One of my Christmas presents from M was this - the Eee PC from Asus.
Comparisons
Here it is, next to my desktop PC. My 2008 Special Edition Red Moleskine diary is the red book next to it.
Eee PC screen
Despite its small size its screen is easy to read. And it’s the most appliance-like computer I have ever used, in the sense that there was very little set-up needed to get started with it. I basically took it out of its box, stuck its battery in, plugged it into the mains (to charge), and away I went.
I decided on a black one, instead of white, because any white keyboards I use tend to get very grubby. (I like to eat at my keyboard, and inevitably drop crumbs.)
Thickness
What I love most about the Eee PC is its weight - it’s very light, and nice to carry around. Quite unlike any regular laptop I have ever used.
Trade paperback sized
The Eee PC is smaller than some trade paperbacks! I’ve already been using it to check email in bed. It will be very handy to have when I’m in Melbourne for the VALA conference next month and need something to take notes and go online.
I picked up THE pen yesterday - the Pelikan M450, which I have coveted ever since I saw it online a couple of years ago. At a cost of around US$450 I was resigned to only admiring it from afar (it’s not even available here in Perth, Western Australia). What changed? The little windfall from selling our house!
I tried very hard to find someone local (or even Over East) to sell me this pen, but the only vendor who responded quoted a price of AU$1030, and that was minus postage and handling and insurance. After much investigation I ended up buying my pen from Richard Binder in the US. I chose Richard because:
- he has a good reputation among pen fanatics online
- his price was quite good (US$380). I also ordered a couple of nib inserts for my Namiki Vanishing Point pen, and the grand total, including insurance, was US$450 (around AU$576!)
- he tests each pen and adjusts it prior to delivery (he’s also a pen restorer and repairer)
The postie actually tried to deliver the pen on Wednesday, while I was at work. I didn’t have the time to go to the post office until Saturday morning (imagine the anticipation!).
The pen was very well wrapped - no rattling whatsoever in the box. Besides the pen and the nibs, Richard also included a blotter and some instructions on using the pen.
It’s a beautiful pen that feels right in my hand. The nib is very smooth and feels very good on paper.
I’m going to enjoy using this pen very much, assuming I can stop admiring it…
My scribble, using the Pelikan M450.
My new pen wrap. No, it’s not
edible.
Undo the velcro strap and open it up…
Pens!
The Monteverde Mega Ink Ball came from Goldspot, as HisNibs didn’t have the burgundy model in stock when I ordered the others. It is a very unusual pen that has already drawn comment when I’ve used it - it’s a fountain pen, but with a roller ball point.
The notes on the Mega on HisNibs.com are useful:
Some people have experienced poor ink flow the first time after filling the Mega. It’s necessary for the tip to become fully saturated with ink in order for the pen to operate properly. Experience has shown that a good method is to fill the pen with ink from the bottle, and while the tip is still immersed in the ink, to expel the ink by reversing the piston and then to refill the pen. Then, blot excess ink from the tip, place the cap on the pen and allow it to rest point-down for 30 minutes or so, allowing capillary action to fully saturate the tip the first time.
When I first wrote with the Mega I was very disappointed as the pen kept skipping - the ink flow was not smooth, so that some letters didn’t form properly, and it just didn’t feel good. I tried refilling the pen as advised, and true enough, the problem resolved itself. It now writes very smoothly and is a pleasure to use.
I have yet to write (with the new pens, of course) to His Nibs himself, Norman Haase, to thank him for his friendly, efficient service.
