Well big problem guys! I gave Michael (our boss) a nice souvenir of the conference:
‘A Microsabio 15th Anniversary Pen’

Problem is…..he is now unable to sign all my ‘money expenses’ for the trip while I was there .... Yes, you got it!......The pen does not work!

PS. good to meet you all!

Steve

How many times do I have to remind you - it's a collector's item, to be stored in a (locked) display case, not to be written with! :p

Oh, drat! I forgot!

Sounds like a Unix problem to me - the pen did not have Write permissions.

Very good Pete, thanks. I'll CHMOD the pen and re-try.

Considering the mileage you guys are getting out of those defective pens, I mean valuable commemorative gifts, maybe I should try to order another batch. (Unfortunately, with my luck they'd probably send me working ones this time!) :rolleyes:

My pen started working yesterday!

Oooo, I better get mine out the museum cabinet and give it a try…..
..
..
..
Nope, nothing, I’ll put it back for another day in hope.

If you guys keep the buzz going, pretty soon I'm going to be able to get some real money for these suckers on eBay! I heard today that someone just got $20K for a 10 yr old, partly eaten cheese sandwich that bears a resemblance to the Virgin Mary. So, if one of you would figure out what kind of lighting, squinting, (drinking?), photo-shopping, whatever it takes in order to see the Virgin in the pen, and we can get out of this computer business.

Would you be interested in miraculous pen output that looks like the Virgin Mary?

Hey, my pen stopped writing, coincidentally while I was working in A-Shell (though, not with the pen.) I should mention that it's not a "Microsabio 15th Anniversary Pen" (tm), but with all the recent pen problems that everyone's been reporting, I susupect there might be a connection. I am currently running A-Shell v4.8(845)-4. I'm not sure what version pen I was using.

I should add that the pen had been working great for the past 13 months. Then this morning, it just stopped. It won't print. It won't write. It won't even doodle. There were no error messages on my screen and nothing relevant in ashell.log.

Steven,
While I am not currently running any Microsabio Pens, I have had some experience with similar products from other developers (Bic, Papermate, Cross).

I suspect you may be suffering from an expired PIC (Personal Ink Cartridge).

I've been able to, in a pinch, temporarily extend my PIC. This is best accomplished by vigorously shaking the entire PEN in a lateral motion.
Also, be aware that PEN Pic's are most prone to expiring just as you try to record important data under duress, such as during an urgent phone call. This is unfortuanate, yet very predictable.

Some open-source versions of PEN allow for 3rd party PIC refills. Others are proprietary. I cannot speak for the Microsabio version. Perhaps Jack could add a Maintenance Plan option for the PEN?

I'll sign up for that!

I was just about to say that this is getting entirely out of hand, when suddenly a great idea emerges. Now all we need to do is figure out the value of the pen and we can apply our standard maintenance plan pricing formulas. :p

As these special museum collector's pens are doubling in price daily due to massive hype here I’m not sure if I would have enough pennies to take a maintenance contract out.
:rolleyes:

Do not classify The Pen as a obsolete product, this thread is great.

It seems to me that all the folks that add so much to the Ashell experience, from Jack to everyone else, may not be reaping all the deserved recognition. I therefore propose that we collectively institute a program to distinguish the most significant, useful, or just plain cool tidbits and improvements as they come along.

I suggest we award "Brilliant Environmental Enhancement Rewards", or BEERs, to deserving individuals.

From what I hear, many such rewards may have been awarded at the most recent Microsabio convention. Perhaps future conventions should formalize this practice, with the annual "Awarding of the BEERs" dinner. I'm sure it would be the highest attended portion of the convention.

Finally, might I suggest we begin by bestowing upon Jack the highest award, that for "Countless Awesome Superb Efforts", the highly prized CASE of BEERs. Enjoy Jack, it is well deserved.

I wanted to write down the name of these two
awards but alas, although I attended Florida,
I never got a pen.
Gary

Gary if you wanted to write them down I dont think these "collector's item" would of helped you much.

Indeed, I would second the nomination for Jack to receive the much coveted, "CASE" of "BEERS" award for high achievement, lofty goals, and performance under pressure.

PS: I seem to have lost my "Pen", I think it may have been stolen and sold on the black market, or heaven forbid, a "pawn shop".

Funny you say that Frank as mine has done a walk about too, I was sure it was in my pen ‘collection’ rack. May be they are special self-vaporising after a months usage. OK maybe ‘usage’ is the wrong term in this case. Or maybe there is a big black market demand for them!

Re CASE of BEERS: My cup (and bladder) runneth over!

As for the pens showing up in pawn shops, I guess this means we have to redesign the icon for the AlphaPawn application. We can keep the shady looking, hunched over, unshaven masked man slinking into the pawn shop, but instead of a bulging pillowcase over his shoulder with a TV sticking out, he'll have a bulging briefcase handcuffed to his wrist with a pens sticking out.

