Google AdSense and Pens For Kids Update

If you remember a while back, I mentioned my plan for any Google AdSense revenue generated by The Pen Addict.  Well, my first check has arrived, and based on my previous plan, I will be sending Pens For Kids a check for 1/2 of the amount, along with a big bag of extra pens, and will be using the remaining 1/2 for giveaways on this blog.

I just wanted to says thanks to all of the readers and friends that make The Pen Addict a success.  As always, stay tuned for more, and look for the first giveaway in the coming weeks.

Review: Pilot G-1 Grip 0.5mm Blue

As I re-read my handwritten review, I should have been more clear. The Pilot G-1 is the predecessor to the G-2 and G-3 - gogo numerical order! So as you can imagine, it writes similarly as well. It has been a while since I have used an 0.5mm G-2, but I remember it writing a little more cleanly than this G-1. Maybe it is the barrel design I prefer on the G-2, as well as the convenience of the retractable tip, that makes be like it better. The G-1 isn't a bad pen. It's just redundant these days.

One additional note:  I added a highlighter test at the request of a few readers.  The G-1 did very well in that regard, hardly smudging at all.  I barely gave it any time to dry either - I wrote the line, and then came right back over it with the highlighter.  I'll try to do this on other reviews from time to time, and I'll try to photograph it better as well.

Ink Links

Sorry for the lack of reviews this week - real life has a knack for getting in the way sometimes.  Hopefully I can make up for it with a load of cool links.  Enjoy!

-- Man decorates basement with $10 worth of Sharpie  (Kentucky.com)

-- Pilot Hi-Tec-C Coleto Multi Pen Review  (Lung Sketching Scrolls)

-- Pilot Hi-Tec-C Coleto, how I love you  (Super Eggplant)

-- Pelikan M800 Demonstrator Review  (Fountain Pen Network via Amateur Economist)

-- The Art of Japanese Paper-making: The Awagami +1  (Black Cover)

-- Rhodia ePure Journal  (Spiritual Evolution of the Bean)

-- My friend Murderface has been busy at the Reciprocal Crap Exchange:
California Republic Palomino HB

Skinny Conical Aluminum Pencil Caps

Field Notes Brand Pocket Notebook

Field Notes Brand Pencil

-- Felipe got his hands on the Sharpie Pen  (The Pen Collector)

-- Big time pen addict and pen friend Nrepose has started his own blog  (Unposted)

-- Daily posts of my pens from a collecting addict is new to the pen blogging scene as well  (Goodpens)

-- Thea is a pen addict!!!  (Theazy)

Review: Uni-Ball Signo DX 0.38mm Pink

If you are new to this blog, or are new to Japanese and micro tip pens, the Uni-Ball Signo DX is the first pen I would reccomend for you to try out.  It is the perfect combination of function and form.  I rank the Pentel Slicci and Pilot Hi-Tec-C higher on my personal favorite list, but I think the DX is a pen everyone can love, while there may be a thing or two about the Slicci and Hi-Tec-C that aren't for everyone.  Start your journey here and you will do just fine.

Now on to this pink DX.  The picture doesn't do justice to how bright this shade of pink is - it is almost fluorescent.  I mention that pink is my third favorite color behind black and blue.  My list of most used basic colors would look something like this:

Black
Blue
Pink
Orange
Purple

What colors do you use the most?

Contests and Deals

Two quick hits in case you missed them and are interested:

Moleskinerie.com has begun their 2008 Fall Giveaways.  Hit this link to get all the details, but all you have to do to enter is send them an email.

Field Notes has a Limited Edition (1000 units) 2009 Calendar Pre-Order available, as well as a promotion for when you order four or more 3-packs, they will pick up the cost of one of them.  Essentialy buy 3, get the 4th free.  Enter the code INEEDAFIX between now and Friday, September 26th at Field Notes.

Review: Copic Multiliner 0.03 Black

The Copic Multiliner 0.03mm is just downright cool!  Marianne from I Like Markers sent me this sample to try out, and mentioned that this is the world's finest tip pen - I sure haven't heard of or seen anything smaller.  What is impressive about it is that it doesn't feel too fragile when writing with it.  I have used other micro tip pens, like the Pilot 0.05mm Drawing Pen, and I could hardly use it because I thought I was going to ruin the tip.  I don't get any of that feeling with this Copic.  Quite Impressive.

