Home > Consumer Reviews > Wacom CROSS EXECUTIVE PEN (W/CAP) FOR ( UPCROSS1 )

There are two separate and unrelated issues: the pen itself and the delivery condition. I'll review these in reverse order.

The first pen came to me with the box and packaging in good shape, but when I opened the pen, I discovered that the cap was in pieces. Amazon's excellent return processing had me a replacement in two days. Unfortunately, in this case, the plastic body part of the pen was broken, though the cap was in perfect shape. I put the good cap with the good body to get a working unit and sent the broken parts back. This part of my experience speaks very highly of Amazon's customer service, but it surely wsan't what I expected from a Q/C standpoint for a product with the Cross name attached. Hopefully, I'm just a statistical outlier, but it still cost one star.

Once I was able to assemble a working unit, I quickly put the pen to use. It is, in a word, *wonderful*. I use it on a HP/Compaq TC4200. It is superior in every way to the pen that came with the computer. There is just a bit more drag to the tip that gives it just the right feel to be consistent with my Cross fountain pen. The eraser end is more rounded and is easier to control. The right-click button of the pen is easier to operate and doesn't get pressed accidently. Pehaps even more important than the functionality, however, is the ergonomics. Instead of trying to scribble with a too-small stick on my tablet PC, I'm now writing with a fine pen. The body size, weight, and balance gives the feel of using a good pen with my tablet PC. No more cramping hand from the pen that came to the computer.

My one complaint of the pen is the clip. It sticks out rather prominently at the top. It's rather artsy, but can potentially jab or hang up one other stuff in your pocket, though I've yet had no problems. It's probably just me, but that cost the second star.

Cross also has a version of this same pen that looks like it has a longer body which makes up for the fact that it doesn't have a cap. If I ever have to replace the pen, I will probably consider that version as an alternative, simply because of the problems getting a working part. Nevertheless, it is a huge improvement to the included pen of every tablet PC I've ever seen and would recommend it as a valuable upgrade.

The Wacom pen broke immediatly after I removed it from the packaging. The cap was stuck firmly on the body, and when I pulled it off, the body of the pen separated. While I could push the body back together, it would not stay - the glue was broken. I returned that pen, and asked for a replacement. The replacement broke in exactly the same way. I still want a more comfortable pen to use with my tablet top PC, but I recommend strongly against the Wacom w/Cap.

I am an efficiency/business coach and a Tablet junkie. I love my Fujitsu T4210 and use it as my only computer. For me, having the best pen on the market was a must.

The capless Wacom Cross pen is the best available at any price. Go with that. This Capped version is both
a) slow to use (have to take off the cap)
b) not as durable (the Cap actually broke apart, both the sleeve from the silver lining, and the clip itself)

Please see the capless version and my review for some tips on how to get the most out of the Cross pen.

I bought this pen after losing my pack in pen for my X41. I liked the idea of having a pen with more heft, an eraser on the end, and classier styling. It fulfilled all three of those, but in the end I bought another replacement for a couple reasons.

1. You have to carry it around seperately, since there is no built in storage slot for it on your laptop.
2. Heft is nice for a few minutes, but if you're writing notes for an entire class it gets annoying.

When I first purchased a tablet PC, I sprung for three of these pens plus a couple of the capless ones to spread between my desk, home, various travel bags, and for a carry-around in my pocket.

Of the capped ones, the pen I carried in my pocket had a loose clip after perhaps a week, and had broken off after maybe a month.
The other pen in my pocket which I carry regularly, a Parker fountain pen purchased in 1977, has never had such a problem. I do not abuse either my pens or my computer gear.
For the next year and a half, I carried the pen loose and capless in my jacket pocket without any problems.

The second capped pen remained unused for 18 months in an old laptop case which I use as a spare-parts bag.
When I retrieved it, the eraser end of the pen fell away spilling the interior electrical parts on the floor.
It had never been used, never moved, never touched except to unpack it and place it into the bag.

The third capped pen, when I tried to use it would not write. Instead it would draw temporary rectangles onto the screen.

I have had no similar problems with the Cross capless pens, nor any other tablet pen.