Editing The Pen Addict 309/transcript (section)

== Converter Design ==


'''Brad Dowdy:''' It's going to be too wide. So, converters are wider than cartridges in most cases, right? Because they have little mechanisms in them. Yeah. They have a metal band around them. And I haven't tried it, but I don't know that it does. Yes, they should fit, like, in the nib section, but I don't know that they'll screw into the barrel.

'''Myke Hurley:''' So, there might be some stuff that would fit, right? Potentially. Yeah, it's just not designed to. But it might not. So, really, really, you have, if you don't like Pelican Edelstein for whatever reason, then this is not the pen for you, right?

'''Brad Dowdy:''' Yeah. Yeah, they're fantastic refills, though. So, that's the other reason why I chose. I mean, Jason's willing to take a stand, which I appreciate in design, right? I mean, just look at the pen. Look at the pen itself. Yeah. I mean, that's taking a stand.

'''Myke Hurley:''' Looking at this pen, I can see why that's comfortable to hold. And I guess you probably need to hold it to really get it. But, I mean, he has 363 people that are on this ride with him, right? Which is great. He's really met. He's, like, far exceeded his funding goal, which is awesome. Just from a design perspective, I don't think this pen is right for me. But I bet if I held it, I would feel differently, right? Because I can see how the kind of the bamboo shape would fit nicely in your hand. Like, I can see how that would work. But when I see something like this, and this is not me trying to be, like, snooty. But when I see a project like this, I'm like, this is a fountain pen that is not made for the typical pen addict. Agreed. Because he is penning it in, no pun intended, to a specific refill. Like, if you are not a huge pen person, but you like the look of this pen and would like a fountain pen, why would you care what refill it takes? It doesn't matter, right? You can buy them. They're available. You can buy it. He gives you a set. You can buy packs from him. They're available everywhere. It's a huge brand. It's unlikely that they'll stop making them for a long span of time. But it's not so much of a problem for you if you don't already have the 10 inks you want to use. Right. So, like, I see a project like this, and I have to remember to keep my own feelings in check, right? Because I don't think this project is made for me. But that doesn't mean that it's not a good thing. Because it looks like it is a beautifully made piece of writing equipment and has a design flair to it that is really going to tick some boxes for people. I like all the different finishes and stuff. It looks really cool. But, yeah, so that's kind of my feelings on this project. I find the refill thing to be a peculiar decision to make. But, as you said, I can see why he made it.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' Yeah. And, like, this is a pen that a lot of people are going to see and just, like, instantly, like, close the tab. Like, you know, this is made really for Jason's customers. You know, he's been making lights forever and then has started to dabble in other carry things. So, yeah, I'm glad it's doing well. And I'll be interested to see. So, he sent me the aluminum one. And I've gone ahead and backed it for the titanium one. I like it so much. So, yeah, I'm in. So, we'll see what happens here. But I really love Jason's work. So, I wanted to point this out. And I did have a couple of questions. I got a couple of emails because I was quoted in this article or in the Kickstarter campaign, I should say. And I hadn't done a review of the pen itself yet. So, Jason asked me. He's like, I don't care, you know, when you or if you do a review. But if you have any quotes I can use, you know, I would love to, you know, put you in, you know, in the campaign, anything you want to say. So, he sent me those over. So, that is really me in there. I got a couple of questions saying, did you really say those things? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Because they could link to a review specifically. Right. So, I understand why people had some questions there. But, yeah. Those were my words that I provided to Jason because I enjoy this pen and I like Jason's work. So, and I've backed it. So, this next one, Myke, this was sent to us by a friend of the show, Harry Marks. And I opened it up. It's called The Minimalist Notebook, which how that separates itself from every other minimalist notebook ever, I have no idea. But we're going to go with that. It's called The Minimalist Notebook by architects. Hashtag branding, Brad. Hashtag branding. Yeah. Okay. By architects for everyone. So, this is one where, this is a unique type of notebook. This is actually the second time around on Kickstarter for the same product where they design a notebook. And then they have some type of metal stripping on the exterior of the color for just like design and aesthetics type of thing. It's no functional, you know, type of accoutrement. It's just there to look pretty. And it does. Like, when I saw this, I was like, this is striking. Wouldn't it hold the cover down when you had it open? Sure. But you can get just one without it. I mean, they sell it without the metal stripe. Yeah. Metal strips on it.

'''Myke Hurley:''' I mean, okay. It's not the biggest thing. But it would at least give that specific. Right. It might just help with that. Right. Right. Or no.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' So, yeah. No. I mean, technically, I guess you're right. I'm not saying that that's the reason they've done it. It'll weigh down the front cover.

'''Myke Hurley:''' I'm just saying, like, would it happen? Because for me, as a user of this notebook, I think I would actually like that.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' Sure. Like, when it closes it down. Yeah. Because you don't like those curved up covers.

'''Myke Hurley:''' I don't like curved up covers. I hate it when they open up on their own. Yeah. So, I would like that. And I'm going to say, Brad, I think this is a beautiful notebook. I think that these are stunning. Am I going to buy one? I think they are, too. No. But I love the look of it. And the reason I'm not going to buy one is nothing to do with them. It's all to do with me. Like, I have too many notebooks. And I have more notebooks that I'm ever going to use. So, like, I'm kind of restricting myself at this point to just buy notebooks from people, like, from companies that I already know can give me the quality that I'm looking for. Because I don't know this company, right? And if this notebook gets, like, universally reviewed, like, praised, right? Maybe. Because I'm telling you, I think these are beautiful. I think they look really great.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' Yeah. Yeah. So, what I found interesting is, like, the last time they launched it, they just did the copper strip one. Now they've added brass.

'''Myke Hurley:''' Oh, this is not their first time?

'''Brad Dowdy:''' No. But the last time, it was, like, two years ago. And it just, like, barely snuck over, like, the finish line on Kickstarter. Which is weird. Like, I never saw it before. And they were only asking, they were asking for much, they were asking for about the same. So, whatever Singaporean 10,000 is.

'''Myke Hurley:''' They're using, like, the same images again, was the first time.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' Yeah. So, I thought that was a little bit strange. That's weird.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' But I don't know. I mean, it looks cool. But yeah, I'm like you. Like, 100% love what it looks like. And 100% not going to back it. Just not making a statement on the brand or the company.

'''Myke Hurley:''' It's just like, I just don't need this notebook. I don't like that.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' Yeah, see, I like that. I think that's kind of cool. I think they did a really good job. And they seem like a good price. And it's certainly unique. It is not minimal. I don't think when you add. No. Like, the plain white one's minimal.

'''Myke Hurley:''' No, and it's also, it's got a bunch of stuff on the inside. It's not minimal by any stretch of the imagination. Because they've thrown, like, a bunch of calendar pages in there. A bunch of font pages. Like, different sizes of paper. Like, interesting things. Like, stuff that could be useful. But it's not minimal. Right? Like, was it minimal because it's white? Right? Like, I don't, you know? But that's just the brand that they've gone with. Architecture clean. Because they're trying to fit into an ideal, right?

'''Brad Dowdy:''' I think. It's nice. So, anyone who gets this, I would like to know. See what you think.

'''Myke Hurley:''' I think it should just be called, like, The Architect. I think that's a better name, personally. Because I love the way, I love their images, where they're using the little architecture figurines. I think that's pretty cool. But, yeah, they've gone for that name because they're trying to appeal to that crowd. But, yeah. This is a cool. Evan in the chat room made a really good point. I can see this on sale on Anthropologie. Yes. 100%. Exactly. These would be stacked up in, like, an urban outfit or something like that. Right? And people would buy them.