Editing The Pen Addict 420/transcript (section)

== Remarkable Tablet Review ==


'''Brad Dowdy:''' Yeah. Handwriting. I found this page too.

'''Myke Hurley:''' Unnatural versus feel like real pen and paper. Won't. It won't. It just won't. It's untrue, but it's untrue too. You can get products that give it a matte finish and it feels more like it. So the paper light cover for the iPad is really good. I use one called the Moshi Eye Visor, which is really good. Gives it like a texture.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' Yeah. That's the one you told me to buy, which I bought. This next one's my favorite one.

'''Myke Hurley:''' Note-taking. You have just take notes versus utilize notes efficiently. Absolutely. Guarantee you. Guarantee you. A tablet like an iPad can do more with a note than this product can. Guarantee you. That's my favorite one. All right. Integration. Passive third-party app, all in capitals, versus integrate productivity tools such as mailbox, note, document. Again, I have no idea what you're talking about. It's just wrong. There are more apps and services for other devices. User experience. Follow smartphone and tablet versus design for digital note-taking. I mean, I can try and give you that one, but you have to be really good on your software design for that to be true.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' Well, for that to be true, they have to say that they are a worse product in design because it's specifically for digital note-taking.

'''Myke Hurley:''' Yeah.

'''Myke Hurley:''' Accessory. Lack of variety versus personalized options. That's also not true. Like, I'm sorry. Like, how many cases can you get for iPads? Stylus. Frequent wear-out and refill replacement versus nib-free. That doesn't make sense. Like, what? The Apple Pencil? Is it frequently, like, wear-out? It's a plastic tip. Same as yours. Front light. The front light weakens light transmittance and also causes the front light to be turned where the backlight is not even needed. Front light affects the handwriting experience versus no front light design, better reading and handwriting experiences. What they're trying to say is, which is true, e-ink screens have higher contrast and are better in sunlight. I don't know why they don't just say that instead of what they said instead. Um, but yeah, I don't... It is possible that they're not talking about tablets, but talking about Wacoms. But nevertheless, there's, like, a Wacom tablet attaches to a computer. Like, it has... This is just... Look, this is this typical thing. We go through this a lot on this show. Where marketing is just bad, right? Like, and this is just bad marketing. But if it gets people to buy your product, then it works, right? But yeah, this... I don't know. I don't know about this.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' So I like bringing these up, even though we don't really use these things. But we have talked about nearly every type of digital capturing and writing device out there because people are interested. I'm interested. But the problem is no one is nailing that product, right? Even, like, Moleskine, which I think you and I would agree have done it the best from things that we've been able to physically experience, like having the handwriting on, you know, a physical notebook experience, converting it into digital. And it still falls short of just a traditional handwriting experience, which everyone is trying to replicate in these devices. So that's why we talk about these products. Because I want eventually to see a product that is really good at digital note-taking. And I just think we are so far away from that design ever happening. Like, I think we are just far, far away from this. So, like, this guy, you know, linked in here because of Lamy's collaboration with it. And I like the idea. I always like the ideas of these products. But the execution has just proven to be poor for years and years and years. And I don't see the end in sight. And I'd love to be proven wrong one day that, hey, we finally get a good digital handwriting device that, you know, I could recommend to someone who just, you know, doesn't want to deal with pens. And they just live a completely digital lifestyle. And they want a good writing experience. And I just don't think we're there yet. But, you know, I think I've said it before. Like, I think we're, like, five to ten years away from that happening. Like, I think it'll happen eventually, but not anytime soon.

