Are you the type of student who jots down notes in different colors? Do you go to class carrying a huge pencil case full of pens of different colors? If you answered yes for both questions, then this pen is for you! The BiC 4-Color Retractable Ballpoint Pen promises convenience and productivity when going to the battlefield - your class. Say goodbye to bulky pencil cases and left-hand-full of pens-of-different-colors because there is a smarter way to do this feat.
Structure and Design
The BiC Retractable Ballpoint Pen contains four colors: Red, Blue, Black and Green. Each has their own ink reservoir similar to any ordinary ballpoint pens. The tip is made of brass and a carbide ball to ensure smooth rolling on the surface of the paper. Just like any retractable pens, the plastic reservoir is stuck to a spring that is anchored to the housing of the pen.
The Housing is made of lightweight plastic and can be disassembled by unscrewing the middle half of the pen. The casing also features a plastic clip for clipping to clothes or paper. There are four buttons at the posterior part that are color-coded and matched to the color of the ink. The diameter of the pen is quite slim, measuring to about 1.43 cm at the location where the pen is being held. The plastic material is also quite durable, with no flexing or bending during heavy writing and minimal flex when intentionally bent using quite a big force.
Ergonomics and Performance
As mentioned before, the pen is slim and comfortable to use. Unlike other fat 4-in-1 retractable pens, this is one of the most comfortable of its kind. In fact, it is my primary pen for note taking and exam writing. One thing I would like it to have is one of those cushion material at the anterior end of the pen. The cushion material is getting popular in today’s pens and offers even more comfort and better grip.
Another thing worth mentioning is the buttons for switching colors. Switching colors is now efficient and convenient thanks to this innovation. There is a rather noticeable “clicking” sound that can be heard across a quite lecture hall for every switch made, but not to the point of disturbing other students. Also when switching colors under poor lighting condition or under a yellow light, the color coding on the button becomes harder to distinguish, i.e. the blue looks like black. I can’t think of a solution for BiC that can remedy this problem but, probably to make the blue button a little lighter. Or I can just simply write in a well-lit area.
Performance is quite good. The pen writes smoothly and the ink has a good tone – not to light, not too dark. The green and red inks are lighter in color and will not overwrite the blue or black. This is perfect for corrections or writing side notes. However, if an ink is not used for a long period of time, the ink needs to be primed by scribbling on a paper until ink comes out. This can be due to the ink drying at the tip.
Conclusion
This is one of my favourite pens in my arsenal of school supplies. Going to class with only this pen is enough to suite my needs to be a keener in class. I highly recommend buying this pen if you are an avid note taker who likes to use lots of colors to make studying a little easier and colorful.
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