lefei
23rd March 2004, 03:32 PM
The Trottle is made by the company TTools LLC (http://www.ttools.com/). The company has many other styli designed for use with the Palm. It is a duo pen - with a stylus and ballpoint tip. Unlike the multi-pens on the market, the Trottle is very much like the PalmPoint Duo Action Stylus for the Palm V/Vx, except that it is designed for the Palm III and PalmPilot. The company also has a metal version of the Trottle.
Appearance
The Trottle basically has a grey contoured barrel and a red plunger tip. Both the body and the unique pocket clip are made of a type of plastic similar in colour and texture to the Palm III and PalmPilot. The barrel is wider in the middle and at the end towards the writing tip as compared to the end nearer to the clip. Those who do not like plastic looking pens may find that the duo pen looks cheap. When viewed from the side, the Trottle looks all right but the profile looks odd when viewed from the front.
Feel / Weight
The Trottle is a good sized pen although it is shorter than a conventional pocket pen. The grip feels full because of its wide body. However, those who hold their pen higher up the barrel may find it a little uncomfortable for that section is narrower. The textured surface of the plastic does help the user grip the pen securely.
The weight of the pen is on the light side. The pen is not very well balanced and its lightness is a major factor.
The writing tip does not feel smooth. I use the Sam Screen Protector and I do feel a sort of "drag" when writing on this surface. I do not have this problem with the original stylus tip of my Palm Vx.
Design
The Trottle is designed to "dock" in the silo of the Palm III and PalmPilot. It can also clip onto the breast shirt pocket. The clip (which holds the pen in the pocket) also serves to hold the pen in the silo slot. There is a little bump near the top of the clip. This catch makes sure the pen is secure when used in the silo slot.
The stylus tip is permanent and the pen tip is accessed by pressing down on the red plunger. The unit I received seem to have a problem with this mechanism. When I pushed down on the plunger, the pen does not retract back a little to "lock" itself in position as with most other ballpoints. I would have to push the tip back into the barrel with my fingers or press the tip down on paper before writing.
The mechanism also gets stuck when I try to retract the pen tip. When I pushed down on the button, the tip became jammed and I would have to push it back with my fingers. This can get a little messy at times when I get ink on my fingers.
Front View / Trottle docked and moved towards the back
Trottle docked at the side
The plunger is a bright red and some may find this unappealing. The plastic barrel is moulded from two halves and the seam extends to the tip. Perhaps the roughness I experienced from writing with this pen results from this. The top and bottom halves of the barrel have a screw type mechanism to access the pen refill. The traverse of the screw motion is crude. Also, the two halves are not flushed when screwed tight.
Stylus Tip – note the seam
Ease of Use
Using the stylus tip is straightforward. However, the stylus tip is not in the centre of the barrel but towards the top edge and so needs a little getting used to. For me, the pen tip is just impossible to use unless I want to get my fingers dirty.
Ease of Placement
Since I do not have a Palm III, I used it on a PalmPilot. The "docking" system works well and the little bump helps to keep the pen secure in the silo. However, the pen is free to swerve from side to side since there is nothing preventing this movement. I tried using it on the Palm Vx and the clip fits into the silo as well. However, the bump does not serve as a catch and so the pen can slip out easily.
Ease of Detachment
Getting it out of the PalmPilot is not a problem.
Graffiti Recognition
My Palm Vx had no difficulty in graffiti recognition when I use the Trottle. However, those who prefer a heavier and better balanced pen may not like the feel when using this pen.
Durability
The exposed stylus tip may suffer damage from drops and improper storage.
Cost
US$6.25 excluding freight charges. Free shipping is available to SPUG (Singapore addresses only) members who fill up 'SPUG' in the Gift message space of the order form. (Do NOT write at the engraving space or you will get a pen with SPUG engraved on it!)
Conclusion
The pen may or may not look attractive; this is subjective. It is priced cheaply and I cannot complain very much about the quality as a result.
Tip :
I would check the tip before I start using it.
Who would want to buy :
Those who want a duo function pen.
Those who do not care about quality.
Those who would write on the screen with whatever they have. (I know someone who writes with a retracted Cross ballpoint pen on an unprotected screen!)
Those who do not want to spend too much on a duo pen.
Who would't want to buy it :
Those who care about quality.
Those who dislike the look.
Those who wouldn't mind spending more on a better quality pen.
Likes :
Its cheap price.
Dislikes :
The not so smooth stylus tip.
The not so stylish stylus.
The balance and light weight of the pen.
The ballpoint tip that does not extend and retract properly.
The overall quality of the pen.
The Trottle lacks a reset pin. If it is going to replace the original stylus when used in silo, the lack of a reset pin is a minus point.
Available at : StylusCentral (http://www.styluscentral.com/)
Rating :
Update :
After this review had been completed, the problem of retracting the ballpoint was resolved. In searching for a reset pin, I tried twisting the red plunger tip off. Somehow, this must have loosened the mechanism. The ballpoint worked like it was supposed to after this. It should work in the first place.