I meant to add a coin or a ruler to the photo to relate the size better, but hopefully you can tell with the pen included.  It is a standard size pen, and the paper is Doane of course.

Ink Links

-- Welcome to the addiction Jayme, Graciepooh and Jess!

-- Kirsty with some Top 10 lists in her Rhodia  (Rhodia Drive)

-- Shoot-out Review: 3 Cheap Fountain Pens, Part II - Bic Select X Pen  (D*I*Y Planner)

-- Black Cover on the Quo Vadis Habana  (Black Cover)

-- Review: Awagami +1 Journal  (Amateur Economist)

-- Write Like an Architect (via pica+pixel)

Review: Uni-Ball Power Tank Ballpoint

The Uni-Ball Power Tank Ballpoint is actually a lot more interesting than my review indicates.  I'll let JetPens explain:

This pen is worthy of being used either in the military or excursions to Antarctica. The pen writes in extreme conditions including wet surfaces, cool temperatures, and even upside down. Normal pens utilize gravity to create ink flow onto a paper. But the Uni-Ball Power Tank utilizes internal compressed air pressure to push out ink onto the paper. Revolving air inside allows it to continually push ink out until the end. The pen can write in weightless conditions such as in space, on wet paper and subzero environments. The oil based pigment ink is high density and comes out smooth and dark on paper. Pen also features a finely texturize grip composed of 0.16mm slits so that it not only fits comfortably in your hands but is also hard to slip away. Such a high-technology group is only to be expected to match the high performance of this pen. Five body colors and red and blue ink refills are available.

All of that, and still only $3.00?  No wonder it is nearly sold out.  Consider this part one of the review, and I will work on a few more writing tests to see what this pen can really do.

Review: Pilot Hi-Tec-C Mandarin Orange 0.3mm

The shade of orange this Pilot Hi-Tec-C Mandarin Orange lays down is awesome!  It is a very strong and sharp color, which I am getting a lot of use out of.  And it looks like the 0.3mm Hi-Tec-C's are my sweet spot - the perfect combination of line thickness and performance.

I did this review on Doane Paper, as opposed to the Moleskine Reporter notebook paper, which most of my past reviews are done on.  The Doane Paper is much smoother, and I have more room to do a few different things with the reviews.  I need to work on the lighting in my photographs a bit, but otherwise, I like it a lot, and I am thinking about doing the majority of my reviews on Doane Paper going forward.  What do you other pen addicts think about the possible new format?

Review: Pilot VBall RT Extra Fine

I am pleasantly surprised with the Pilot VBall RT Extra Fine.  This is a pen that you should be able to pick up from just about any major retailer or office supply chain (Wal-Mart, Target, Staples, etc.), and at a decent price to boot.  The 0.5mm extra fine puts down a nice and solid black line, with really no resistance from the tip on the paper.  I had no idea I would be using this pen so much.

Ink Links

-- Chad Doane, you sneaky devil!  Click the link, scroll about 2/3 of the way down the right side, and check out the cool Pen Addict link.  Thanks Chad!  (Doane Paper)

-- Even Harvard grads are down with the Pilot G-2  (Us Doing Whatever It Is We Do)

-- Eco-Pencils, When Enough Is Too Much  (Amateur Economist)

-- Seth is thinking about a fountain pen  (Another Postcard From The Highway)

-- D*I*Y Planner starting up a fountain pen shootout  (D*I*Y Planner)

-- Travels and Old Notebooks Revisited - Black cover back in the game  (Black Cover)

-- Review:  Nomad Adventure Journals  (Spiritual Evolution of the Bean)

-- Review:  Bic Select Fountain Pen  (The Pen Collector)

-- Academic Light-up erasers  (Joy of Erasers)

Review: Pilot FriXion Highlighter

I try to like you Pilot FriXion, I really do.  I've tried, and tried some more, but it just doesn't seem to be working out.  Your fancy barrel caught my eye, and you were quite a treat to hold, but deep down inside I know it isn't going to work out.  I'm sorry Pilot FriXion - I think we should see other pens.

