Editing The Pen Addict 350/transcript (section)

== Hippo Noto Notebook ==


'''Brad Dowdy:''' I didn't like the first ink color. This one's really good.

'''Myke Hurley:''' Yeah. So I'm going to go in for an A5. I would like a more standardized size one, especially to go in my Kickstarter exclusive case, which will I feel like they will be a perfect pair for each other. So I'm going to back it right now. So yeah, this is, I understand like there were some issues, but this was a, this was a product that I really liked and I really hope that the Hippo Noto team are able to, to get everything in a better, so squishy and be able to get everything in a, in a better situation for them this time. My thinking would be like, again, like if you've gone through something like that, the stress of that fulfillment, you wouldn't put yourself in that position again, right? Unless you were feeling pretty confident. Yeah. Right? Oh, totally. Totally. But again, heed the word of warning that there was issues before, but also take the note that we both genuinely really love this product. So I reckon it's worth, it's worth giving them a shot.

'''Myke Hurley:''' So I backed, they're nearly at their goal and they're going to make it. So yeah, I'm excited. I'm excited to get a second one of these in my life.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' Yeah, they're very cool.

'''Myke Hurley:''' Yeah. All right. And we also have the machine era field pen. Can you tell me a little bit about this? I'd never seen this before, but I watched the video and this looks like a pretty, pretty well-made thing.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' Yeah. So I didn't, I think I've just been on Kickstarter so much and this one popped up into my feed. And when I saw the, the two-tone pen in the image, like in the, in the main image, I was like, oh, that's pretty cool. Then I started reading more and I was like, oh, they're using this cool refill for my Toya, which I know anyone can buy the refill for any pen and go, but that they're making that choice at the beginning. I don't know. This was just everything like in a pen design that spoke to me. So I backed it. And then in the matter of full disclosure, two days ago, I got an email. This was after I'd backed it from Adam, who runs Machine Era, wanting to sponsor the Pen Addict blog. So I just want that disclosure to be out there that next week, Machine Era is sponsoring the blog. But I had already backed and, you know, for this pen before I'd even ever talked to anyone about this, you know. So anyway, it looks cool. Like I said, anything I can get that's different from straight silver or straight black or straight brass or straight copper, like I'm interested in. And then you put in this interesting twist mechanism and then you go ahead and give me the cool refill. And, you know, it's at a reasonable price. It's like, this is what I do, right? I buy this thing to test it out. Like they don't always come out good. Like I got a product from a company called Kensa. So it just delivered last week and it was horrible. You know, that's what Kickstarter is sometimes. Sometimes you don't get what you, what you think you're getting. But with this Machine Era pen, I'm pretty confident it looks really sharp and I'm going to be excited and anxiously awaiting this one. I don't have a prototype or anything coming. I hadn't even asked him for one, but I'm pretty, pretty, pretty happy with how this is.

'''Myke Hurley:''' I just watched the video and I think that the mechanism looks real sweet and, but just the overall design of this pen looks to be a pretty interesting one.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' So like, it's not too big. It's like in that good size. It's not overly tactical. It's just, it's like I said, it's kind of just right for me. Like someone asked me, it was like, well, did you get the orange one? And I was like, well, duh. I was like, but what I would have gotten, you know, if it was like red or blue or just like having that alternate color is a big deal for me. Like that means a lot to me.

'''Myke Hurley:''' I'm not a big brass person, but they have like a brass body one as well. Yeah.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' Like I think, I think it's completely ugly. Like the clip looks awful on the black pen. I'm just saying like I, it just does to me. And like my aesthetic doesn't buy into that, but then I like the silver, the stainless steel one. That one looks pretty cool. And that's why they give you so many options on here, right? Not every style is for everyone, but like, that's why I like the Ajojo pen. Like I have a brass Ajojo, but then they released some stainless steel ones with like just the little blue twist mechanism. I was like, I want that so bad. It's like, I can't spend another $200 on that pen because I already have one, but like, that's what I want in a pen. Just give me that little hit of something. And, you know, and that's why we did wild colors for spoke pen because we can and I want to. So, you know, I think this looks like a real solid product and I'm anxious to get it and I'm glad I backed it.

'''Myke Hurley:''' All right. What else do we have here? 22 pen. You posted a little video, I think, somewhere on Instagram.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' It was on Instagram. So, I posted a picture, right? And people are fascinated with this pen. And I clearly I am too. It's like there's something about this pen. Like it should not be a thing. But it is and it's cool and I want it and I might never use it and I don't know what I'm going to do with it, but I want it and I want it now and it's cool and I got to have it. So, that's kind of how my thought process goes. And Mario, every time I post something, he's like, oh, thanks for posting this and that and talking about it. I'm like, yeah, whatever, man. That's just what I do. But people like even when I sent pictures, people are like, I don't get it. Like, why do you, what is happening here? I was like, let me just, I'll do a video. I'll just shoot a little video of it in my hand. It's a mini pen that holds 2D1 refills. They don't get in the way of each other when you write with a single refill. You can extend one refill out and write in a double line if you want. So, it's like supposed to be made for like a singular pocket notebook to slide in the pocket notebook inside the cover so the pen tips don't poke you or get on your shirt or your pants or your bag or whatever. And, you know, that's kind of it. It's just like this little portable double color pen. And there's just something about it that's kind of got me hooked. I think it's probably the materials, right? You don't normally get this type of material in this type of pen. And the design is pretty unique. So, I just felt like this is the kind of thing that I do. Like, I get into this stuff and I want this. So, now, like, I get it and then people ask me questions. Hopefully, I can explain it without being too weird about it because this is, it's just a weird pen. Like, I don't know what to tell you. I don't know how you're going to use it. You might hate it. I, like, I would be hesitant. Like, if I put this in a notebook, I would never sit on it. Like, I carry a notebook in my back pocket with a pen in it all the time. I would never do that with this pen because I feel like I would snap it. Like, it's real strong and durable. But, I mean, I'm a large man. I'm not sitting my butt on this pen. There's no way that's going to end well. But, it's made for that type of portability. I can't just throw the pen in my pocket. Like, I can't clip it to my shirt, right? Because it's not capped. So, I'm going to get stabbed or inked. So, like, there's so much wrong about this pen from a practicality standpoint. Maybe that's why I love it. I don't know. I love this pen. I don't know what to tell people. But, it almost, it shouldn't be a thing. Like, this shouldn't be happening. But it is. And I'm kind of glad with that.

'''Myke Hurley:''' I need to see this pen. I just, there's some, I can see there's something about it. It's not enough for me to buy it, but I really want to see it. And I feel like I could end up falling for it in a similar way that you did. There's something just weird about it in a nice way.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' Well, yeah. And I really think it's, I think a lot of it's the materials. That was the selling point for me. It's like, it's not a metal barrel. If this was a metal pen or just like a machine pen, I probably wouldn't give it a second to look. Maybe I would have. But what drew me in was like, oh, I can get pretty acrylics. I like pretty acrylics.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' You know, that was probably 75% of the selling point for me. Because I genuinely don't know how I'm going to use it. So, right now, my notebook this month is another Notco notebook. notebook. That's a top bound notebook. I can't use this pen.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' It doesn't stick inside the notebook right.

'''Myke Hurley:''' Right. Because it can't clip on.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' Because it would be out the side. Yeah. And that would be too thick. I can clip it from the bottom, but I feel like I'm going to lose it that way. So, it's been sitting on my desk, and that's not what this pen is for. This is not a desk pen. No. You don't want to write a novel with this pen. You want to be able to have it quickly and jot things down. So, I'm like waiting for my next notebook to use to actually really go for it. But, I mean, I've got Jet Stream 0.5 refills in it right now. It's fantastic. But, it's like, it's weird. I can't explain it. I wish I could. I have no words for it. But, I haven't gone and backed it yet, but I'm 100% backing it. I need to go click the link.

'''Myke Hurley:''' Yeah.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' I feel like at this point, you owe it to the guy. Oh, I was going to back it anyway. But, I just, like, I just get sidetracked.

