Comments on: The Pilot’s Pen Review http://the-gadgeteer.com/2009/08/09/the-pilots-pen-review/ Gadget reviews and news by Julie Strietelmeier and friends since 1997 Sun, 27 May 2012 00:39:26 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Dave B. http://the-gadgeteer.com/2009/08/09/the-pilots-pen-review/comment-page-1/#comment-146660 Dave B. Thu, 10 May 2012 09:52:42 +0000 http://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=18991#comment-146660 Im a truck driver who uses a log book to record my hours. I found one of these and have to say...it's about time! Doing my logs at night was a pain as the overhead lights made shadows exactly where I needed to write. This product eliminates that. Thank You, it really helps. Dave B. Aston PA. Im a truck driver who uses a log book to record my hours.
I found one of these and have to say…it’s about time!
Doing my logs at night was a pain as the overhead lights made shadows exactly where I needed to write.

This product eliminates that.
Thank You, it really helps.

Dave B.
Aston PA.

]]> By: Julie http://the-gadgeteer.com/2009/08/09/the-pilots-pen-review/comment-page-1/#comment-40697 Julie Wed, 12 Aug 2009 18:38:49 +0000 http://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=18991#comment-40697 @Catran1 It's all metal. The only plastic part is the clear or red tip :) So yes, it's sturdy. @Catran1 It’s all metal. The only plastic part is the clear or red tip :) So yes, it’s sturdy.

]]> By: Catran1 http://the-gadgeteer.com/2009/08/09/the-pilots-pen-review/comment-page-1/#comment-40696 Catran1 Wed, 12 Aug 2009 18:31:07 +0000 http://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=18991#comment-40696 Know anyone who drives a truck at 0300 doggone dark in the morning? I do and they could really use a pen when they get to where they're going. Yeah, trucks have interior lights, but believe me when you are tired (and you always are on that shift), you don't want bright interior blinding you. I've seen cheap versions of this pen around. Is it pretty sturdy? This would be a nice gift for a friend! Know anyone who drives a truck at 0300 doggone dark in the morning? I do and they could really use a pen when they get to where they’re going. Yeah, trucks have interior lights, but believe me when you are tired (and you always are on that shift), you don’t want bright interior blinding you. I’ve seen cheap versions of this pen around. Is it pretty sturdy? This would be a nice gift for a friend!

]]> By: greg http://the-gadgeteer.com/2009/08/09/the-pilots-pen-review/comment-page-1/#comment-40608 greg Tue, 11 Aug 2009 13:57:36 +0000 http://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=18991#comment-40608 @julie: You're right. First, it's supposed to be a pen. And it's a good pen for the $$ (the DX one of course ;). I gave it to a friend who is a business jet pilot. He never saw a pen like this before and maybe pretended to like it to be polite. He's likely not gonna use it in the cockpit since they have all kind of little lights in there. But for normal people it's a great idea. @Tony C: I'm not sure about the knockoff. A lot of stuff are "invented" and produced in China - especially the cheap 'give aways'. PilotsPen probably just buy them in bulk and put their brand on top of it. I'm pretty sure they all come from the same manufacturer. @ lloyd: I'm some kind of EDC guy and always hope to run into these situations. I'd love to use all my tools I carry around but these coincidence rarely happen. And if they happen, you can usually make 5 steps into a brighter spot next to you. @julie: You’re right. First, it’s supposed to be a pen. And it’s a good pen for the $$ (the DX one of course ;) . I gave it to a friend who is a business jet pilot. He never saw a pen like this before and maybe pretended to like it to be polite. He’s likely not gonna use it in the cockpit since they have all kind of little lights in there. But for normal people it’s a great idea.

@Tony C: I’m not sure about the knockoff. A lot of stuff are “invented” and produced in China – especially the cheap ‘give aways’. PilotsPen probably just buy them in bulk and put their brand on top of it. I’m pretty sure they all come from the same manufacturer.

@ lloyd: I’m some kind of EDC guy and always hope to run into these situations. I’d love to use all my tools I carry around but these coincidence rarely happen. And if they happen, you can usually make 5 steps into a brighter spot next to you.

]]> By: lloyd http://the-gadgeteer.com/2009/08/09/the-pilots-pen-review/comment-page-1/#comment-40568 lloyd Mon, 10 Aug 2009 18:29:38 +0000 http://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=18991#comment-40568 "You’re in the dark and you need to write something. By some weird coincidence, you’re not a mutant that can see in the dark (if you happen to be a mutant that can see in the dark, well yay for you)." Full of win! “You’re in the dark and you need to write something. By some weird coincidence, you’re not a mutant that can see in the dark (if you happen to be a mutant that can see in the dark, well yay for you).” Full of win!

