Itoya O\'Grip 3 Function Pen

Gadgeteer Hands On Review by Julie

August 24, 2001

Product Requirements:
Device:
Any touch screen device

Ok folks, I'd like a show of hands.... How many of you out there are obsessed with finding the perfect writing instrument and / or stylus? Come on, don't be shy! I know I'm not the only one. Do you ever find yourself in the writing supplies aisle of your local Office Max or Staples with no knowledge of actually walking there? Do you read every stylus review posted on the net in hopes of finding that one perfect scribing tool? Do you camp out at your mailbox waiting for the next issue of Fountain Pen Hospital catalog to arrive? Ummmmm...ok, maybe I'm the only one that does that <blush>

The latest stylus to pass thru my hands is the Itoya O'Grip 3 Function Pen SH-900. The O'Grip which is available with a black or brushed silver body, houses a black ballpoint tip, a 0.5mm mechanical pencil tip and a yellow stylus tip. This writing instrument is small for a multi-pen. It is 5.3 x .33in (135 x 8.3mm) in size when no tips are extended. I really like the small size. 

The barrel of the pen is constructed of brass which gives it strength, and balance. Even though this pen is small, it has a good weight to it that makes it feel comfortable in your hand.

Writing with it is nice because of the rubber O rings in the grip portion of the barrel. 10 very thin rubber rings (which can't be removed), run the length of the frosted silver finger grip. They really allow you to keep a firm hold on the pen while you're writing on paper or tapping on your PDA.

Tips on the Itoya are extended by the popular gravity method. Basically, you rotate the barrel of the pen till the label for the desired tip is displayed on top. At this point, you press the plunger and that tip is desired extended. To retract the tip, you press the black serrated button on the chrome pocket clip.

In practice, extending tips is simple. I rarely if ever extended the wrong tip by accident. I did find that the retract button was smaller and more stiff than similar buttons on other styli. This is really the only bad thing I can find to complain about regarding this multi-pen... And it's more of a niggle than a true complaint. 

When there are no tips extended the Itoya has a rattle to it when you shake it. It's not horribly annoying, but there is a noticeable rattle. However, when a tip is extended, there is minimal rattling.

As for the stylus tip, the yellow stylus tips that Stylus Central uses has swiftly become my stylus tip of choice. I like their pointy tips and easy to see color. I found that this stylus worked well with every PDA that I tried it on.

The ballpoint pen tip wrote as well as any typical ballpoint pen. I didn't notice any skipping or blobbing of ink while using it.

The mechanical pencil cylinder can comfortably hold 4 pieces of lead at once. A small eraser is housed under the plunger cap.

All in all, the Itoya is a nice small sized multi-pen. I wouldn't say that it has cured my obsession for finding that perfect stylus, but it has earned a spot as my day job stylus. Well, at least for the time being :o) 

Available at Stylus Central, and other fine retailers. 

Price: $29.95

Pros:
Small size
Good grip

Cons:
Retract button stiff
Rattles