Pen Addict

I'll second this. And something I've discovered is that using a good pen makes so much difference in the experience of writing. I used to use whatever cheap ballpoint was around, and I had terrible handwriting. But on a friend's recommendation I tried a fine point gel pen, the Uniball Signo DX 0.38mm. It's such a joy to write with and my handwriting is orders of magnitude more legible. There's apparently a whole world of pens (and pen enthusiasts) out there: https://www.penaddict.com/top-5-pens

I use a three ring binder with thick grid paper and awesome Japanese notepad with grids (http://www.jetpens.com/Midori-MD-Notebook-A5-Grid/pd/13607). Pens are an addicting technology. Top 5 list of various pens. https://www.penaddict.com/top-5-pens/ I also buy a cool pencil case (http://www.jetpens.com/Kokuyo-Pencil-Cases/ct/2929) My only difference is when I was in graduate student I used OneNote with 2003 Tablet PC (Hand writing with the pen) and a external microphone. The was the single greatest tool ever created for a student. The audio was synced with your hand written notes or typed notes. I then had the college purchase a license for every student at my University I worked at OneNote and take a 1 hour class with me and a had microphones available at the Book Store. No one ever used the microphone. I got the highest review marks from students for all our Freshmen prep classes and a ton of interaction and people stopping at my office to get help but they all dropped it for one reason or another. If only computers built in a classroom position microphone in the lid of a laptop.

Two articles on it (which probably were part of the source for this one): - https://www.penaddict.com/blog/2016/1/17/bic-cristal-ballpoint-pen-rev… - https://www.jetpens.com/blog/How-the-Ballpoint-Pen-Changed-the-Way-We-… a book which has a bit on the usage of this and similar Bic models is: https://www.paulshawletterdesign.com/2012/12/blue-pencil-no-21-zapfian… (ob. discl., I received a copy (which I gave to my daughter) to write the review: http://ftp.tug.org/TUGboat/tb34-2/tb107reviews-zapfhallmark.pdf) which has the line: > Some such details are very humbling, such as the exquisitely beautiful design study for Zapfino-like capitals intended for use with Firenze shown with the 49 cent Deluxe Fine Point Bic ballpoint pen used to render the letters (pg. 43).

Could I interest you in a Rotring 600? Keep in mind I haven't used either of those you listed. review: https://www.penaddict.com/blog/2012/3/5/rotring-600-drafting-pencil-re… jet pens: https://www.jetpens.com/Rotring-600-Drafting-Pencils/ct/1109

even mass produced japanese products are beautifully designed. my last acquisition is the beautiful Pilot MYU. Vintage, but new. Gorgeous. I am so worried about the integrated nib that i am not enjoying it as much as I probably should..only one other matches the passions the MYU can evoke. Parker 51. American. turns out they did a limited release of the pilot myu in 2008. $180 is a bargain. https://www.penaddict.com/blog/2013/1/30/my-fountain-pen-education-the…

Have you tried the Pilot 78G? It's a quite reliable and yet cheap fountain pen: https://www.penaddict.com/blog/2013/11/27/pilot-78g-fountain-pen-revie…

I'm something of a pen fetishist, and swear by the Mitsubishi Uni-ball. I've tried Pilot and other brands, but nothing beats the Mitsu. Other pen obsessives might want to check this site: https://www.penaddict.com/top-5-pens

I like the reviews on https://www.penaddict.com/top-5-pens/ They have sections for different budgets etc. I have no connection to them, my handwriting is terrible. I just like the site :)

Don't forget The Pen Addict! http://penaddict.com/top-5-pens/

I don't like having to hold a notebook open with two hands during a meeting. So I skip the Moleskine that doesn't fold over on itself (though I appreciate the Evernote edition), and go with a Japanese graph paper notebook that has a spiral binding, micro perf pages you can tear out and hand someone, tiny faint graph lines, and exquisite writing feel: * Maruman Mnemosyne Inspiration Notebook, 5mm Squared * Read a review here, covering how the paper interacts with pens, with an example of using the notebook for wireframe mockups: http://penaddict.com/blog/2009/5/13/review-maruman-mnemosyne-inspirati… Amazon in USA charges way too much: http://www.amazon.com/Maruman-Mnemosyne-Inspiration-Grid-6-3/dp/B001A1… There also JetPens, also way too much: http://www.jetpens.com/Maruman-Mnemosyne-Inspiration-Notebook-A5-5.8-X… I find these at a local Jerry's Artarama. They carry Maruman paper pads for speciality art media, and don't mind stocking the graph pads as well. By having it a regular stock item, it ends up under $5 a pad.