Pandora to cost $500

cwstjdenobs · Jan 29, 2011

Dunny said:
I'd be interested in doing that! Can you let me know how much it would cost? I'd like it to have two analog nubs (sticks preferably), clamshell with keyboard and about the same size as the Pandora. Basically, a Pandora case with the latest Beagleboard inside.

Any ideas how much that would cost? I'd drop the Pandora like a shot if I can make something like that myself for a comparable amount.

Antoligy: Apologies, but you did sound like a total dick, so I stand by my comments.

D.

Well I wouldn't bother with clamshell myself, I'd probably make a tablet with a slide out keyboard. But with the pandaboard instead of the beagle it would be a just under $500. Including RepRaping the case.

EDIT: And I'm not saying it would be easy, but for the people the Pandora is aimed at (if it's not just to tickle peoples ego) should be easy enough to do or learn the missing skills.

EDIT the 2nd: If you are really interested in doing that and not just trying to call me out on what you thought was a bluff from someone who didn't have a clue what they where on about PM me.

stormwolf18 · Jan 29, 2011

Pandora is a joke.

cwstjdenobs · Jan 29, 2011

stormwolf18 said:
Pandora is a joke.

Nah mate, it was a cool idea. And probably a good example of how open source hardware != FOSS in a development sense. Things go wrong with software it takes time to fix, you want to try a new idea?, just takes some time, with hardware it always takes money.

It will be a great case study for future projects from this or any other team.

m|kk| · