http://www.the-gadgeteer.com/rotring-quattro-executive-review.html

No, this is an totally different stylus.
I know, I sent it to Judie to review.

Thank you very much for taking the time to read & comment upon my review of the Rotring Quattro Executive Multi-pen.

When comparing this pen to the Rotring Quattro Data Multi-pen that Julie reviewed, you will see that they are actually quite different. Yes, they both are of the same function, in that they have four tips. They are also both available in silver & matte black. However, they are otherwise designed quite differently.

With the data pen, you push a button on the pocket-clip to retract the nibs. The Executive retracts by pushing on the entire end of the wide pocket-clip, similar to a see-saw. Once this is done, the tip retracts. As I stated in my review, this is to protect your shirt from an extended tip marking.

I realize that it would be easy, considering the darkness of Julie's picture (being that the pen itself is so dark), and the shininess of the pictures of the pen that I reviewed (making it near impossible to really appreciate the pens' unique differences), that perhaps this feature was not so easily distinguishable.

If you will go to http://www.styluscentral.com/rotquatdat.html , you will see a very clear picture of the Rotring Data pen, available from Stylus Central for $39.99.

If you will then look at http://www.styluscentral.com/rotquatex.html , you will see a picture of the Executive for $59.95.

As you will then understand after you have done this, the pens actually look nothing alike, and they are in fact entirely different - other than their shared basic functions.

I realize that part of your point was that there is only one "official" data pen put out by Rotring. That may well be the case.

My take on this is very simple. Because Stylus Central is in the business of making styli available to the paying public, they are the first to understand that people have different tastes and opinions. They are in fact making a wide array of choices available for we, the fickle public. I can't fault them for that - in fact, I appreciate it and commend them for that decision. If someone chooses to purchase a pen that they have modified into a stylus, then Stylus Central has made a sound business decision that resulted in yet another sale. Capitalism - you've gotta love it! :0)

As for the way that I use the highlighter tip, well that is certainly a matter of personal preference, and this is how I prefer to use it. I am happy that the way you use it works so well for you.

I always enjoy the colorful feedback that Julie's site gathers - It's what makes the Gadgeteer such an enjoyable and unpredictable site to peruse.

Have a great day!!

I'm certain this rattling noise has to do with the "gravity" selection mechanism, and indeed, the rattle goes away once a tip has been extended. Whether this rattling is something that has always been prevalent in the pen, or something that I just noticed recently (and have been obsessing about) is another story.

I recall seeing a comment about the loudness of certain multipens (Rotring in particular) in reviews here before.

Rotring is owned by Sandford, so if you are needing to get company level help, start with this page: http://www.sanfordcorp.com/

Rotring should have made the grip a lot more "sticky".