Fountain Pen (introduced in 1880)
Benefits:
Pleasure of expressing liquid ink
Flexible nib accentuates personal expression
Drawbacks:
Requires a little skill and care |
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Ballpoint Pen (introduced in 1940)
Benefits:
No maintenance
Long ink life
Drawbacks:
Paste ink is sticky
Fixed ball limits expressive writing
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Fiber Tip (introduced in 1960)
Benefits:
Smooth delivery of ink because of the fiber (felt) tip
Interchangeable with most roller ball refills
Ink dries quickly, which is very helpful for left-handed writers
Drawbacks:
A rich flow, but not as expressive as a fountain pen
Spring-load action gives a smooth write but takes some getting used to because of its give
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Roller Ball Pen
(introduced in 1980)
Benefits:
Pleasure of liquid ink Ease of use
Drawbacks:
Cartridges run out sooner than ballpoint refills
Fixed ball limits expression
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Gel Ink (introduced in 1995)
Benefits:
Richer ink color
More colors, because
the ink holds pigment well
Smoother than roller ball ink because it's
more viscous
Drawbacks:
Dries out quickly
A short life span if used every day (3 to 5 weeks) |
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