Write - or Wrong?
If you’re a regular reader, you know that I’m a geek for writing instruments. Well, today I’d like to show you two items - both of which claim to solve some significant problems for you. Will they earn fame or shame? Read on to find out!
First up is the Zebra PM 701 Permanent Marker.
PM 701
Permanent Marker
It has a sleek stainless steel barrel that feels good in your hand. And it’s a large diameter - I like that. One of its unique features is that it’s refillable. You don’t find many refillable markers out there. But that’s not the real marketing point for it. The PM 701’s claim to fame is that it won’t dry out for up to 5 days. That’s pretty impressive. So impressive that I just had to test it. I uncapped it Monday morning.
Day 1 - Wrote great all day, no matter when I used it.
Day 2 - It took a few strokes to get it started, but it eventually worked.
Day 3 - It really struggled. I filled a 1/2 page with strokes and got completely useless, really really faint lines. After 1/2 page the marker started writing, but only on 1 side of the tip. If you turned it to the other side, it wouldn’t write at all.
Day 4 - It started a little easier today - only took 2 lines to get it going - but it still only writes from 1 side of the pen.
Day 5 - Would not write no matter what I did.
I capped it when I left at the end of the day Friday and when I came back to work on Monday it wrote as if it were brand new. Now normally I’d take a few points off because when you say “up to 5 days” I take that as including the 5th day and this wouldn’t write at all on Day 5, but you could say “up to” leaves room for interpretation. Overall, I’m pretty darn impressed with this marker. It gets Fame from me and 5 paperclips!
At OEX, we have a Pen of the Month Club where you can score a free pen to try out each month. This month, our selected pen is the Uni-Ball Power Tank RT Retractable Ballpoint Pen.
Power Tank RT
Retractable Ballpoint Pen
I’m going to tell you about it and, after you try it, I’d love it if you would add your comments here. Do you agree with me? I know I’m the all-knowing Wizard, but I’d like to hear your opinions.
This pen claims to write upside down, on wet surfaces, in extreme cold and at odd angles. I passed out samples to several of my co-workers and I tried it myself.
Co-worker #1 purposely left this pen in his car during the recent polar vortex. It worked like a charm when he tried to write with it after a few days. He also wrote on a wet surface with it and said it performed admirably.
I tested the upside down and odd angles aspect and I too was met with a stellar performance. I have a calendar that hangs on a door in my kitchen. It’s where we keep the family schedule. I write a lot on that calendar and frequently have to stop and switch pens because the pen I’m using stops writing after being at an angle for so long. Not with this pen! The pressurized ink never missed a beat - or a stroke. I also tried it on a piece of wet paper and it wrote just as well as if the paper was dry.
My other coworkers had similar results and everyone liked the smoothness of the ink and the way the pen glides across the paper. I also like the styling and the feel of the barrel.
I guess I probably gave this one away simply by saying it’s our Pen of the Month. After all, I wouldn’t give away a crummy pen, would I? What’s that, you say? How do you get one? If you haven’t signed up for our Pen of the Month Club, you can do it here. It only takes a minute. Then, request your pen and try it out. Come back here and post your comments! Let us know what you think!
I give it 5 paperclips as well!
