Ballpoint pens are ergonomically really bad if you write a lot. The reason many people still use fountain pen is that you just move pen on the paper, no pressure needed. New gel pens get you 90% of that with ease to use almost equal to a ballpoint, their takes longer to dry is the only real drawback.
There are quick drying gel pens. I have some Zebra Sansa Dry’s that are pretty much impossible to smudge.
I have some fountain pens just because I like overly complicating simple things. One good paper, they are awesome. Unfortunately, I’m mostly writing ephemeral notes on lower quality paper so a ball point (or pencil) makes a lot more sense.
The time to dry factor is why I purposely seek out the 0.38 pilot g2. I’m not sure how anyone can stand the default 0.7. It just gets all over your hand and smears the pages.
I found that to be paper specific. Those cheapo hotel free stationary, yeah its stratch city. But even sightly nicer copy paper is a marked improvement and lacks that.
Ballpoint pens are ergonomically really bad if you write a lot. The reason many people still use fountain pen is that you just move pen on the paper, no pressure needed. New gel pens get you 90% of that with ease to use almost equal to a ballpoint, their takes longer to dry is the only real drawback.