Why not buy one decent pen “shell” and then just buy the plastic tube with the tip and the ink afterwards?

I know many companies use pens for marketing but still, they could apply this too and also stand up for the environment while still do marketing.

  • 𝕽𝖚𝖆𝖎𝖉𝖍𝖗𝖎𝖌𝖍
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    5
    ·
    2 months ago

    How so?

    There’s only one situation where a ballpoint is better suited than a fountain pen: writing checks. Fountain pens are not good for situations where you have to press hard enough to create a pressure duplicate. Thankfully, check-writing is going slowly extinct.

    There are many pens besides the Pilot Vanishing Point that are just as convenient; why do you say that ballpoints are more practical?

    • Shareni@programming.dev
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      6
      ·
      2 months ago

      They’re also better for writing on bad or dirty paper, non-paper surfaces, and if you write in your hand instead of on a desk (the high pressure threshold makes mistakes less visible for me).

      PS

      Try out the FPR Ultra Flex EF nibs. I’ve got one of them on a Jinhao x750. It’s not the most practical (it can railroad and go dry), but the flex is so worth it.

    • 667@lemmy.radio
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      4
      ·
      2 months ago

      I had a Monteverde retractable rollerball I absolutely loved which was well-suited to writing through carbon forms.

      Like most things, many people don’t want to be inconvenienced with the ritual of refilling their pens; a ritual many fountain pen owners actually enjoy; they don’t care about the granular control over color. Blue is blue. Black is black. But for us, a particular shade of cornflower blue is what brings us joy.

      • 𝕽𝖚𝖆𝖎𝖉𝖍𝖗𝖎𝖌𝖍
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        2
        ·
        2 months ago

        Good points!

        Many FP lovers refill from bottles, but it isn’t necessary. Cartridges are easy to use, well-suited for travel when you may run dry in the middle of a trip, and TSA doesn’t give you grief about them.

        Again, my point to OP was that there’s very little practical advantage to ball points over fountain pens; if you’re using cartridges, they’re not much better for the environment, but you can do things like use a converter most of the time and carry cartridges as back-up. Fountain pens are fantastic writing implements.

    • Zworf@beehaw.org
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      1
      ·
      edit-2
      2 months ago

      There’s only one situation where a ballpoint is better suited than a fountain pen: writing checks. Fountain pens are not good for situations where you have to press hard enough to create a pressure duplicate.

      That, and the ink can handle a bit of water unlike that of a fountain pen (unless you use India ink but then good luck if you have a leak and ruin your bag or shirt because nothing can get that stuff out)

      PS The last time I used a check was in the 90s 😆 Do people still use them where you are? I couldn’t even get one from my bank if I wanted to.

      • TehPers@beehaw.org
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        1
        ·
        2 months ago

        I have used checks in the past couple years. Only like two or so, but enough that I somehow have a checkbook.

      • 𝕽𝖚𝖆𝖎𝖉𝖍𝖗𝖎𝖌𝖍
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        1
        ·
        2 months ago

        That, and the ink can handle a bit of water unlike that of a fountain pen

        There are a large number of water-resistant and water-proof inks; both Sailor and Montblanc make several. Legal documents are (usually) required to be signed in waterproof blue or black ink, so you’ll find a lot of selection in especially these brands that cater to business people.

        Any ink that is indelible is going to be impossible to get out of clothing if you spill it; I think that’s rather self-evident?