'''Myke Hurley:''' I mean, I don't actually think it will happen. Yeah. Because the device types have converged, right? Like, if you feel like your digital note-taking needs can't be given to you via an iPad or something, I don't know if you're ever going to be able to get what you want. Because none of these other devices are any better or worse. They're going to be, like, you know, they're not going to be better than the things that are bad in the other products, right? They all have their own trade-offs. And ultimately, I think if you're not going to be happy with a typical tablet, like a Surface or an iPad and a note-taking experience there, I can't imagine you ever being happy with a digital product. Because they're about as good as you could possibly make something like this. Like, I don't really know what the downside is, right? Like, oh, the screen is too glossy. Well, like, you can put a matte cover on it and you fix that. Like, oh, the texture isn't right. Like, again, you can put one of those on there. No screen is going to feel like paper. Like, it's just not going to. Because you can't make a screen out of that kind of texture. It would be weird, right? So, like, and then also, it's not just paper. It's the nib on the paper. And you can't, it just doesn't work. Like, the technology just isn't going to be there. And I just don't think we're ever going to see a product made that is so specific to feel like pen on paper. Like, there have to be trade-offs. And honestly, like, none of these products, like, especially this one, I know about using it. The software experience will not be good. Like, it's just not going to be what you expect. Like, if you use an Android phone, or if you use a Mac or Windows or iOS, like, these are operating systems that we're all unhappy with. And they are made by multi-billion dollar companies with so, like, it's just, it's too much of an insurmountable challenge for a company to build, like, a super fluid software experience. I would love to be proven wrong, because that would just be great for everyone. But I just don't think we're, that no one, I just don't think anyone could build a product that is going to be able to do this better than any other, many of the other big technology companies. I just don't.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' Yeah, I agree with everything you just said. So let me clarify my statement, and we can get out of here on this. I'm talking more about the digital pen on traditional paper experience as opposed to a screenwriter. I didn't make myself clear there. So I want to see, you know, you and I to be able to get a really fun pen that has a great refill or is a fountain pen type, use our notebook of choice and have that accurately represented digitally. And I think that's more interesting to me than a digital note-taking pad or screen as this is, right? So I don't know. And do we even need that? Who knows? No. Like, most skins on, like, version 4 or 5 of what they're trying to do, and it's obviously not sticking, right? It's just, it's, and I trust them to do it as well as anybody. And it's just not sticking.

'''Myke Hurley:''' In my mind, the real technology is just really good OCR from images. Yeah. So you can still use the pen and paper you want and just take a quick scan. Right. Of the page when you're done, and that's that. Like, I think that's, that's the technology really that, that you want to make better. Yeah. Not like, oh, I now have this notebook and I made sure to take the scan in the corner to have the page. Like, it's just, it's, it's too, they're called demos. But I don't really think they're much more. We'll see. All right. This episode is brought to you by Squarespace. Make your next move with Squarespace because you can create a website for your next idea or project and show it to the world. You'll be able to give it a fantastic, unique domain name so people will be able to find your website really easily. And then when they get there, they'll see it in all of its glory because you'll be able to customize beautiful, award-winning templates to make your content shine. There is nothing to install or patch or upgrade to Squarespace. It's an all-in-one platform that will make it so easy for you to get your project online. No matter what type of website you want to build, they've got the functionality. Squarespace take care of all of that stuff for you. They've got it covered and they back everything up with award-winning 24-7 customer support. So if you need any help, they're right there for you. This is also really good if you're a technical person and you have people in your life that are always looking to you for help. Like, oh, hey, I need to set up a website. Can you help me do that? Squarespace is a great option for them. You can help them to get set up if you want to. But then once they're done, once they've got their website live, any kind of technical issues that they have, Squarespace have a 24-7 customer support team for their customers. So if they've got any questions, you can direct them there. And you don't have to be the website master for the rest of your life, which is kind of fantastic. And that is one of the reasons that I use Squarespace myself and have done for so long. Because when I have something I want to put online, what I don't want to be doing is dealing with technical support for that thing. That's not why I built the website. I want to focus on the work that the website is showing off. And that's what Squarespace let you do because everything else is taken care of. They have all the functionality you're going to want no matter what type of website you want to build. Blog, they got it. Portfolio, they got it. Site for your business, they got it. What about an online store? Physical, digital goods, they got that too. Go to squarespace.com slash penaddict. And you can sign up for a trial with no credit card required and build your website today. Then when you're ready to launch it to the world, their plans start at just $12 a month. But you can get 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain and show your support for this show when you use the offer code penaddict to check out. That is squarespace.com slash penaddict and the code penaddict for 10% of your first purchase. Our thanks to Squarespace for their continued support of this show and all of RelayFM. Squarespace. Make your next move. Make your next website.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' I want to talk about a couple of new Kaweco special editions, if you'll allow me, Myke.

