Platinum Preppy Fountain Pen Review

Perusing the JetPens website for pens I really don't need, I came across the Platinum Preppy line of fountain pens. I was intrigued by their low cost (only $3 each!) and the variety of colors available. Since one of my goals this year is to use a variety of pen/ink combinations in my Quo Vadis Habana journal, I figured this would be a good purchase.

(Okay, for the sake of full disclosure, I bought several pens and a bottle of Noodler's Ink, but those are stories for another post.)

My package arrived quickly and soon I was holding my new Platinum Preppy pen in hand. It is constructed of clear plastic (40% recycled materials) with a translucent green cap/clip and green stainless steel medium nib. A prominent "05" on the end of the cap identifies the medium nib. The pen is also available with a 0.3 fine point nib. It came with a single cartridge of green ink which I quickly plugged in.

The pen primed quickly and I was pleasantly surprised by the flow of the ink. I usually prefer fine and extra fine nibs but the medium nib on the preppy provided a nice, even flow without being overly-heavy. I did find that it takes a bit of pressure to provide an even flow - more so than with other inexpensive pens - but it was not difficult in finding that happy point where the ink flowed and the pen glided without scratching. The green ink was a nice surprise - just a tad less brilliant than emerald, but a very pleasing shade nonetheless. I hope you can make it out in my less than stellar Blackberry phone picture above.

The Preppy is about the same size as a Lamy Safari, though not of the same quality build. Still, it compares favorably to the Safari (one of my favorite pens), though it lacks a converter option. (UPDATE: Cheryl at Writer's Bloc informed me that a converter for the Preppy is, in fact, available. You can order one from Writer's Bloc here.) Comparing price points, though, the Preppy is a great value. I rate it above a Pilot Varsity disposable in terms of writing quality. It is similar to the Pilot Plumix in terms of price, writing quality and construction, though with more traditional lines and a clip. Perhaps someone creative could come up with a hack to make an eyedropper pen from a Preppy. Any takers?

I really can't find much to criticize about the Preppy. Sure, the clip seems kind of flimsy and it's definitely a light-weight, but again - it's only $3! I paid more for the converter for my Safari!

With seven color options and two nib choices, The Platinum Preppy is a great choice for a starter fountain pen. For that matter, with a $3 price tag and the fun color choices, it's a great economy pen for anyone who likes to write. Refills are available (2 cartridges for $1.50). A converter will run you about $6.

Platinum Preppy Fountain Pen Review

Congratulations to the University of Alabama Crimson Tide!

It's been a long wait, but the Crimson Tide of Alabama won college football's national championship for the 2009 season with a hard-fought 37-21 victory over the Texas Longhorns. The last national championship for the Tide came in 1992 under Coach Gene Stallings. Congratulations to Coach Nick Saban and the Alabama football team for a remarkable season: 14-0 record, a first ever (for Alabama) Heisman Trophy awarded to Mark Ingram, and a signature victory over Florida in the SEC Championship game.

I would be remiss if I did not note that Texas showed a tremendous amount of grit and determination after quarterback Colt McCoy left the game early following an injury to his arm. They played Bama tough, closing the gap to three points in the fourth quarter until Alabama slammed the door with two touchdowns in the closing minutes. Colt McCoy showed a great deal of class and character in his remarks at the end of the game. This young man is a committed Christian and demonstrated poise and grace, despite his injury and disappointment over the loss.

Both teams have much for which to be proud. But the night belonged to Alabama. Congratulations and Roll Tide!

Congratulations to the University of Alabama Crimson Tide!

The Journal I'm Using for 2010 - Quo Vadis Habana

After several years of using Moleskine journals, I decided to make a change for 2010. I'm now using a large Quo Vadis Habana lined journal.

Why the change?

It's not that I became displeased with the Moleskines. I've used them for several years and they work great for me. But I wanted to branch out and try some different fountain pen and ink combinations and, frankly, Moleskine paper is not always FP friendly. I've experienced a good bit of feathering and some bleed-through, particularly with some of the freer-flowing inks I've tried.

The Quo Vadis Habana uses some wonderful "Clairfontaine" paper which is acid-free and pH neutral. The bright, white paper has thus far has accepted whatever ink I've thrown at it without a smudge, smear or feather. The overall quality of the journal is very good - I particularly like the leather-like cover, which seems a step above the cover on the Moleskine. Currently, my favorite pen/ink combination is Private Reserve's "Orange Crush" in a red Lamy Safari. The color is a bit more subdued than the Orange Crush soda I remember drinking, but it is a nice color all the same - a warm, orange-brown that flows easily and shows up well on the pages of the Habana. The ink dries quickly, too.

The Habana is constructed in similar fashion to the Moleskine with a vertical elastic band and black cover. It easily lays flat when open without any ominous cracking of the spine or binding. The large version contains 80 sheets of lined paper with rounded corners. It also contains a pocket on the back cover, but I found it to be of poorer quality to the Moleskine - more of a "me-too" afterthought. It is the one aspect of the notebook that was not well executed. The pocket is glued to the back cover (crooked in my case) and is not as sturdy as the pocket in the Moleskine. I think Quo Vadis should have just left it off. It also lacks a ribbon marker, which seems an odd omission for such a notebook.