Sorry Gary: just couldn't resist. (For those of you not in on this, he's a little sensitive about negative stereotyping of the pawn industry.)

Yes, but I do enjoy a good natured ribbing even when it's pulled on me.

Oh, as for the Ty G. question about how often to meet. I would suggest in two years. I have enough work to do to catch up and start getting my code ready for the Y2K problem.

Frank found your pen? Mine has oddly reappeared back on my desk :rolleyes: , Im sure someone thought that’s a nice pen I’ll borrow that, then while trying to use it noticed its the collectors version and no use to them to write with so sneaked it back on my desk.

Like Jorges posting, Hope you all have a Happy Xmas and don’t work too hard.

No such luck, Steve. I'm afraid that the serial numbers have been permanently sanded off and it is enjoying a sheltered life on a display shelf somewhere in the middle-east.... ( or not )

You will be glad to know that after weeks of temps in the 70's and 80's that we are finally expecting some "winter" weather of 30's this weekend... better break out the long pants!

I would also like to wish the Ashell Community and Jack a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. And, being that we just now finished our Y2k updates, I think i could make a meeting in 2005!

Cheers!

Well maybe I could postpone my Y2k installs until after the 2005 meeting. That way instead
of adding the features we saw in 2004 I can
wait until the newest and latest features of
AShell are released. Then I will really be on the
leading edge of legacy software.

Gary

ps. My New Year's revelation last year was to
spell "PC" as in personal computer. This year
I am thinking of "Email" as a word for the year.
I was copying off of a manual in order to spell it right for this posting.

Gary, now all you have to do is learn to spell guy. Or is it gui?

Is it not spelt: 'Gooo'

Not to worry, Steve and others. The pens were such a success that we've ordered more. And we got them even cheaper than last time, increasing the chances that they'll make great souvenirs and lousy writing implements.

--Ty

Good to hear Ty,what would we do with out them! sure would not have the same about of fun!

Any one seen my Pen? Its gone for a walk again!

False alarm! Don’t worry found it ‘hiding’ at the back of my draw. (I’ve moved offices and had a feeling it wondered off somewhere)

Can you believe I picked up my Pen by accident today and it actually worked?!

Maybe your hand is unusually hot and caused the normally solid ink to start running?

How would you know if my hands were hot Jack?

Just wondering will PEN depreciate in value if I take it out of the wrapper and use it?

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B7VJpPlPZhT4ZHdZTlZ6RUhFVms/view?pli=1

Go ahead Steve when the 30th Anniversary pen comes out soon it's going to just cause yours to depreciate!

On the contrary, a complete set is always worth more than the individual ones combined. But the 30th Anniversary has already past (without a pen), so we'll probably just wait for the 40th or 50th now.

I advise not taking it out of the wrapper in any case though, because the ink has long since dried and it won't write. (Exposure to oxygen might also cause the precious metals in the case to corrode. Or disintegrate.)

On the other hand, if you take yours out, mine will surely skyrocket in value!

Good point!

Well I am concerned if I do take it out the wrapper that extra oxygen will make it suddenly evaporate and turns to dust, so maybe I'll put it back in that safe place until a matching 40th Pen and sell them as that set and then sail the world for a year with the profits....(well ok I'm so silly to think that, I get sea sick!).

Mine is right here in my drawer out of the wrapper. I thought about trying it, but ate my tapioca instead

I keep mine in the plastic and an heavy dust layer glued on it to make sure that no oxygen goes in but, looking carefully, I'm worried about a small hole I'm noticing in the plastic

Jorge, I found that oxygen will ruin them and they won't work. :p

I've heard rumors that Microsabio is planning to release Pen 2.0 and that the new version will be hermetically sealed in an oxygen impermeable case that guarantees no external molecular contact with the pen. The shelf life for the new Pen should be enormous, but no one has yet said whether the new OS will succeed in making it write.

We're waiting for the KickStarter funding to materialize before starting on the ambitious project.

I've been debating with my self, should I finally take the pen out the wrapper and start using it...

I dug mine out and tried it...no luck

Apparently I didn't make it clear that there are least two reasons not to take those pens out of the package:

1) It ruins the resale value.

2) They are designed to be used only in oxygen-free environments. Therefore aside from outer space, the only opportunity for most of us to use it would be several hours into one of our Conference sessions, where we've been known to use up all the oxygen in the room. Or at least the outward appearances of the participants would suggest as much. :rolleyes:

I thought you said to give the good pens to everybody but Herman. Steve's should work fine, oxygen or not.

Ah ok - I think I'll keep it all nicely wrapped and put back into the dark draw and dig it out again ready for the next conference where you all can start a bidding war, the value can only increase, right?

Good idea. And right - it can only increase, presuming it can't go negative.

negative! Ek

Thanks Ty :rolleyes: