We've
reviewed pens from Senator before, in fact, we've even looked at the Senator
Surfer. These are fun little pens, obviously designed for the student
pen market, and there latest offering is no different. The Surfer Mobile
is definitely a quirky design, based on... Yes, it's based on cell phone
designs!
Or, as our friends from across the pond would have it, on the designs of mobiles. Hence the name, Surfer Mobile. The Mobile is clearly a "student" pen, it's lightweight, and inexpensive. The design is obviously fun, and aimed at the younger market. At the same time, however, the Surfer Mobile is a pretty darn good pen in and of itself.
The Mobile, as you might imagine of a student pen, uses a medium steel nib. So writing with the Mobile will be a pleasant enough experience. It's smooth, but rigid, your typical steel nib. Just right for someone starting out with fountain pens.
Also
just right for a "spare pen", something to tuck down into the
briefcase or purse to have on hand if you need an extra. The nib is smooth,
and ink flow good enough that it's a very usable pen. It's another example
of the paradox of inexpensive pens outperforming some of their expensive
counterparts! I find the Senators, and the Surfer pens in particular,
to be very reliable pens.
With the Mobile, you just get a slightly more interesting package around that reliability! The basic design has a silver colored cap and barrel. The clip is the same as that used on the regular Surfer, a very wide light metal affair, with the letter S cut out of the top. The section, cap top, and barrel end are all done in translucent plastic, in various colours.
The
silver colored cap and barrel have cut out sections along their length,
designed to look like the buttons on a cell phone. Complete with numbers
and letters! Like I said, it's an interesting design, and obviously aimed
at the younger market. Cool enough that even an older guy like myself
wouldn't feel too ridiculous using one, though.
Is it an elegant pen? No. Is it a luxurious pen? No. What the Surfer Mobile excels at is fun. You remember fun, right? It's that stuff you used to have, back before you grew up!
So, in other words, if you're looking for a simple little pen with a fun look, either for yourself, or as a way to get someone young started down the path to "real pens", giving the Senator Surfer Mobile a look would be a good place to start.
copyright 2002 William Riepl