'''Myke Hurley:''' Yeah.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' Especially once I get it in

'''Myke Hurley:''' hand. Well, yeah. The requirement to then rush to back is less so when you actually have the thing. Right? Yeah. But, we can't all be as fun as you, as cool as you, though. You're such an influence.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' Oh, I think Myke says he's got one, so I'd be interested. Myke's, like, he's very, very opinionated as well. Myke of Ink Dependence. Yeah, Myke of Ink Dependence. So, keep an eye on Ink Dependence, see what he thinks about his. Like, there's no explaining it. Mm-hmm. I just, but I want it. So, there you have it.

'''Myke Hurley:''' I don't know how I have missed the Herbert Pen Company's Frankenstein vanishing point. Speaking of weird and not supposed to work. You have ordered one of these. I feel like I've never seen this before, and this is super strange to me in a very interesting way. So, I'm keen. So, can you explain what this product is, and then tell me why you would want this?

'''Brad Dowdy:''' Okay. So, I met Chet Herbert at last, well, yeah, last year's, the 2018 Baltimore Pen Show. I'd never met him before, and I was looking through. Chet makes his own blanks and turns his own pens, and I'm going through, looking at the table. You know, it's like you're looking at a Jonathan Brooks table or Edison Pen, anyone who makes their own stuff, and they're selling their stuff. And then, someone says, have you seen his vanishing point modified barrel? I'm like, what are you talking about? Like, there's, like, it's a retractable? There's like, no. It's just a barrel, and you put the nib unit in it, and then you write with it. I'm like, okay, I need to go look at this. And then I saw it, and I was like, yep, this, I'm going to need one of these. So, like, right then, I got on the list. It took over a year, Chet. I just want you to know that. He knows that. I gave him a bunch of crap last week or two weeks ago.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' But mine is ready. It's on his Instagram. It looks beautiful. And why do I want it? Well, because I'm a huge vanishing point fan. I like the nibs, and I like that you can, people are creative enough to do cool things around other nibs, especially the vanishing point that's such a tricky little nib to begin with. So, I mean, how was I not buying this pen? I mean, this was 100% going to happen the minute I saw it. So, I'm really anxious to get it. I'll have it in Atlanta for everyone to test out. Chet's actually going to be in Atlanta this year, so that'll be fun. But it's cool, right? I mean, I think it's cool. I wouldn't have bought it if I didn't think it was cool, but.

'''Myke Hurley:''' It's cool. It's just weird, because when you look at it, when you just look at it, you're like, well, you've removed all of the vanishing point in this. Totally. The pen. But that is, this is the thing where it's like, well, how much of what's good about the vanishing point is the nib unit? And, like, that's the thing that you have to come to your own decision on. Because if you like the vanishing point just because it's retractable, this pen is not for you. But if you actually like the nib unit, which is a fantastic nib unit, then this becomes a really interesting pen for a completely different reason, because, like, the hooded nib design that they do is, like, a pretty rare thing to get, but it's very beautiful. So, yeah, this is a super different thing. I just not, this is definitely not for everyone, and I would need to try one and see it myself, because, like, just on the face of it, I don't know how much I personally value that nib over other things.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' Right. Like, this is something, like, I will only ever need one of these. I mean, not that I need more than any pen, but you get what I'm saying. It's like, this is just kind of like a one-off, let me do this cool thing because I love the vanishing point, even though it kind of takes away what the vanishing point is, right?

'''Myke Hurley:''' It feels like owning an oddity.

'''Myke Hurley:''' Right? Like, you know, like, this would be something, this would be a pen that I would want, so when I met another pen person, I could give it to them and be like, that's a vanishing point. Right? And it would be like, ha-ha, that's fun. All right? Like, so here's the thing. You have put in the show notes, we'll have it by Atlanta, so come see it. Yeah, it's a show pen. Right? Like, yeah, it is a show pen for sure because it's like, you give it to them, oh, this is really nice, what is it? Like, it's a vanishing point. And it's like, no, it's not. And so, hilarity ensues. Yep.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' Hilarity ensues.