Below the Post comment button... it says - "Be respectful and considerate". That's funny.
I contacted Kickstarter about this project - received no response. And because of the lack of response - from both Cringley and Kickstarter... my use of Kickstarter has gone down considerably. I use to visit this site frequently... once or twice a week. Now - rarely. It's been about 2 months since my last visit. And I didn't look at anything new. I only stopped by to see the comments on this project. Kickstarter !!! Maybe you should take note. I'm just one person. What if everyone stopped coming by ?
For those who wish to write to the Cringleys - or, in my case, mail them a handwritten letter from their 10-year old pleading his case - a WHOIS lookup for cringley.com (https://whois.icann.org/en/lookup…) provides this address for the Registrant and Admin contacts: Robert Cringely, 1934 Los Alamos Rd., Santa Rosa CA 95409.
I pondered the other day that perhaps, if the project as-designed is effectively dead, then the hardware that we paid for could perhaps be given to some charity to make use of? That might be better than shipping useless hardware around the world. Or perhaps put it to a vote, and have some people get the hardware as-is, and the rest go to a charity to make use of it. It won't be the first time, nor the last, that software killed an idea. Let's at least make some good in the world with the hardware. And make sure it is an independent charity, not the boy's school!
If you follow his blog, his kids took a stab at BitCoin mining (Between working on the Mineserver ) but stopped because of the cost of electricity for the big dedicated mining server. Somewhere in the discussion it was brought up the MineServers were very electrically efficient for CPU time. I don’t think they are collecting dust but are being used as a BitCoin mining parallel processor array. Maybe that is how he will fund the refunds.
Looking at the boys’ picture above. Wonder how much they have changed over the last two years.
In case anyone else has been wondering how long it's been since Crookely's Mineserver project was funded (or how long it's been she the last update), I figured it out for you.
@Loren -- as much as I loathe to defend Cringely, the last update was November 10 which, by my calculations, is only 4 months ago. Don't make me older than I already am! 8^)
But that makes me wonder, how many backers will die of old age before the mineservers ship? Perhaps Cringely's grandkids will finish the project some day.
Time for WEEKEND UPDATE! Oh, wait, that's Saturday Night Live...
Time for THURSDAY UPDATE! Hey, we could at least hope for a good skit from a professional writer, since there hasn't been anything since NOVEMBER. Cringely oughta be able to handle that -- it's just fictional fantasy, kinda like the whole MineServer thing...
Must've just happened today that his site went down, I checked as recently as last night. I recall someone had just posted a creative promo video for him, too. :-P https://www.youtube.com/watch…
Hello Mr Cringely,
I am one of your backers on Kickstarter for your Mineserver project. I understand you have other commitments that may take your time, therefore I respectively request an update to the Mineserver project. The current black out of communications have now gone on longer than a few of the previous record holders. Again, I respectfully ask for an update as a backer of your project. Thank you for your time.
(sent a few seconds ago....during a commercial break....and before I get a snack. Waste of a moment? I simply ask that it not be.)
I know I'm wasting my time, (since I don't have a mineserver to distract my attention I have nothing else to do !), I just sent an email to "bob@cringely.com", I don't expect any kind of response, but if more people send something, he may actually acknowledge us !
I know I'm wasting my time, (since I don't have a mineserver to distract my attention I have nothing else to do !), I just sent an email to "bob@cringely.com", I don't expect any kind of response, but if more people send something, he may actually acknowledge us !
I'm sick of waiting for you to make it work. You have stated publicly you have all the hardware and it's just a software bug you are trying to iron out. Please just send me the hardware I have paid for. I'll put my own software on it.
Does someone have all comments and updated on both the Kickstarter Site and Cringely.com backed up? I could see all online information about MindServer disappearing soon. Just threw my 1992 copy of Accidental Empires away in the trash. It’s no good to anybody at this point.
@Chris Hahn - Yeah, that's a standard copy-and-paste response. I wasn't aware of the NY bit -- that pretty much rules me out (I'm in CA) but it also means that it's likely Cringely wouldn't show up to fight it as he's here in CA as well. If NY is local to you, I say go for it. Can't hurt. (And I wonder if one can appoint someone else to act as one's proxy in small claims court?)