'''Myke Hurley:''' Okay.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' Okay. Approved? Okay, good.

'''Myke Hurley:''' Yeah, I mean, but this is like a thing that we were talking about last episode, right?

'''Brad Dowdy:''' Yeah, so this is a continuation of that. And Kaweco, like I love Kaweco. Like everyone knows that I love Kaweco. I love special editions and limited editions. Kaweco hasn't quite gone as far as Sailor has with like the special limited edition store editions yet. But they're close. Like they're tracking. And they're tracking that way pretty heavily. And I saw two come out, you know, like in the past week. And, you know, the collector's edition Coral is the first one. Did we talk about that one already last week? Or did we talk about the Black Crystal?

'''Myke Hurley:''' No, we didn't speak about any of these. Okay, that's what I thought. When we were talking about what was the name of the pen that you reviewed? The Big Lilliput?

'''Brad Dowdy:''' Oh, yeah, the Supra.

'''Myke Hurley:''' Yeah, because I was looking on their website and kind of looking through their collections and criticizing how many lines Kaweco has. And it looks like they've just added another one, the collector's edition.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' Kind of, sort of. So what do you... So you're not a Kaweco guy like I am.

'''Myke Hurley:''' Not anymore, no.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' Yeah, like I have a bunch of the, you know, Kaweco Sports and the Classics, the Plastic Barrel Special Editions because I like that style of pen and I like the fun colors they come in. So this one, they made as a wide release and stamped collector's edition on the barrel. And I just find that a little bit too try-hardy for me. And I wonder what the feedback is for that type of pen. Number one, they used a barrel color they just used for Fanta Plumos Coral Limited Edition.

'''Myke Hurley:''' Yeah, I thought I'd seen this already.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' So the Giyosh Coral, which I have, which is a stunning... That's the representation I want of a Kaweco Limited Edition. And it's the same kind of color. It might be identical, but without the Giyosh and the coral stamping. And it has, like it literally has collector's edition stamped on the side. And I don't know that I need that. As someone who loves, like, these special editions and limited editions, give me the numbering or give me the store name or, you know, give me a unique little logo.

'''Myke Hurley:''' The words collector's edition does not a collector's edition make.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' Yeah.

'''Myke Hurley:''' Right? Like, what is the collection?

'''Brad Dowdy:''' Yeah. I feel like this is like trying to make Fetch a thing, right?

'''Myke Hurley:''' Yes. Oh my God, that's perfect. Yes. Right? Stop trying to make collector's edition happen, Kaweco.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' Right. Because they're already doing it, right? They're executing on a collector's edition plan with shop exclusives and unique patterns. And they're doing all this. So now they've brought one in-house. And they're going to say, well, we'll just do this one. Like, there's no reason Kaweco needs to do this for Kaweco's product line.

'''Myke Hurley:''' Unless they have some wild idea that they come up with, which is like any limited edition that sells well, they will just remake it and call it collector's edition.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' Yeah.

'''Myke Hurley:''' Yeah, I don't like it. This is like another thing where like, we were talking about this last week. I just don't understand their product mix. Mm-hmm. I think doing, so the Fontapluma one and we've got another like, what currently appears to be store exclusive, which we're going to talk about in a second. And they're cool. Then they look cool, right? Both of them, right? The Fontapluma one looks cool. We've got a Drumgolds one we're going to talk about that looks cool.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' Well, it's not a Drumgolds one. It's a US exclusive. Let's just go ahead and.

'''Myke Hurley:''' Ah, okay. That's a little bit different. Yes. US exclusive. I mean, that's what Sailor does. I don't really have a problem with that. Because, you know, whatever. But like these are, that's like a good model, I think, where you do store exclusives and do geographical exclusives. I kind of get that. I know that, you know, maybe I'm biased from Sailor, but Platinum does it. Like, Lamy does it, right? Like, it feels like a pretty established way of doing things. But making a general release pen and just calling it collector's edition and selling it to anyone that wants it doesn't really feel like. If they made this pen, called it collector's edition, and said there's 200 of them, I wouldn't be having this argument. Because I would say, yeah, you're right. It is. But if they are, as you say, just like they just sell, just anyone can buy it. It's $25. But it just has the word collector's edition on the side. Like, I'm not really sure I get it. I don't think we're on the same page.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' Yeah. I just find it really, really, really strange. And yeah. Okay. I'm glad you're on the same page as me because I'm just trying to wrap my head around it. Like, this is not something that even like we should spend five or ten minutes talking about. But it's one of those things where I can't figure it out. And like, we're going to talk about a different product later in the show that I'm having a tough time wrapping my head around the processes that are in place at certain businesses.

'''Myke Hurley:''' Here's something really weird about this, which I just saw on the Vaness webpage. There's a comment that says, This pen is a limited edition and a coral shade was the Pantone color of the year for 2019. Yeah. The pen was designed with input from the Kaweco users Facebook group, which I'm a part of.

'''Myke Hurley:''' Now. Interesting. That's peculiar. That would make more sense. Right? But like if they are making these pens because of input from their fan base, then I guess, sure, call it the collector's edition. But they're not saying that's why. Or at least the marketing text on the page isn't saying that that's what this is about.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' And I just find that odd that it's going to run through retail channels as this.

'''Myke Hurley:''' Yeah.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' Like, I mean, they got to sell the pen somehow, right? Like, I'm with that. But so input. This is like the Diamine inks that are made in collaboration with Reddit. But those are stock ink colors. They're not necessarily limited edition ink colors. Like the Earl Grey was one. There's a second one since then.

'''Myke Hurley:''' So the Colt Pens listing says, The Kaweco Sport Fountain Pen blah blah blah. This collector's edition is dedicated to loyal Kaweco fans. The color is adapted from the Pantone color. And then it just goes on. So there's something here which it's about.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' So this is a fandom edition.

'''Myke Hurley:''' Yeah.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' It's really weird that it's such a wide release. Yeah. Everyone's got it. I think I just have more questions now. Yeah.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' It's a great looking pen. So let's end it there. It's $25. It's great looking. It's a cool Kaweco pen. That's not their norm. I just I'm getting a little bit of weird thoughts on it. Just how it's being presented.

'''Myke Hurley:''' Okay. From maninc.com.co.uk.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' They're everywhere. How many collector's editions are out there, Myke? 10,000?

'''Myke Hurley:''' Well, I've only found one. But every page has got its own information on it. This special edition is called collector's edition because it is dedicated to our loyal fans and Kaweco collectors. And especially the Facebook group Kaweco collectors and users, which already comprises of more than 2,500 enthusiastic Kaweco collectors. But okay. Right. We're getting somewhere. Yes. I get it. But then why does everyone get it? That doesn't make sense. You dedicate it to the collectors, but I can buy it and I'm not a collector.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' I didn't think I had as many questions about the collector's edition coral as I do about the black crystal, which we're about to talk about, but apparently I do.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' I thought it was simpler than that, Myke. I thought we lived in simpler times, but we don't, Myke, because now we have a U.S. exclusive Kaweco. Same plastic barrel, same, you know, limited edition. Although this one says there's only 1,000 of them into the U.S. But the issue, Myke, is this one is $70. And why is it? Because this one's badass. That's why. It is. It's really well designed. I like this. I like it too, but it's also $70. So I just have to. I mean, it comes with a clip. I don't know.

'''Myke Hurley:''' It's an expensive clip.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' The clips are like eight or 10 bucks. It's got the DLC coated nib. Like, that's a premium upgrade. But that's a big ask, even though I feel that they at least put something into this.

'''Myke Hurley:''' They put a bit more into it. They limited it. Yeah, so they DLC coated the nib, right? They gave you a clip.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' Which, just for people who don't know, real quick, that DLC, black nibs tend to, like, wear funny, right? You start to knock the luster off of them. This will help. Just keep it pure black.

'''Myke Hurley:''' And then it's coming in special packaging, and it has a clip. I mean, honestly, for me, I don't have a... I let this one go. Like, this ticks boxes to me to be more expensive. $70 for a Kaweco Sport is a high price, but it's, you know, it's even got its own little branding on the side of it, which looks like they've put some work into. This one, I do not contest.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' I don't contest it, but I'm trying to understand from Kaweco's perspective how you can tell me to spend, or ask me to spend $70 on this when I can buy one of the aluminum barrel models for a few dollars less, right? It's a, have you offered me enough in design features and exclusivity to charge me an equivalent price to one of your metal pens that you would gladly sell me for the same price? Like a brass. You know what this is? Or with the gold? I'm not the brass.

'''Myke Hurley:''' That's what this is.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' I know, right?

'''Myke Hurley:''' Right? This is actually a collector's edition.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' This is the real collector's edition. Where's the stamp?

'''Myke Hurley:''' What makes it collector is the fact that there's a limited amount. Like collectors like things for a couple of reasons. One of them is like that it's limited, which is if the other one had a limited number, it would make more sense to me, especially considering that they're really talking about this user group. They should have made 2,500 of the Coral one. Yeah, or whatever it is. One for every user in their group. And that's that.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' I love the design of Black Crystal. I'll probably buy it. I'll just probably be, I'll probably rage by it. You know, just, it's a great design, but like $55, $45, whatever. I think they could have got up to 60 on this one. Not this price point.

'''Myke Hurley:''' 60 would have been fine, I think. Pass that. You're really, yeah, because like, you know, the other one, that Coral one, is 25 bucks. This is like, oh, this is like three times more expensive. Yeah. It doesn't even say collector's edition on it, Myke.

'''Myke Hurley:''' Oh, the travesty.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' All right. I'm going to go, I'm going to continue with the business spread theme and try to understand what one of our favorite companies on the planet, Sailor, is doing. This isn't the first time they've done this. And I just, it's a curiosity. It's not a pro or a con. I'm curious when Sailor releases a very cool pen design, which most of theirs are, like the Sailor Lucky Charm, the Pro Gear Lucky Charm in the standard, you know, or slim and standard Lucky Charm, right? It's the blue. It's got a really good looking two-tone nib. I think it's a fantastic one. Is it blue or is it green? Green. It's teal-ish. Let's go with teal. That'll, that'll draw the line right. Because Lucky Charm

'''Myke Hurley:''' would suggest green to me.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' Yeah, that's fair. But it, all the pictures look bluish to me. They do. Goldspot lists it as green. Okay. So maybe it looks different in person.

'''Myke Hurley:''' But it looks blue everywhere to me. Yeah, because like the pinch. It's like an acmarine color.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' Yeah, so like the pen chalet pictures are like dead on blue. There's like no green in the pinch. Chalet pictures. But, they released those two pens. And then, a few months later, they drop a king of pen in Lucky Charm is what they're calling this, this pattern, this color setup. And I just have to wonder, why do you think they do that? Like, sometimes they release all three at the same time. Sometimes they come in with the king of pen later. Like, I think, didn't the Tangerine 1911, and I know the Fresca 1911, they came out as 1911 standard and large, and then separately, many months later, came out with king of pen. Yeah. And I just, like, I don't care. I'm just, I find it curious, because sometimes, like when they do the sky, like the blue one I have, they'll come out with all three at the same time. And I'm just trying to, I'm just curious why. I don't really care, but I just find it odd. It's one of those little weird things that I, that, you know, fill up my brain for no reason. They don't matter at the end of the day. Would you have any business justification for releasing them separately? Yes. Okay. What is it?

