Sunday, May 1, 2005

An occasional look at products the travel industry insists we need.

WHAT: Pens with foreign translations and state facts.

AIMED AT: Travelers who want information at their pen tips.

HOW MUCH: $4.95 each

BUT DO THEY WORK? Can the pen be mightier than the foreign-language dictionary or the atlas? These writing instruments are like the smarty-pants sisters of Bic; inside each one is a short cheat sheet with basic translations for four European languages (one language per pen) or facts for eight separate states (one state per pen). The sheet pulls out like a window shade, revealing rudimentary foreign words and phrases (the state models are more for kiddie distraction or Trivial Pursuit). As for the cool factor: We looked positively 007 searching for "Where's the bathroom?" in Italian with our stealth pen.

-- Andrea Sachs

Poster Pens are available through the company at 503-740-6005,http://www.posterpens.com.