@Roger - Sorry, it's my first experience with a crummy Creator. I was able to contact Support and they did tell me this:
"When you back a project on Kickstarter you enter into an agreement with the project creator, as described in our Terms of Use: https://www.kickstarter.com/terms-of-use
These terms outline the responsibilities of backers and creators. This information can serve as a basis for legal recourse if a creator doesn’t fulfill their obligations under the agreement. We hope that backers will consider using this provision only in cases where they feel that a creator has not made a good faith effort to complete the project and fulfill."
That being said, if we wanted to pursue legal action, that this specifically applies : " You agree that any action at law or in equity arising out of or relating to these Terms, or your use or non-use of Kickstarter, shall be filed only in the state or federal courts located in New York County in the State of New York, and you hereby consent and submit to the personal jurisdiction of these courts for the purposes of litigating any such action."
@Chris Hahn -- "If we all report it, Kickstarter is bound to do something about it."
Ah, grasshopper, you have so much to learn. I am a big fan of Kickstarter but there's not a lot they can or will do. If you report the project, they will undoubtedly send an e-mail to Cringely, but he'll quite likely ignore that, much as he has ignored everything else about this project.
I don't know about you guys, but I think it's time we all report this project. It's the button at the bottom of the main page. This clearly falls under the Creator has failed to communicate to it's backers" category. If we all report it, Kickstarter is bound to do something about it.
As the same voices are trying to hold Cringley to account, thought I'd add my voice so they know there is more than just a few vocal & EXTREMELY disappointment backers of this project !
Sorry, but that is the same Mineserver.com that has been up since the beginning. It is mostly blank except for the copy of the Kickstarter info and the additional of the Shirt option. The only thing that has changed is the copyright year in the last year and a half. That link has always been in the “Created By Mineserver LLC” information. Cringely.com and his Facebook page is also there. The Created by is still Mary Alyce Neader Stephens.
Use this space to cheer the creator along, and talk to your fellow backers.
Have a question?
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Show older commentsControlled Chaos about 12 hours ago
Below the Post comment button... it says - "Be respectful and considerate". That's funny.
I contacted Kickstarter about this project - received no response. And because of the lack of response - from both Cringley and Kickstarter... my use of Kickstarter has gone down considerably. I use to visit this site frequently... once or twice a week. Now - rarely. It's been about 2 months since my last visit. And I didn't look at anything new. I only stopped by to see the comments on this project. Kickstarter !!! Maybe you should take note. I'm just one person. What if everyone stopped coming by ?
Nathan Battan 3 days ago
For those who wish to write to the Cringleys - or, in my case, mail them a handwritten letter from their 10-year old pleading his case - a WHOIS lookup for cringley.com (https://whois.icann.org/en/lookup…) provides this address for the Registrant and Admin contacts: Robert Cringely, 1934 Los Alamos Rd., Santa Rosa CA 95409.
Matthew Jones 3 days ago
I pondered the other day that perhaps, if the project as-designed is effectively dead, then the hardware that we paid for could perhaps be given to some charity to make use of? That might be better than shipping useless hardware around the world. Or perhaps put it to a vote, and have some people get the hardware as-is, and the rest go to a charity to make use of it. It won't be the first time, nor the last, that software killed an idea. Let's at least make some good in the world with the hardware. And make sure it is an independent charity, not the boy's school!
Scott Woodward 5 days ago
If you follow his blog, his kids took a stab at BitCoin mining (Between working on the Mineserver ) but stopped because of the cost of electricity for the big dedicated mining server. Somewhere in the discussion it was brought up the MineServers were very electrically efficient for CPU time. I don’t think they are collecting dust but are being used as a BitCoin mining parallel processor array. Maybe that is how he will fund the refunds.
Looking at the boys’ picture above. Wonder how much they have changed over the last two years.
10joey10 6 days ago
Minecraft is losing popularity. Ow anyways. I bet the servers are just collecting dust, and every passing day the software gets out dated.
Johnathan Stein 6 days ago
Well, here we are, another Thursday, another Update...NOT!
I don't know if anybody else filed a complaint with Kickstarter, but I did, and have not heard a peep back from them.
Since there are 388 backers being ignored here, maybe we could all pop over to http://www.cringely.com/ each week, and post a refund request there?
Either that, or start legal action.
Jay Welshofer on April 19
Update?