Sorry - that just came out of me, but yeah, I don't like this FriXion Highlighter either.  If you click on the photo, you can see that the eraser smudges the ink when erasing (the gel ink pen is the 0.3mm Pentel Slicci).  It does a fine job erasing just the plain highlighter, which you can see at the bottom of the photo, but what good is that?  The color is too light and tends to pool at the tip as well, so there isn't much that I like about this pen.

Thank you Readers!!!

This blog reached a couple of milestones recently that I just wanted to make a quick mention of.  After starting this blog in December of 2007, the pageview count just recently crossed over the 100,000 mark right around the first of September.  It actually happened so fast, I missed it for a few days.  Also, the Feedburner count just crossed over the 500 subscriber mark this week, which is really nice.  I just wanted to take a minute and thank everyone who visits, reads, comments, and emails The Pen Addict - you guys and gals really keep this site going!  This blog has exceeded every expectation I had when I started it.

I've got some cool things planned in the near future, including the first of what I hope to be several giveaways.  As always, if you have any questions, comments, or suggestions, send me an email via the link on the sidebar, or leave a comment on any blog post.  I read them all and try to respond in a timely fashion.

Thanks again!

Review: Uni-Ball Lakubo Ballpoint 0.5

The Uni-Ball Lakubo Ballpoint is kind of meh - it's not bad, but nothing really stands out.  Aside from delivering a comfortable writing experience, the list of positives isn't very long.  Pen spinners might like the length and shape of the barrel, but that's about it.  I just feel that the line leaves a little bit to be desired.  I'd like it darker, but I have to remind my self that this is a much finer ballpoint than normal.  Try it for yourself though - at $1.50 it's a fair price.  This pen was a sample sent by JetPens, and also comes in a 1.4mm width.

Review: Copic Multiliner 0.5

This blue Copic Multiliner 0.5mm was another of the samples received from my friend Marianne at I Like Markers.  I am very impressed with how firm the tip is and how tight my lines are.  This tip falls in the middle of the size range, but it writes as sharp and as clean as a smaller diameter tip.  The blue is a very deep blue, which I personally enjoy.  It is also very comfortable and lightweight, which is nice in a drawing pen.  All in all, another great Copic!

Ink Links

-- Pentel Slicci 0.4mm (ISOT 2007 Winner) now in stock (but going fast) at JetPens  (JetPens)

-- Sakura SumoGrip Mechanical Pencil Review  (Dave's Mechanical Pencils)

-- Are Rhodia Webnotebooks the Moleskine replacement?  (Spiritual Evolution of the Bean)

-- Mucu Type RN-B Notebook - looks really neat  (Pencil Talk)

-- Review: Pilot Precise V5 RT  (Cheap Pen Review)

-- Jon Burgerman interview  (Format Mag)

Quick notes:
I'm finding myself Plurking a lot these days, so feel free to friend me if you are a Plurker too!

Also, I had to turn on comment moderation for posts older than 14 days - too much spam is getting through.  Your comment will be posted, I just have to approve it, so it may take a short while for it to show up.

Welcome Metafilter Readers

Thanks for stopping by, and I hope you enjoy your stay!  Here are a few links to get you started if you are new to the blog:

Review: Pentel Slicci 0.3mm

Review: Pilot Hi-Tec-C Coleto

Review: Sharpie Pen

You know you are a Pen Addict if.....

Please feel free to comment away, or send me an email with any questions.  Have fun!

JetPens Flickr Winner for August

Pen Addict reader and commenter Kataish won the very first JetPens Flickr group contest with a this drawing of Jet-Do taking flight on a fountain pen.  Check it out:

Congrats Kata!

You can check out the winning entry on Flickr right here, and don't forget to add your photos to the pool!

