The Quasar FM Radio Pen is an innovative device for the gadget lover in your household. Part ballpoint pen and part radio, this is one gizmo that is actually practical. No larger than a typical fat pen or Sharpie marker, the FM Radio Pen is about 5-1/2 inches long and tapered from a 1/2 inch at the top to a narrow point at the writing end.

The stylish FM Radio Pen is a combination of brushed and gleaming silver tones. The actual writing point of the pen retracts with a quick twist of the upper casing, while the pen top sports a plug-in jack for attaching the supplied earbuds.

As a radio, the FM Radio Pen works as well as could be expected. The earphone wire contains a small power on/off switch and a volume control. When the earbuds are in your ears, the controls hang at about chest level. In addition to the headphone jack, the pen top has a SEEK button that scans through the FM dial, briefly stopping at available stations. There is also a RESET button that returns to the beginning of the station options. We obtained 15 local stations during our tests, which isn't bad for such a small FM receiver.

On the pen side, the FM Radio Pen is loaded with a black ink cartridge, and it comes with a blue refill cartridge. The pen tip produces a fine line that is not as dark as a flair pen, but it is still respectable. Each cartridge's ink supply is limited, and you can purchase a five-pack of replacement cartridges from Quasar for $4.95. The screw-in cartridges are supposed to be easy to remove, but we needed pliers to remove the preloaded cartridge. However, subsequent replacements were trouble-free.

We thought the earbud cord would get in the way when writing, but with its top-of-the-pen input jack, it proved to be relatively unobtrusive. At 45 inches, the cord is also plenty long, so you won't be pulling or tugging on the wire while writing. The earbuds are quite comfortable and won't slip or move around, even when the cord is jostled.

The most surprising aspect of the FM Radio Pen is its crystal-clear radio reception and wide volume range. Also welcome is the inclusion of six AG13 button-cell batteries, including two already loaded into the pen.

For an entertaining yet surprisingly useful gadget, take a look at the Quasar FM Radio Pen.


Pros: FM radio plus ballpoint pen, auto-seek feature, surprisingly good reception quality
Cons: Earphone wire must remain connected to pen to use radio feature, ink cartridge is difficult to change the first time

Warranty
90 days, limited