I still have a good supply of Moleskines and will continue to use them. But for my primary 2010 journal, I have to say I'm quite pleased with my Quo Vadis Habana. I look forward to adding entries to it each day of this new year.

The Journal I'm Using for 2010 - Quo Vadis Habana

Happy New Year!

2010 is finally here! Don't you just love that new-year smell? It's clean - like a freshly opened journal, waiting to be filled with slices of life and adventure.

Though I'm not one for New Year resolutions, I do hope to improve in a few areas:
1. Be more diligent in keeping a written journal. I did pretty well in 2009, but I hope to be more consistent in making daily entries.
2. Read more outside my normal areas of interest. I tend to be a sucker for action/adventure novels as well as theology books. I plan to read more biographies this year.
3. Post more entries in my blogs. Maybe two different blogs was a bit much to take on, but it seems to work for me. Hopefully, I will be more consistent in posting to both.

A wise man once said, "making resolutions for the future without reflecting on the past is senseless." Hopefully, I've done a fair job of evaluating what I've done in the past year as I press on into 2010. Time will tell.

Here's wishing you your best year yet!

Happy New Year!

Last Minute Gifts

Still rushing around on Christmas Eve, trying to find that last-minute gift? May I suggest the gift of writing. If you are near a bookstore, you will likely find Moleskine or other brand journals in various sizes and colors. The small journals make great stocking stuffers!

Pens make great gifts, too. A nice quality writing instrument is not only practical, it can become a family heirloom. (I still use a Mont Blanc my father passed along to me a number of years ago.) Check out some of the office supply stores - the nicer pens are usually kept separately from the standard issue pens. But hey! If your budget doesn't allow you to purchase an expensive pen, consider a Pilot Varsity or Lamy Safari to nudge that special someone into writing with a fountain pen. For the stocking, how about a multi-pack of Pilot or Uni-ball gel ink pens, or perhaps an assortment of Sharpie markers!

But whatever you do, better get moving!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Last Minute Gifts

Go-to Writing Tools of 2009

Looking back on 2009, it's interesting (to me, anyway) how I have gravitated toward certain tools for writing. My selections were not planned in advance, instead, they came about because of overall utility (portability, affordability, quality, and consistency). So, with no further fanfare, here are my go-to writing instruments for 2009:

Fountain pen: Lamy Safari. In fact, I currently have three that I keep in constant use at my desk. Sure, I have other (and more expensive) fountain pens that I use, but my first inclination is to grab one of the Safaris. They write smoothly and they fit my hand well.

Pocket pen: I do not usually carry a fountain pen in my pocket. Instead, I go for a smooth-writing gel-ink pen. This year, my go-to pocket pen has been a Uni-ball Signo 207. (Sorry Pilot G-2, you ran a close second!) I love the Signo for the smooth lines I can lay down and for the tamper-proof ink.

Pencil: Truth be told, I seldom use a pencil. I'm one of those that does cross-word puzzles in ink. Still, there are occasions where a pencil is required and I grab a Rotring Mechanical pencil that my wife gave me several years ago. It has a nice, heavy feel, with my name engraved on the side. What's not to like?

Small notebook: I started the year alternating between a Doane Paper notebook, a Moleskine Cahier and the Field Notes memo-book. As the year progressed, I began to carry the Field Notes memo-book exclusively. (Maybe the new cover colors pushed it over the top?). I love the paper that Field Notes uses - not too heavy, not too light. Plus, it tends to stay closed on its own where the Doane Paper notebook would spring open and the Cahier simply lacked personality.

Large notebook: I have filled four Moleskine lined hard cover notebooks. Yes, I have tried and like similar offerings by Quo Vadis and Piccadilly. Why did I stick with the Moleskine? I can't give you a clear answer. The paper isn't superior to the other offerings, nor is the cover better or the elastic binder of higher quality. Maybe in this case I'm just a traditionalist, set in my ways. Or perhaps I've simply bought into the whole Moleskine marketing mystique. Meh, probably not.

Day planning notebook: I really, really tried to like the Moleskine planner. I read several reviews and hacks that intrigued me. There was a lot I liked about it (one in that it made a nice "partner" to my Moleskine notebook), but I guess I've been in the Franklin-Covey camp too long to change. I have remained with my spiral bound Franklin-Covey Compass day planner. At least I bought a new (actually used)tan leather cover to update it a little.

Do I anticipate any changes for 2010? That's hard to say. I already have my Franklin-Covey 2010 planner ready to go and a good supply of Field-Notes memo books. Still, there are always new and intriguing possibilities . . .

How about you? What were your go-to writing tools this past year?

Go-to Writing Tools of 2009

Veterans' Day

For those of you who have served in our country's armed forces - Thank you.
For those of you who wear the scars of battle - Thank you.
For those of you who have lost sons and daughters, husbands, wives, or parents as they served our country - Thank you.
For my father who served in the Pacific Theater as a young sailor during World War II - Thank you.
For my father-in-law who served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War - Thank you.

Have a happy Veterans' Day!

Veterans' Day