10joey10 on April 19
Once* months*
10joey10 on April 19
One bob and the kids surpass 6 month from an update. Someone please bring this into legal action.
Christophe Guionet on April 15
hello guys, when do you ship the Minecraft server ?
My kids are waiting for this.
I hope everything is ok.
Thank you
Roger Sinasohn
Superbacker
on April 6
In case anyone else has been wondering how long it's been since Crookely's Mineserver project was funded (or how long it's been she the last update), I figured it out for you.
http://www.sinasohn.net/Mineserver/
Hope this helps.
Roger Sinasohn
Superbacker
on April 4
@Scott Woodward -- She's always right. And if it ever turns out she wasn't, apologize immediately. 8^)
Scott Woodward on April 4
Dammit, I need to tell my wife she was right. :(
10joey10 on April 4
Why.. This is beginning to look like a scam now. If there's not an update in at least two months it's all a scam.
Scott Woodward on March 31
Your "backers" are still waiting for an update.
Nicholas Hendley
Superbacker
on March 30
Well, he missed last Thursday's REGULAR update. Maybe we'll get one THIS WEEK.
10joey10 on March 29
That is kind of stolen it appears.
10joey10 on March 29
Well. "Bob" just got himself a bunch of free money.
gggerd on March 26
Tick Tock?
Johnathan Stein on March 23
Time for our regular THURSDAY UPDATE!
Joe Lowe on March 20
Hello, is there an update on this project?
It's been a while since I've heard anything.
Thanks!
Roger Sinasohn
Superbacker
on March 10
@Loren -- as much as I loathe to defend Cringely, the last update was November 10 which, by my calculations, is only 4 months ago. Don't make me older than I already am! 8^)
But that makes me wonder, how many backers will die of old age before the mineservers ship? Perhaps Cringely's grandkids will finish the project some day.
Loren Lasecki on March 10
Messrs. Cringely, today marks six months since your last project update. Are we any closer to having the product that you've promised us?
Please provide an update or give me the option to get a refund, and I will be quietly on my way.
Thank you.
Johnathan Stein on March 2
Time for WEEKEND UPDATE! Oh, wait, that's Saturday Night Live...
Time for THURSDAY UPDATE! Hey, we could at least hope for a good skit from a professional writer, since there hasn't been anything since NOVEMBER. Cringely oughta be able to handle that -- it's just fictional fantasy, kinda like the whole MineServer thing...
Christine Barker on March 2
I have (707) 525-9519 as his work number and (707) 525-9517 as his cell. Although if he is hiding, he has probably changed them.
Scott Woodward on March 1
Well, nothing to talk about with Mineserver and we keep looking at these comments. What do you think about SpaceX plan to send Tourists around the moon next year? Think it will happen?
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/27/science/spacex-moon-tourists.html…
Another sucker on February 28
If anyone wants to grab the registration for triumphofthenerds.com it's available
Brian
Superbacker
on February 28
Must've just happened today that his site went down, I checked as recently as last night. I recall someone had just posted a creative promo video for him, too. :-P https://www.youtube.com/watch…
Another sucker on February 28
He left mineserver.com up and it is accepting orders.
Scott Woodward on February 28
What I’d tell ya. http://www.cringely.com/ is down and the DNS name is even removed. HE IS GONE
Joe on February 24
Hello Mr Cringely,
I am one of your backers on Kickstarter for your Mineserver project. I understand you have other commitments that may take your time, therefore I respectively request an update to the Mineserver project. The current black out of communications have now gone on longer than a few of the previous record holders. Again, I respectfully ask for an update as a backer of your project. Thank you for your time.
(sent a few seconds ago....during a commercial break....and before I get a snack. Waste of a moment? I simply ask that it not be.)
Matt on February 22
I know I'm wasting my time, (since I don't have a mineserver to distract my attention I have nothing else to do !), I just sent an email to "bob@cringely.com", I don't expect any kind of response, but if more people send something, he may actually acknowledge us !
Matt on February 22
I know I'm wasting my time, (since I don't have a mineserver to distract my attention I have nothing else to do !), I just sent an email to "bob@cringely.com", I don't expect any kind of response, but if more people send something, he may actually acknowledge us !
