What NON-fountain pen writing instrument do you LOVE?

[mathmarc]

I love my \LaTeX: a mark-up language for computer typesetting. With it you can typeset sublime pdfs for every imaginable purpose with an Amiga, if you like -- tho there are excellent front-ends for current systems, of course. I run TeXShop on OS X.

 

 

I love Tex too, although I utilize the Lucida series of fonts, which I prefer. Knuth may have spent forever designing

Computer Modern.. but I just find it a little kludgy for extended reading.

 

Not to side track the conversation though, I would highly

recommend experimenting with TextMate + Skim pdf viewer for your editing. TexShop is nice, but TextMate is FAR nicer

editor, with some very powerful features. Feel free to PM me if you have any questions.

 

 

 

[ultraman60]

I just love my Visconti opera ballpoint!

 

Felix

[JeffTL]

That would be the Hewlett-Packard LaserJet series.

[wednesday_mac]

Glass dip pen from Italy.

[DougS]

Yellow #2 pencil

 

 

So I was wondering - what non-fountain pen writing instrument do you still love to use or treasure?

 

[Breck]

My work is divided 50%/49% between my fountain pens and my pencils. BUt people

who say they use any old wood pencil are missing out on something special. (just as people who dont

understand why we use fountain pens are). For anyone in need of a pencil,

you must check out the California Republic Palomino line. The lead is perfect

as is the cedar smell. ALso, I am in love with my Graf von Faber Castell "Perfect Pencil".

Often it is the talk of any talk/seminar I am at. (must more so than anyone's FP).

 

For the final 1% missing from above I use my Graf von Faber Castell rollerball. It is my travel

pen and honestly, I enjoy writing with it more than I like to admit.

 

m

 

p.s. seriously.. try out the Palomino's!

 

Palominos are great. My other favorite woodcase pencils are Musgrave HBs and Helix Oxfords. Available at pencilthings.com (no affiliations, etc.).

 

To answer the original question, pencils are where it's at. If I must use a ballpoint, it's a Zebra F-301, but I definitely do not love it. In fact, using one exclusively for all of last semester is what sent me screaming to wooden pencils and now to FPs.

[cfclark]

If I can't have a fountain pen, I'm happy with a Dixon Ticonderoga (or a handful). And to echo the previous poster's signature, I heartily recommend Henry Petroski's The Pencil as a great meditation on an everyday object.

[RayMan]

I am shocked to say that I really love Parker RBs.

 

I like Parker RBs, but I prefer a Parker ballpoint pen with a gel ball refill. Unlike my RBs (Pelikan, Parker, Montblanc and Waterman), the Parker gel ball provides zero bleeding in my Exacompta journal. The RBs show some spotty and unsightly bleed through in the Exacompta.

 

[Augustine]

At work I sometime have to write on things that don't take well to liquid ink or gell pens. For those times I usually use a Parker Jotter, or my favourite disposible--the BIC cristal, but only with blue ink. I will not use a ball point pen with black ink; it looks too washed out or something, blue only for me.

 

If writing on something that doesn't even like a ball point (microscope slides &c.) then I use a 0.5 mm cross mechanical pencil.

[HDoug]

+1 for Sharpies. I was writing with an extra fine Sharpie on a CD the other day and found the writing experience friction-free and wonderful. It also flattered my handwriting. Who woulda thunk?

 

Doug

Edited July 11, 2008 by HDoug

[Garageboy]

Pentel Sharp

or my 2mm Lead Holders

[Gawain]

Marvy St. Tropez II with Itoya Gel GMR-7 gel refil cartridge... WOW... what a smooth writer.. the St. Tropez II is not available any longer but the St. Tropez is a very nice twist cap pen. (for $12 USD)

 

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x75/gawain33/st_tropez_II.jpg

 

 

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x75/gawain33/st_tropez.jpg

Edited July 11, 2008 by Gawain

[el3ssar]

I enjoy a wood case pencil or a good gel pen too

[yoyosma]

Fisher bullet space pen.

 

I went out and bought this thing and have had buyers remorse ever since "...a ballpoint? Why and how in the heck did I manage to spend that kind of $$$ on a ballpoint?!?!?!"

 

...Darned if I don't carry the thing in my pocket EVERY DAY and pull it out at least 5 times a day to actually use. No more use for germy, crappy ballpoints at the checkout counter anymore.

[MYU]

• Delta Maasai rollerball -- compliments the big sibling fountain pen. These new "liquid/dry" rollerballs that can be used on capless pens are the best I've ever seen.
• Rotring 600 rollerball is the ultimate blast proof pen (no nib to damage). Solid and rugged. A little too heavy for daily writing. I use it to jot down something quick or ward off a would-be mugger.
• Fisher bullet space pen is a very cool little writing instrument. The anti-gravity filler must be the reason why you don't have to press hard to use it.
• Pilot MYU black stripe ballpoint and mechanical pencil -- they are super thin in diameter, but rugged nonetheless without feeling weighty.

[Sapphire]

Cross mechanical pencil or Faber Castell's Perfect Pencil.

[Renzhe]

Besides fountain pens, I like

Brushes

Pencils

This keyboard

H&K MP5

[Loveforwords]

 

I recall my first exposure to a non conventional writing instrument to be a mechanical pencil that had a three pronged mechanical device that held the lead. I believe it was of German make and of a mustard yellow color. I recall being very fascinated with it.This was over twenty three years ago.

[penmanila]

my macbook air, of course as a professional writer, my life depends on it!

[jimg]

Vintage woodcased pencils.

Usually an Eberhard Faber Blackwing,Van Dyke or Microtomic.

I've never tried better,although the California Republic Palominos are very good.

Edited July 12, 2008 by jimg