Parker Latitude Fine Writing Medium Point Fountain Pen, 1 Black Ink, Silky Black Barrel Pen

I bought one of these to use at work, because 1) it has a steel nib - it takes more abuse than a gold nib, without damage / bending. 2) it's quite inexpensive for a fountain pen. I also use, at work, a Cross Century II fountain pen which I also class as inexpensive even though it was about $25 more than the Parker Latitude. It also has a steel nib. If you leave it uncapped, for just a few minutes, it will dry out - although tapping the nib against the paper will generally restart it. Or, just placing 1 drop of water on the nib will definitely restart it. My Parker Latitude is somewhat lighter than the Cross, slightly wider grip, and I like it better. If anything, it I think it is less problematic to use than the cross. I also have a couple of gold-nibbed fountain pens at home, and honestly, if someone wants a pen that they can leave idle for days and then it writes instantly, well, that's what made ballpoints so popular! If you want a pen that can write a bold solid line without voids, can vary that line width so you can write with expression, they you DO want a fountain pen, and you adapt to it. Fountain pens are beautiful, excellent writing instruments for actually writing, ie, a letter or a journal entry - that will keep the ink flowing. Conclusion: I'm very happy with my Parker Latitude because I bought exactly what I wanted, it writes beautifully and feels good, and otherwise behaves as I expected. It does not behave like a ballpoint, and I've never seen a fountain pen that did.