Review by Anthony Cheong (atonyc@cyberway.com.sg)
29 September, 2000
Appearance
The Trottle basically has a grey contoured barrel and a red plunger tip. Both the body and the unique pocket clip are made of a type of plastic similar in colour and texture to the Palm III and PalmPilot. The barrel is wider in the middle and at the end towards the writing tip as compared to the end nearer to the clip. Those who do not like plastic looking pens may find that the duo pen looks cheap. When viewed from the side, the Trottle looks all right but the profile looks odd when viewed from the front.
Feel / Weight
The Trottle is a good sized pen although it is shorter than a conventional pocket pen. The grip feels full because of its wide body. However, those who hold their pen higher up the barrel may find it a little uncomfortable for that section is narrower. The textured surface of the plastic does help the user grip the pen securely.
The weight of the pen is on the light side. The pen is not very well balanced and its lightness is a major factor.
The writing tip does not feel smooth. I use the Sam Screen Protector and I do feel a sort of "drag" when writing on this surface. I do not have this problem with the original stylus tip of my Palm Vx.
Design
The Trottle is designed to "dock" in the silo of the Palm III and PalmPilot. It can also clip onto the breast shirt pocket. The clip (which holds the pen in the pocket) also serves to hold the pen in the silo slot. There is a little bump near the top of the clip. This catch makes sure the pen is secure when used in the silo slot.
The stylus tip is permanent and the pen tip is accessed by pressing down on the red plunger. The unit I received seem to have a problem with this mechanism. When I pushed down on the plunger, the pen does not retract back a little to "lock" itself in position as with most other ballpoints. I would have to push the tip back into the barrel with my fingers or press the tip down on paper before writing.
The mechanism also gets stuck when I try to retract the pen tip. When I pushed down on the button, the tip became jammed and I would have to push it back with my fingers. This can get a little messy at times when I get ink on my fingers.
Front View / Trottle docked and moved towards the back
Trottle docked at the side
The plunger is a bright red and some may find this unappealing. The plastic barrel is moulded from two halves and the seam extends to the tip. Perhaps the roughness I experienced from writing with this pen results from this. The top and bottom halves of the barrel have a screw type mechanism to access the pen refill. The traverse of the screw motion is crude. Also, the two halves are not flushed when screwed tight.
Stylus Tip – note the seam
Ease of Use
Using the stylus tip is straightforward. However, the stylus tip is not in the centre of the barrel but towards the top edge and so needs a little getting used to. For me, the pen tip is just impossible to use unless I want to get my fingers dirty.
Ease of Placement
Since I do not have a Palm III, I used it on a PalmPilot. The "docking" system works well and the little bump helps to keep the pen secure in the silo. However, the pen is free to swerve from side to side since there is nothing preventing this movement. I tried using it on the Palm Vx and the clip fits into the silo as well. However, the bump does not serve as a catch and so the pen can slip out easily.
Ease of Detachment
Getting it out of the PalmPilot is not a problem.
Graffiti Recognition
My Palm Vx had no difficulty in graffiti recognition when I use the Trottle. However, those who prefer a heavier and better balanced pen may not like the feel when using this pen.
Durability
The exposed stylus tip may suffer damage from drops and improper storage.
Cost
US$6.25 excluding freight charges. Free shipping is available to SPUG (Singapore addresses only) members who fill up 'SPUG' in the Gift message space of the order form. (Do NOT write at the engraving space or you will get a pen with SPUG engraved on it!)
Conclusion
The pen may or may not look attractive; this is subjective. It is priced cheaply and I cannot complain very much about the quality as a result.
Tip :
I would check the tip before I start using it.
Who would want to buy :
Those who want a duo function pen.
Those who do not care about quality.
Those who would write on the screen with whatever they have. (I know someone who writes with a retracted Cross ballpoint pen on an unprotected screen!)
Those who do not want to spend too much on a duo pen.
Who would't want to buy it :
Those who care about quality.
Those who dislike the look.
Those who wouldn't mind spending more on a better quality pen.
Likes :
Its cheap price.
Dislikes :
The not so smooth stylus tip.
The not so stylish stylus.
The balance and light weight of the pen.
The ballpoint tip that does not extend and retract properly.
The overall quality of the pen.
The Trottle lacks a reset pin. If it is going to replace the original stylus when used in silo, the lack of a reset pin is a minus point.
Available at : StylusCentral (http://www.styluscentral.com/)
Rating :
Update :
After this review had been completed, the problem of retracting the ballpoint was resolved. In searching for a reset pin, I tried twisting the red plunger tip off. Somehow, this must have loosened the mechanism. The ballpoint worked like it was supposed to after this. It should work in the first place.
Review by Anthony Cheong (atonyc@cyberway.com.sg)
29 September, 2000