November 30, 2007

Pilot Bravo pen in Fortune Magazine

How I Work: Tim Brown, CEO of IDEO
Take good notes: I always carry a Moleskine single-lined five-by-seven-inch notebook. I replace it when it gets full -- about every six months. I have a half-dozen or so now. They're on a shelf in my office in Palo Alto. I'll use any pen, but I prefer my Pilot Bravo black one. It's good for writing, sketching, and drawing. I go through the finished ones and highlight the big ideas so they don't get lost.

I caught this article a few weeks back in Fortune Magazine, where Tim Brown professed his love for his Moleskine and black Pilot Bravo pen. The photos from the article are not online, but the magazine itself had an open shot of his Moleskine and a few notes, and the ink on the page looked great.

I had never seen or used a Pilot Bravo before, and they were surprisingly hard to find. I ordered a few from BestPensOnline.com (quick and easy btw), but shortly after putting them to use, I realized these were not the pens for me. For some reason I had it in my head that these were a porous tip pen, when in fact they are a standard felt tip marker, and a rather wide one at that. The pen in and of itself is fine, but I do not really have a use for something with that wide of a line. The tip also seemed to break down rather quickly as well, as my lines were much wider after I had only used the pen for a couple of pages of notes. I have yet to use it in a Moleskine - really don't see it being useful to me there - but I will post a sample of it very soon.

Coming Soon

I just received my first order from JetPens.com (wow, that was fast shipping!), so look for reviews on all of the pens listed below in the near future.

See all sizes of this photo on Flickr

2 x Pilot Hi-Tec-C Slim Knock Gel Ink Pen - 0.3 mm - Black
1 x Pilot Hi-Tec-C Slim Knock Gel Ink Pen - 0.3 mm - Blue
2 x Pentel Slicci Gel Pen - 0.3 mm - Black Ink
1 x Pentel Slicci Gel Pen - 0.3 mm - Blue Ink
1 x Pilot G-2 Gel Pen - 0.38 mm - Black
1 x Pilot Hi-Tec-C Coleto 3 Color Multi Pen - Pen Body - Black
1 x Pilot Hi-Tec-C Coleto Multi Pen Ink Cartridge - 0.4 mm - Black
1 x Pilot Hi-Tec-C Coleto Multi Pen Ink Cartridge - 0.4 mm - Blue
1 x Pilot Hi-Tec-C Coleto Multi Pen Ink Cartridge - 0.4 mm - Pink

November 29, 2007

Review: Uni-ball Signo bit 0.38


See all sizes of this photo on Flickr

I wasn't crazy about this pen as soon as I opened the package, but it is growing on me. It sometimes takes a second to get the ink flowing, but stays pretty consistent once it does, outside of a few clogs and clumps. I have only used it for a short period or time, so its durability is to be determined.

Samples

A few notes on the samples I will be uploading:

- I am currently using the Moleskine Lined Pocket Reporter Notebook (3 1/2" x 5 1/2") for the samples, so keep that in perspective when looking at the size of the writing.
- All photos are uploaded to flickr, and I will provide a link to each page so all sizes of the image can be viewed.
- I don't plan on writing any stock text unless requested. It will just be whatever I come up with on the fly, mistakes and all.
- There will probably be tweaks as I go along to ensure I'm giving the best representation of the ink on paper.
- I am open to suggestions on what pens/paper/text to be reviewed, so please just leave a comment on what you would like to see.

Pen samples/reviews are not the only things that will be posted here. There will be plenty of other content as I go forward, so stay tuned.

Welcome to The Pen Addict!

If you have stumbled across this page, then you have a problem. A problem like mine. A problem you don't share publicly with many others. But in the blogosphere, we are all friends, and we can talk about our issues, and share with other like-minded individuals. And that is why I am starting this blog.

My name is Noisy, and I am an addict.