Advantages: Cheap, reliable and easy to use
Disadvantages: None

...The Bic Biro is possibly the most recognisable pen in the writing world. Simple, unique and classic. In 1945, Marcel Bich and Edouard Buffard bought a factory outside Paris and set up a business making parts for fountain pens and mechanical lead pencils. As the development of the ballpoint pen advances in the United States and Europe, Bich saw the potential for this new, innovative writing implement. Bich obtained the patent to a ball point pen created by a Hungarian inventor named Ladislao Biro. In 1950, Marcel Bich introduced his own ball pen, the reliable, affordable, Bic Cristal ballpoint pen. The Bic Biro is not a complicated pen, it is essentially a plastic hexagonal tube with a cap at the end containing another plastic tube with a writing nib at the top. This tube is filled with ink. The pen, when new anyway, has a plain lid... Read review

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Advantages: you can use it anywhere!
Disadvantages: sometimes leaks all over your hands

...Its that time of night again when Carenza is fast asleep and I can’t find anything to do! I am sure James would like me to do some washing or something, but its late, and frankly I can’t be bothered. I’ve been looking around myself to inspire me. The only thing near me that I have not written an opinion on is the humble Bic Biro. The Biro is something we use everyday, and never think to give praise! Where would we be without this little pen! Still faffing about with fountain pens, that’s where we would be! Don’t get me wrong, I like to write with a nice fountain pen, but there is just something precious about them that makes me not want to use them for everyday use! Hey, maybe that’s just me, but I prefer to use a biro for my little scribbles! You can get fun biros, plain coloured biros, naughty biros (I think you know the ones I... Read review

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Advantages: Cheap, but reliable
Disadvantages: Very easy to loose

..., have a similar habit, so it's not really a big complaint. Because of this, it is always best to keep a couple of spares on you, and I normally keep a big box on my desk. The pen itself is sturdy, and generally you do have to actively try if you ever want to destroy one of these. What's it like to write with: This is of course important, while sometimes they do act up, especially if left for a long period of time without a lid, once the ink starts flowing, it is a very pleasant pen to write with. Unlike a fountain pen, or a roller ball, the ink doesnt smudge, or soak through to the next page, it writes smoothly and easily, and well what more could you want from a pen. The range is pretty simple, blue, black, red and green been the standard colour, with either thin, medium or thick nibs, medium been the most common, however, this is more... Read review

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Advantages: Reasonable price, good range
Disadvantages: Atrocious service

...Absolutely shocking! My first experience with Buy.com will definitely be my last. About a month ago, I ordered an expensive fountain pen from their stationary store. The site claimed that this pen, like all the other available, was in-stock and available for delivery within 24hours. Having paid the extortionate shipping fee (nearly £5.00), I expected to have the pen within the week. Three weeks later, I still had not received my pen. I e-mailed the company to ask what had happened. They guarantee a 24hour response. Five days later, I got a reply informing me that my pen was out of stock, and would not reply for another three weeks. Since Buy.com was by far the cheapest retailer of the pen, I decided to wait. Four weeks later, a PC Headphone set arrived on my doorstep! Somewhat annoyed by this point, I telephoned them to complain... Read review

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Advantages: Small, excellent sound quality
Disadvantages: Only 5 hours battery life, restrictive music management software

...Sony's Music Clip is a masterpiece of design, as one would expect from their Vaio range of multimedia technology. A friend got me one from New York (they're currently unavailable in the UK) and it was worth the wait. You record your CDs onto your harddrive in Sony's proprietary sound format and then transfer them via an ultra-fast USB connection to the unit itself, which is around the size and shape of a fountain pen. And the sound quality is fantastic and LOUD! They're quite expensive but better than the Memory Stick Walkman.... Read review

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Advantages: Effortlessly practical
Disadvantages: Reinforces my pen chewing habit

...Everything's alright When I write Black, red or blue Line stays true No hint of pretension In this clear plastic shell Used to tell To compel Or to quell With the written word Affordable Portable Expendable Indispensable A ballpoint with ageless grace And a place In everyday use No matter where, when or how It's a neat trick Performed by this biro from Bic Ubiquity achieved From an idea conceived So simply So completely I sit down to write A letter A story Dare I say... An ode I don't reach for the fountain pen Though it exudes class I look past The pencil is high maintenance Never a sharp point The page to anoint But the Bic Biro is there Chewed end Battered lid Ready to send My thoughts into life Thank you Bic For being And for seeing The need for practicality Embracing mundanity And making my writing 'Cristal' clear...... Read review

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Advantages:
Disadvantages:

...In 1550 Cardinal Hippolyte d'Este, the son of Lucretia Borgia and Alfonso I d'Este, built Villa d'Este following the project of Pirro Ligorio. The Villa is reputed to stand on the site of an ancient medieval district called "Valle Gaudente". The magnificent fountains are fed by the waters of the Aniene through a series of pipes which pass under the historical centre. The courtyard, which corresponds to the present entrance of the Villa, was the cloister of a Benedictine convent incorporated in the monumental building of the Villa. The Italian-style garden with its beautiful fountains is a splendid example of the Renaissance gardens' art and architecture. The most famous fountains are: the Fountain of the Bicchierone (Large Glass), the One Hundred Fountains, the Fountain of the Ovato, the Fountain of the Dragons and the Fountain... Read review

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Advantages: a hand written letter shows off your best features
Disadvantages: takes time

...A covering letter is a good way to make an impression by showing off your handwriting. If your letter is beautifully written it will stand out from all the other your potential employer will be looking through. (If you have really bad writing you can't do this though!) Use a fountain pen and make sure your writing is perfect. I've actually written covering letters half a dozen times before I am happy with my writing. Your handwriting says a lot about you and some companies actually employ graphology experts to study the handwriting of potential employers. Don't rabbit on about all the things you have already put in your CV. Introduce yourself and say why you want the job and how you can benefit the company. Tell them when you would be available for interview, if required. Keep it short and snappy as the main details are in your CV... Read review

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Advantages: a true miracle worker
Disadvantages: shocking price

...Now, when my best friend and professional drinking partner showed me the contents of her Christmas stocking last year, little seemed to be out of the ordinary. Typical seasonal goodies- tangerines, nuts & choccie coins, twinned with those helpful things that Santa puts in for everyday life- cotton wool, a toothbrush and hideous but very comfy pants I thought little more of it. What did catch my eye was what looked like a rather robust fountain pen. It was brought to my attention that this was as close to a miracle as you can get. And boy was she right! After several months of secretly applying Touche Éclat from my poor unsuspecting friends supply in order that I didn't look like I had just dragged myself off her floor with a sock waving around in my hair and then run to work swearing that gin is evil and shall never pass my lips again... Read review

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Advantages: Covers up mistakes, alternative to correction fluid, looks good
Disadvantages: None

...and was founded in 1945 by a Mr Marcel Bich. He and his business partner Edouard Bufferd, started out producing parts for fountain pens and pencils. They saw an opportunity to produce a cheap ball point pen and in 1950, the BiC ball point pen was introduced to Europe. The company continued to expand, opening up operations in all corners of the world. Their product portfolio began to expand rapidly and today they are big players in the stationery market. The company is still in the Bich family; Bruno Bich is the chairman of the firm. ~Tipp-ex Mouse~ The Tipp-ex mouse has been available to buy for a number of years now. It is a mouse shaped instrument that can be used to correct spelling mistakes or other errors made when writing. It is similar to Tipp-ex fluid, in that the mistake is covered over and the correct word written on the top. The mouse... Read review

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