PaperMate FingerMate - Put That Index Finger To Good Use!
Written: Mar 26 '03 (Updated Nov 09 '04)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Ergonomic design allows pain free writing, a true conversation starter.
Cons: Takes a little while to get used to using it correctly.
The Bottom Line: It looks weird but writes great!
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| Freak369's Full Review: Papermate Fingermate |
When I saw the new PaperMate FingerMate at Wal-Mart I was a little skeptical about how well it would write, how easy it would be to use and if it was worth the price. Over a month later I’m pretty happy to say that this is one of the most bizarre pens I’ve ever used – but it’s also one of the most comfortable. If you have ever used a pen that has a rubber comfort grip and noticed that it reduced that amount of cramping or wrist aches then you should check out this pen. The PaperMate FingerMate not only provides added comfort to your fingers but to your hand and wrist as well. It may take a little while to get used to using this, but I can almost guarantee that if you give this a try you’ll fall in love with it.
PaperMate FingerMate
If you have never seen one of these in the store you can get a pretty good idea of what it looks like by checking out the photo shown at the top of this review. The pen is just as long as most standard pens – five inches – but it looks smaller due to the large bulge near the point. When my son first saw it he laughed and made a comment something to the effect of “If a pen ever got pregnant, I wonder if it would look like that”. The large bulge at the end is where you insert your finger – yes – you read that right – you slide your index finger into the body of the pen.
How It Works
As I mentioned above, this is a little different from regular pens. The large bulge is where you insert your index finger with your thumb resting on the outside. When you slide your finder into the slot you’ll see that the top part of the pen comes a part a little – this is so that it contours to your finger and provides a good grip. The fishtail design on the back of the pen should be parallel to your finger – then all you do it bend your finger slightly so the back end of the pen slides to the left. If that sounds complicated – trust me – it isn’t. Once you do it a few times it feel completely natural. The hardest thing to get used to is having the bulge of the pen rest on your index finger with your thumb resting on the bulge. Again, if this sounds like it’s complicated, it really isn’t – its just hard to put the actions into words to describe it.
The pans are available in three colors – green, blue and red. Each of them are trimmed in an off white / pearl color that gives it a little style. The real perk to the pen is the cap that snaps on tightly and features a triangular tag so you can attach it to your zipper pull of your backpack or purse. There is also a clear plastic clip that can be used to attach it to the inside of a backpack. The clip isn’t very long so I can’t say how much abuse or use it will handle before it breaks. I’ve attached it to the inside key chain attachment of my backpack which makes it easy to find when I need to use it.
The metal tip assembly does screw apart however I am not sure if the ink chamber can be refilled or replaced. I haven’t seen any refill packets at the store nor have I seen them advertised at the online sites so at this point in time I am going to have to say, for the time being, that these are non-refillable. When you open the pen there aren’t any markings on the ink stick so again, that leads me to think that these can’t be refilled or at the very least they haven’t started to market the refills yet. The ink itself is nice but in all honesty, nothing too impressive. The ink is black with a medium tip but the ink isn’t ‘jet black’ the way I like it. It flows smoothly and doesn’t clump or leave ink globs on the paper. Overall I am more excited about the design of the pen rather than the ink performance. I don’t use mine for more than occasional notes, when I am on the run and need to jot something down or at the ATM / cash machine making a deposit. Even though this sees limited use
Since the pen is bulky in size it takes up more space than standard pens so don’t plan on carrying around too many of these at once. If you have ever found yourself without a pen when you really need one – invest a few dollars [or look for them on sale] and attach one inside your backpack, knapsack or pouch. My sons really didn’t care for this pen since they found it to be a little hard to get it to mold to their small fingers. Most adults shouldn’t have any trouble with this feature however if you do find that it is uncomfortable or it doesn’t contour to your finger, you can still use it. Just place your index finger on top of the wavy zigzag pattern [rubber grip area] and write like you would with a normal pen.
The Bottom Line
If you are a pen junkie and like to try new products, this is something that you have to put on your shopping list! If you give it an honest try and give yourself some time to get used to the strange shape, I am sure that you will love it. You can find these at most office supply stores or at Wal-Mart in the pen / office supply section. I picked this up on sale for $1.25 but the normal retail price is about $2.19. When these were on sale the only color to pick from was green – not exactly the color I would have went for but for $1.25 I couldn’t resist it. I highly suggest this ergonomic styled pen for anyone that has any type of chronic hand pain, experiences cramping when writing or likes the comfort grip feature. I don’t have arthritis but I would assume that this would be a great product for those who suffer from this or any type of joint pain.
Be prepared for some strange looks when you use this as well as questions from onlookers. Almost every time I have pulled this out and started using it, someone has asked about it, how it works and if they can try it out. Most of the people who have tried mine said that they would be picking up a few for their office or as gifts for people who seem to have everything.
As always, thanks for the visit!
^V^ Freak ^V^
© 2004 Freak369
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Recommended:
Yes
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