Dickie Adams on February 21
Looks like he might be coming out of hiding tomorrow for a book event if someone wanted to ask him in person...http://www.cringely.com/2017/02/20/remember-pirates-silicon-valley/
Joe H on February 20
I'm sick of waiting for you to make it work. You have stated publicly you have all the hardware and it's just a software bug you are trying to iron out. Please just send me the hardware I have paid for. I'll put my own software on it.
Scott Woodward on February 19
Does someone have all comments and updated on both the Kickstarter Site and Cringely.com backed up? I could see all online information about MindServer disappearing soon. Just threw my 1992 copy of Accidental Empires away in the trash. It’s no good to anybody at this point.
Roger Sinasohn
Superbacker
on February 17
@Chris Hahn - Yeah, that's a standard copy-and-paste response. I wasn't aware of the NY bit -- that pretty much rules me out (I'm in CA) but it also means that it's likely Cringely wouldn't show up to fight it as he's here in CA as well. If NY is local to you, I say go for it. Can't hurt. (And I wonder if one can appoint someone else to act as one's proxy in small claims court?)
Chris Hahn on February 17
@Roger - Sorry, it's my first experience with a crummy Creator. I was able to contact Support and they did tell me this:
"When you back a project on Kickstarter you enter into an agreement with the project creator, as described in our Terms of Use: https://www.kickstarter.com/terms-of-use
These terms outline the responsibilities of backers and creators. This information can serve as a basis for legal recourse if a creator doesn’t fulfill their obligations under the agreement. We hope that backers will consider using this provision only in cases where they feel that a creator has not made a good faith effort to complete the project and fulfill."
That being said, if we wanted to pursue legal action, that this specifically applies : " You agree that any action at law or in equity arising out of or relating to these Terms, or your use or non-use of Kickstarter, shall be filed only in the state or federal courts located in New York County in the State of New York, and you hereby consent and submit to the personal jurisdiction of these courts for the purposes of litigating any such action."
That also being said, I think this would count as a Small Claims case, and we can pursue it hereL https://www.nycourts.gov/COURTS/nyc/smallclaims/index.shtml
Thoughts?
10joey10 on February 15
What's the point anymore we all got kicked in the butt all the way to the curb. We aren't getting anything.
Roger Sinasohn
Superbacker
on February 15
@Chris Hahn -- "If we all report it, Kickstarter is bound to do something about it."
Ah, grasshopper, you have so much to learn. I am a big fan of Kickstarter but there's not a lot they can or will do. If you report the project, they will undoubtedly send an e-mail to Cringely, but he'll quite likely ignore that, much as he has ignored everything else about this project.
Chris Hahn on February 15
I don't know about you guys, but I think it's time we all report this project. It's the button at the bottom of the main page. This clearly falls under the Creator has failed to communicate to it's backers" category. If we all report it, Kickstarter is bound to do something about it.
Controlled Chaos on February 13
I purchased this for $184 back in November 2015. Still hasn't arrived. I've sent messages to them... with no response.
Dickie Adams on February 9
Is this project dead yet?
Matt on February 9
As the same voices are trying to hold Cringley to account, thought I'd add my voice so they know there is more than just a few vocal & EXTREMELY disappointment backers of this project !
How about posting ANYTHING !
Jay Welshofer on February 9
How about an update?
Another sucker on February 8
Since mineserver.com is currently accepting orders with payments by Paypal, has anyone filed a complaint with Paypal?
Another sucker on February 8
Since the mineserver.com site is currently accepting orders with payment by Paypal, has anyone tried to file a complaint with Paypal?
Scott Woodward on February 8
If anyone is not looking at Cringely.com you may want to check out the current Post’s comments.
http://www.cringely.com/2017/02/06/trumps-upcoming-move-h-1b-visas/
There is a lively discussion about this Mineserver project.
schuchi
Superbacker
on February 6
Ok! Didn't know that. Still - doesn't really change anything about what I wrote...;-)
Scott Woodward on February 6
Sorry, but that is the same Mineserver.com that has been up since the beginning. It is mostly blank except for the copy of the Kickstarter info and the additional of the Shirt option. The only thing that has changed is the copyright year in the last year and a half. That link has always been in the “Created By Mineserver LLC” information. Cringely.com and his Facebook page is also there. The Created by is still Mary Alyce Neader Stephens.