[Pen/Pencil Post] The Uni-ball Insight 0.7mm Black Ink
This week’s pen review – back to “real†pens. 😎 The Uni-ball Insight Fine Point 0.7mm black ink. I bought this pen in a multi-color pack of red, blue, and black at our Office Depot’s moving sale, I think. They are available at most office supply stores. And I don’t believe they were that expensive.
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For a 0.7mm, it’s a pretty decent pen. The ink does flow smoothly, as mentioned on the packaging. There is a bit of dry time on typical paper. I just smeared it with my finger on copier paper – so if you’re left-handed, the liquid ink will be an issue in the first second or so.
The colors are dark and rich. It’s labeled as fade proof and waterproof, and I’m going to take their word for that because I’m not either leaving it out in the sun or dumping water on my desk to test it. It’s acid-free and archival quality – so if you’re a scrapbooker, this could be a good pen for you. But that’s no longer a “new†and innovative thing. It is part of the check-fraud prevention ink systems now in place, which is a good thing.
I do like the fact that this pen has an ink gauge along the side of the pen. You can see how much ink you have in the pen as you use it. That’s a plus for me. I dig that. It is just under 5.5†long capped and nearly 6†long with the cap posted. There is a definite edge between the grip and the point which can dig in if you grip hard. So it might be uncomfortable with tons of everyday use.
The whole grip/ink reservoir is one big plastic piece with no ergonomics. It does twist in, so theoretically you can refill the barrel, but I don’t see what you would. This is pretty much meant to be a disposable stick pen. So…yeah, not getting that. But it’s a decent all around pen.
Now to the numbers:
1. How does it work? – 0.5 this pen works almost as advertised. There is drying time. I smeared it in the first few seconds, so that is a consideration. It may dry fast, but there’s still an issue there
2. Grip and feel – 0.5 – Though it’s long enough to be well-balanced, there’s still no cushion to the grip. There’s no real ergonomics to it. There’s a hard edge that can dig in. For long-term use, it might be uncomfortable. For a grab/go pen, it’ll be fine.
3. Material – 1 It is what it is. A lower end, stick rollerball with liquid ink. It’s not expensive, so the plastic is fine. The point seems well made.
4. Overall Design – 1 – It’s an okay pen. The length is good. The materials are…acceptable. The ink and flow are as advertised – with the exception of the drying time. But it’s a decent pen for what it is.
5. Price Point – 0.5 – It’s not bad. It’s not cheap. It’s not expensive. The 4 packs run about $7 depending on where you go. They’re between $1-$2 each depending on how you buy them – which for a rollerball is about par for the course. So… yeah. Not great. Not bad.
3.5 out of 5 bronze pencils.
