I learned to write with one in grade school, and managed to forget it later. But I recently picked up a cheap Zebra V-301 for USD$5 and am trying it again.
kstrauser 2y ago
Same for me. I bought a Lamy Safari fountain pen with a triangular grip that sort of forces me to hold it the “right” way, and it was transformative. What, handwriting can be pain-free? And I don’t have to consciously remember to adjust my grip because it pushes me that way? Miracles! More info here: https://www.themanual.com/culture/different-types-of-pencil-grips/ https://www.themanual.com/culture/different-types-of-pencil-... My hand wants to use the lateral tripod grip by default, leading to me gripping the pen too hard and my hand hurting. The Safari gets me to use the dynamic tripod grip which is vastly more comfortable. They’re both considered “mature” grips, but one is much better for writing lots of text in one sitting.

Jun8 2y ago

For those of you in the Chicagoland area, the Pen Show is happening this weekend: https://www.chicagopenshow.com/ https://www.chicagopenshow.com/

deleted 2y ago
[deleted]

rl3 2y ago

"No, no no no, no, that's—'The Pen is Mightier.'"

taneq 2y ago
White space is very important. ;)
SoftTalker 2y ago
My middle school brain came here for this joke.
trollerator23 2y ago
Dammit. I was beaten to it... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Zm7NR4-FFw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Zm7NR4-FFw

function_seven 2y ago

I have a similar “origin story” with the Precise V5. I remember how so much better it was than the ballpoints I had used before. Still use it today. That being said, I miss the old color scheme of these pens. In my day, the V7s were vividly color matched to the ink, whereas the V5s were a lighter shade of the same hue. The black V5 had a gray body, the blue one had a sky-blue body. This reinforced my opinion of V7 users as babies with their crayons, while us V5 users were sophisticated and elegant. My math homework somehow seemed more exacting because of that spindly little nub laser-focused on the work at hand.

wrp 2y ago
I remember using a V5 for a couple years, I think in the early 1990s, as a cheap alternative to a fountain pen. That was when gel pens were still rather stiff and globby, not much better than ballpoints. I'm completely a gel user now.
rhombocombus 2y ago
V5 was always my favorite, but the v7 consistently stands up to my ham handed abuse without ruining the ball. They will leak if flown with or washed, and because of a few dramatic ruptures I have been experimenting with the uniball vision fine with excellent results.

phoe-krk 2y ago

(2011)

flerchin 2y ago

This rhymes with the obsession of programmers and bespoke mechanical keyboards.

vollmond 2y ago
There's a lot of overlap, too. Also with fancy headphones: https://www.reddit.com/r/mechanicalheadpens/ https://www.reddit.com/r/mechanicalheadpens/

gbin 2y ago

Question for the crowd that likes handwriting: did you transition to a writing tablet? The day I bought a Remarkable 1 instead of lugging around notebooks has been a revelation for me. Now moved on to a boox 3c (with colors!) after a few years on a remarkable 2 in between.

woodrowbarlow 2y ago
i carry a small field notes[1] book in a slim leather sleeve that also serves as my wallet, and i tuck a pen[2] in the fold. i change out the notebook every few months when it's full. i value how compact this is, and i value never needing to charge any batteries. i also value being able to rip out a piece of paper and hand it to someone or place it somewhere. in the first few pages of a new notebook, i often find myself wishing i had access to the old notebook (sometimes i carry both for a period). i would consider switching if the form factor were small enough and the battery life were long enough. i would appreciate having full access to my archive, and the ability to backup/post-process the data. i would still miss having the ability to rip out a piece of paper. i'm honestly not sure where i'd land on the final decision. 1: https://fieldnotesbrand.com/products/original-kraft https://fieldnotesbrand.com/products/original-kraft 2: rOtring 600 w/ fisher space refills

variadix 2y ago

At one point I bought a bunch of pens from jetpens because I wanted to find “the best pen” (for me at least). I bought like 10 different kinds, some of which were I think exclusive to Japanese markets, some ballpoints, some gel rollers, etc. based on what people recommended online. Ultimately I think the Uniball Signo DX in 0.5mm and the Pilot Hi-Tec C in 0.4mm were my favorites, they felt really smooth and precise, though the quality of paper matters a lot (Rhodia is really good). The Pilot G2 is still my go to because it’s easy to find in stores and not too expensive.