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View Full Version : Fisher Space Pen w/ Stylus point mini-review


bjornkeizers
02-19-2004, 01:45 PM
Hi all!

I did some shopping monday and bought myself another pen (I already mentioned this last year - I'm becoming a pen addict!)

I've always been fascinated by the Fisher Space Pens - they write at any angle, even upside down. In zero gravity, the vacuum of space, and anywhere from freezing to boiling on any surface. NASA uses them on all manned space flights since the 60's. So, I phoned my local pen pusher, and they had a few in stock. 20 minutes later, I was holding a Fisher Space Pen "Bullet"

Fisher Space Pen Website (http://www.spacepen.com/usa/index2.htm)

Products -> Bullet -> Original bullet pens

I must say, I'm very impressed with it. It works like an ordinary pen, just slightly different. The pen itself is rather short with a big cap. You insert the pen into the cap point-first, and you're left with a very small bullet like pen with a black stylus poimt at the end.

When you want to write with the pen, you pull the cap end off, and stick it on the back of the pen - so now you have a very long pen with the pen on one end and the stylus or the other. This obviously makes it very easy to switch from paper to PDA, without the need for any button pushing or rotating.

The pen itself is a thing of beauty. Light as a feather and very well balanced, it writes like a dream. It isn't a pen - it's more an extension of my hand. It feels rather like a scalpel - a precision instrument. You can really feel the craftsmenship that went into making this pen. Pure poetry in motion. I've heard from a few people who own pens that are older then I am, who've had them for 30 odd years, and they're still using them! 8O

And now the interesting part for us PPC geeks! There's also one with a stylus point at the end of the cap. You can use it either in the open or closed position. I prefer to use it open, with the pen exposed. It's better balanced and more comfortable to use that way. The point itself is very nice. Good, smooth point. Not too thick, not too thin. It floats over the Ipaq's screen. No friction whatsoever.

The price is very reasonable at around $20 - $25. Refills aren't cheap - around $7 at most retailers - though not everyone has them, obviously.

About the only downside is that the stylus model is only available in chrome and matte black - not in the cool lacquered colors or even plated.. though that's probably a good thing with the amount of pilfering going on in the office anyways :lol:

Definitely a must-have pen! Next month, I'm getting me an AG7 :D

mountainguy
02-19-2004, 02:52 PM
Nice review, Bjorn. Thanks for sharing it with us. I certainly am interested in grabing one of these. I know you live in Pays Bas, but I'm wondering if anyone in the USA knows of any distributors here? Any big name or small name that anyone knows about. I checked their web site and it only looks like you can order online. That's not that big a deal just wondering if one could get it locally at a bricks and mortar.

Thanks!

Kenn

Steven Cedrone
02-19-2004, 03:07 PM
Reminds me of a joke someone sent me a few days ago:

"During the heat of the space race in the 1960's, the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration decided it needed a ball point pen to write in the zero gravity of space.

After considerable research and development, the Astronaut Pen was developed at a cost of about $1 million. The pen worked beautifully and also enjoyed some modest success as a novelty item back here on Earth.

The Soviet Union, faced with the same problem, used a pencil."

:lol:

Steve

bjornkeizers
02-19-2004, 03:28 PM
I'm wondering if anyone in the USA knows of any distributors here? Any big name or small name that anyone knows about. (..) just wondering if one could get it locally at a bricks and mortar.


Just go to your local office supply store or pen retailers near you - I'm willing to bet that quite a few of them sell the Bullets, though you might have trouble finding the more exclusive ones, like the titaniums or gold plated ones :D

The store where I bought mine, Platvoet here in Enschede, specialises in pens and exclusive office supplies. They had the bullet with and without stylus, and the AG7. They're not that expensive nor are they specialty items - they range from the really cheapos to my bullet, through the $50 AG7 right up to $250-$300 or so. Just phone around, and good luck!

As for pencils, yes, it's funny and completely true. At least, it was back then - today, even the Soviet cosmonauts use the fisher space pens!

mountainguy
02-19-2004, 04:22 PM
Thanks for your reply, Bjorn. I've done a good deal of hanging out at the big box stores like Circuit City and Best Buy, but do not recall seeing them. I'll keep my eyes open.

Again, thanks for a great review!

Kenn

Dave Beauvais
02-19-2004, 04:33 PM
Last time I looked, Staples and OfficeMax carry Fisher Space Pens and refills. (Though I can't find them listed in the online catalogs.)

bjornkeizers
02-19-2004, 05:14 PM
I've done a good deal of hanging out at the big box stores like Circuit City and Best Buy, but do not recall seeing them. I'll keep my eyes open.


Well, to be honest, It's more of a pen then a stylus - and an expensive one at that, so I doubt you'll find it at your PDA supply guy :D

But, contradicting my own statement somewhat, styluscentral does sell them @ $18,99 (http://www.styluscentral.com/fisbulspacpe.html)