How the BIC Cristal ballpoint pen became ubiquitous

Comparisons to Modern Tech & “Most Successful Product” Claims

• Some compare the Cristal’s ubiquity to services like ChatGPT or features from Google/Apple that gain millions of users quickly.
• Others argue it’s not an apples-to-apples comparison: physical logistics, ownership, and durability make a simple pen fundamentally different from digital services or short‑lived tech fads.
• Valuation and hype are seen as historically irrelevant; sustained adoption over decades is what matters.

Ergonomics, Writing Feel, and Fatigue

• Several commenters dislike the Cristal’s thin barrel, hard edges, and high pressure requirement, saying it causes hand fatigue and ugly handwriting over longer sessions.
• Others praise it as “perfect” in the sense of always working, never needing thought, and not smearing heavily.
• Gel pens, rollerballs, and fountain pens are often preferred for smoother, darker lines and less pressure, though gels can bleed, smear (especially for left-handers), or fail in the cold.
• Some argue ballpoints changed handwriting (and hurt cursive) by demanding more pressure than fountain pens.

Ballpoints vs. Alternatives & Pen Nerd Digressions

• Uni-ball Jetstream, Pilot G2/V5, Schneider K15, Skilcraft, Platinum Preppy, Lamy, and others are discussed as “better” writing experiences or specific-use favorites.
• There’s a detailed subthread on Jetstream tip sizes, refills, and compatibility, showing how deep some users’ pen preferences go.
• Many see ballpoints as the practical choice for quick notes, rough paper, low bleed, and reliability in bags or pockets.

Durability, Ubiquity, and Cheapness

• The Cristal is praised for reliability, low leakage, and massive ink capacity—so large that finishing one before losing it feels like an achievement.
• Bulk purchases (boxes of 100) carried some users through entire school careers; they “just work” and are always around.
• Historical low price (e.g., under 20 cents) is cited as a key driver of dominance.
• Some note it’s iconic yet oddly absent from certain regions (e.g., New Zealand favors BIC M10/Clic or opaque white Biros).

Criticism & Counterarguments

• Detractors call it a “crappy” or mediocre design: uncomfortable grip, leaks in some cases, and significant fatigue with extended writing.
• Defenders argue overwhelming sales and decades of everyday use show it’s “good enough” for its job and context, even if higher-end pens are nicer.

Non-Writing Uses & Cultural Footprint

• Users recall rewinding cassette tapes, picking tubular locks, disassembling GameCubes, removing staples, and using clips and barrels as stress/fidget objects (and chew toys, sometimes disastrously).
• The orange “Bic Naranja”/Cristal Fine has its own ad slogan and nostalgia.
• BIC lighters are remembered as extremely reliable; BIC razors, by contrast, are widely panned.
• Commenters mention fine-art drawings made with BICs, linguistic notes on “biro,” and personal nostalgia, suggesting the Cristal as a candidate for “most iconic 20th‑century consumer product.”