]]> By: Tony C http://the-gadgeteer.com/2009/08/09/the-pilots-pen-review/comment-page-1/#comment-40561 Tony C Mon, 10 Aug 2009 16:00:50 +0000 http://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=18991#comment-40561 @greg Your DealExtreme pen IS identical, or at least an exact knockoff (is yours aluminum?), judging by the price tag. PilotsPen.com is making a HUGE profit if you can get this thing for $3.48 (or less in quantity) without the red tip (easily solved with a sharpie) or the nifty box. @greg Your DealExtreme pen IS identical, or at least an exact knockoff (is yours aluminum?), judging by the price tag. PilotsPen.com is making a HUGE profit if you can get this thing for $3.48 (or less in quantity) without the red tip (easily solved with a sharpie) or the nifty box.

]]> By: Julie http://the-gadgeteer.com/2009/08/09/the-pilots-pen-review/comment-page-1/#comment-40550 Julie Mon, 10 Aug 2009 13:34:37 +0000 http://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=18991#comment-40550 @greg It's not supposed to be a flashlight. It's just supposed to help you to write in the dark. :) The pen is thicker than a normal pen, but it doesn't feel bad to me. @greg It’s not supposed to be a flashlight. It’s just supposed to help you to write in the dark. :) The pen is thicker than a normal pen, but it doesn’t feel bad to me.

]]> By: greg http://the-gadgeteer.com/2009/08/09/the-pilots-pen-review/comment-page-1/#comment-40545 greg Mon, 10 Aug 2009 12:12:33 +0000 http://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=18991#comment-40545 I have one of these or let's say it looks exactly the same. Bought it from DX for a fraction of the price: http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.9138 I have to add that every kaychain flashlight is more usefull than the light from this pen ... and the ped is a little to big for me to feel comfortable. I have one of these or let’s say it looks exactly the same.
Bought it from DX for a fraction of the price: http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.9138
I have to add that every kaychain flashlight is more usefull than the light from this pen … and the ped is a little to big for me to feel comfortable.

]]> By: Neil http://the-gadgeteer.com/2009/08/09/the-pilots-pen-review/comment-page-1/#comment-40525 Neil Sun, 09 Aug 2009 23:34:20 +0000 http://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=18991#comment-40525 Just to clarify a bit, the purpose of the red light is so the user doesn't lose his/her night vision. It is also less obvious in use, so for law enforcement purposes a pen like this with the red tip would be useful when conducting night time surveillance for example. Just to clarify a bit, the purpose of the red light is so the user doesn’t lose his/her night vision. It is also less obvious in use, so for law enforcement purposes a pen like this with the red tip would be useful when conducting night time surveillance for example.

]]> By: Julie http://the-gadgeteer.com/2009/08/09/the-pilots-pen-review/comment-page-1/#comment-40515 Julie Sun, 09 Aug 2009 21:39:11 +0000 http://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=18991#comment-40515 @Gabriel It writes great. It has a fine point and uses regular ink. I'm not sure if other refills will work with it because they are really small cartridges. You can see one in the 2nd image in the review. You do get 2 when you buy the pen though. @Gabriel It writes great. It has a fine point and uses regular ink. I’m not sure if other refills will work with it because they are really small cartridges. You can see one in the 2nd image in the review. You do get 2 when you buy the pen though.

]]> By: Gabriel Novo http://the-gadgeteer.com/2009/08/09/the-pilots-pen-review/comment-page-1/#comment-40511 Gabriel Novo Sun, 09 Aug 2009 20:48:45 +0000 http://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=18991#comment-40511 Sounds interesting, but how does the pen write? Is it a sticky ballpoint ink or more of a gel pen? Are other refills compatible with the barrel (i.e. Parker, Cross, etc)? I could definitely see picking one of these up unless it writes like crap. Thanks for the review, I wouldn't have known this thing existed otherwise. Sounds interesting, but how does the pen write? Is it a sticky ballpoint ink or more of a gel pen? Are other refills compatible with the barrel (i.e. Parker, Cross, etc)? I could definitely see picking one of these up unless it writes like crap.

Thanks for the review, I wouldn’t have known this thing existed otherwise.

]]> By: Smythe Richbourg http://the-gadgeteer.com/2009/08/09/the-pilots-pen-review/comment-page-1/#comment-40507 Smythe Richbourg Sun, 09 Aug 2009 20:05:37 +0000 http://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=18991#comment-40507 Nice review. I've seen these pens, and I think I still may have one, but they rarely take normal batteries. These are very popular with directors (theatre, not film) and reviewers who must make notes during performances in darkened auditoriums. As nice as those little mini squeeze lights are, they are too bright to use without disturbing those around you. Nice review. I’ve seen these pens, and I think I still may have one, but they rarely take normal batteries. These are very popular with directors (theatre, not film) and reviewers who must make notes during performances in darkened auditoriums. As nice as those little mini squeeze lights are, they are too bright to use without disturbing those around you.

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