Review: Pilot Symmetry Ballpoint Pen - 0.7 mm

With all of the cool stuff that JetPens has been getting in stock recently, I am turning more and more into a ballpoint pen fan.  I have always viewed ballpoints as messy and inconsistent, but of course that is coming from someone with very little ballpoint experience.  This Pilot Symmetry really impressed me from the moment I opened the package.  And I'll be the first to admit that it took me a few seconds to figure out which end to press to get the tip of the pen to come out!  Once I got that under control, I put it to the test and it performed great.  It lays down a nice, clean, and fine line that rivals any other ballpoint I've tested recently.  The click part of the pen is neat in that it is contained in a rubber sheath that turns concave when you click it in (see additional picture below).  I even slid the window on the pen over to D (for dowdyism of course!) because I am cool like that.

If it seems like I have been praising all of the ballpoint pens I have reviewed recently, it is because I have.  I am going to have to work on a ballpoint pen specific ranking soon, because I personally see them as a different category from gel ink and liquid ink pens.

When I do come up with those rankings, look for the Pilot Symmetry near the top.

Here are the JetPens notes for the Pilot Symmetry:

This pen symbolizes Asia’s appreciation of balanced harmony and the complementary yet opposing forces of the Yin and Yang (two balanced yet opposing aspects of any one phenomenon). The pen is symmetrical and was designed not only as a beautiful object but also one of improved stability. The body's center of gravity makes it very ergonomic to write with. In addition, a special silicon rubber was adopted for both the grip and cap area to improve the durability of this pen. Pen features a rolling ring in the middle that can scroll through all 26 letters of the alphabet so that you can personalize the pen with your initial. Six body colors are available including aqua blue, cherry pink, happy pink, mint green, snow white and vitamin orange. Don't forget to be environmentally friendly and buy refills! Each pen writes in black ink, but black, green, blue, pink, and red ink refills are also available.

Blue Sharpie Pen Blues

My original Sharpie Pen review is easily the most viewed page on this blog, and because of that, it is still drawing frequent comments that most of you are unaware of.  One item has recently appeared in the comments section of that page that I had to bring up, because it is just too good to let wither away.

Pen Addict reader and commentor Stunod7 has seen some of the same issues that many of us have with the shade of blue in the Sharpie Pen being too light.  I never persued it any further, but luckily for the rest of us addicts, Stunod7 did.  I'm going to repost some of the comments here so you can see the chain of events:

August 25, 2008 9:37 PM
Stunod7 said...
    Here is what is crazy. I've bought several packs of these pens and have the same complaint about the blue color. I've bought 10 pens total and 2 of them are a deep, dark, very rich blue. The rest are this namby-pamby light blue color that I hate. I trying to get some kind of resolution from Sharpie. I've sent them a message and I'll give them a call if they don't respond because I love the way the pen writes but I'm a blue person and this light blue won't cut it.

August 26, 2008 3:51 PM
Stunod7 said...
    So far the only thing I've gotten back was an address that I can ship the pens back to and they will replace them. I asked them to clarify the color for me because I wasn't interested in getting back pens of the same color ink.

    The investigation continues....

August 27, 2008 4:55 PM
Stunod7 said...
    According to a Sanford Consumer Affairs Associate that I spoke with these pens should be producing a deeper blue. They are replacing the... 8 or so pens I've purchased and sending me an additional 2 as well.

    They actually requested that I scan and eMail them the samples of my specific issues, which I did. Also posted them on Flickr (see below)
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/stunod7/sets/72157606984074337
    Am I taking this too far... Am I that much of a pen addict...

Stunod7 went on to exchange emails with the Sanford Consumer Affairs Associate, which he has forwarded to me, noting their willingness to make things right for their customer.  Channeling my inner Consumerist, nice job by the Sanford team for going above and beyond, and thanks to Stunod7 for sharing his tale.

And yes Stunod7, you are that much of a pen addict!

Review: Uni-Ball Jetstream Alpha Gel Grip Ballpoint 0.7mm

The Uni-Ball Jetstream Alpha Gel Grip Ballpoint is one bad-ass looking pen.  I can see Jason Bourne ripping this out of his backpack to jot down a quite note while wire-tapping the local CIA contact.  It is that cool looking.  Brushed metal body, super soft gel-grip, Jetstream ink technology - what's not to love about this pen?

I forgot to mention that I received this pen as a sample from JetPens, where you can order it with a black, pink, or silver body.