'''Myke Hurley:''' The king of pen line is an expensive pen line, right? Right. Their retail, well, like recommended retail over a thousand dollars. You typically pick one up for about 800, 900, something like that, right? Mm-hmm. They are only wanted by like, the most diehard of the audience. Mm-hmm. So they don't sell as many. Mm-hmm. You would assume. Mm-hmm. So my thinking would be that you only make a king of pen in a colorway that has otherwise sold well. Okay. If you don't sell a lot of the pro gear or regular pro gear slim size, don't make a king of pen in it. Yeah. See what I mean? That would be my thinking as to why you would split it out and it's what I would do. That's the only thing I can think of. Yeah.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' Because, okay, so Earth is a perfect example. It's in the same series as Sky. I don't think that sold well at all and they released the king of pen at the same time and like all of those are still available. Well,

'''Myke Hurley:''' sometimes you might be very confident that the colorway that you've got here will sell well and you'll be surprised by it. Right? Yeah. You know what I mean? Like I can imagine that the thinking is you only make the king of pen if you're confident it will sell well and there's two ways you do that. Either gut feel, which you might be wrong at sometimes, or, you know, like you've done market research that would suggest that it would be a good thing but market research doesn't necessarily have a one-to-one with actual market desire or the other way you do it is you wait and see to see what customer response is like with the actual product that is out there that they can buy and then follow it up with the king of pen. Yeah. That's what I would assume.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' That makes logical sense. So, by that note, I should be able to get my Wicked Witch of the West king of pen in a few months.

'''Myke Hurley:''' Yes.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' Except I'm not going to because I think they've priced me out of king of pen. These prices are not good anymore. Not that they were ever... I've always complained about the price of the king of pen.

'''Myke Hurley:''' I still remain confused by this because I don't remember the prices ever being lower than $800.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' Yeah. I'll have to do some research on some older purchases but, like, this is in an uncomfortable level for what I get. The price I have to pay for what I'm actually getting is starting to not line up anymore because it was already extreme. I felt. You know, I've always called it one of the most overpriced pens on the market but I love it and now I think it's just might be we're hitting into flat out overpriced territory. I would rather just have the 1911 large or the Pro Gear Standard at this point bomb for a third of the price is essentially what we're at. So, you know, it's interesting. I'll go back and look at some of my past purchases but I know I've never paid

'''Myke Hurley:''' anywhere close to that much.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' Right, but there was one that we got

'''Myke Hurley:''' for a really, really good deal because we bought it from a lot of seats. I'm not even counting that one.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' I'm not even counting that one. That was like low 600s. Like it was between 600 and 625, I think.

'''Myke Hurley:''' I think it was less than that. Was it? Yeah.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' I'm not even counting that one. That was, we jumped on that deal when we saw it. That was one of those like, oh, this doesn't seem right and we weren't even sure we were going to get the pens and we got them.

'''Myke Hurley:''' Yeah, we took a punt on that for sure.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' But otherwise, yeah, I'll need to look at some historical prices on that. But I think we're just in a, we're in a range where I can get like the sweet, sweet Nakayas for less than that. So, it's, it's not tracking for me. So, we'll see.

'''Myke Hurley:''' And I think it just depends on your preferences. I mean, I don't own a Nakaya, right? But my King of Pens are by far and away my favorite.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' Yeah, it'll be hard for me not to buy a Wicked Witch of the West King of Pen because I love that 1911 shape in the King of Pen. It's fantastic.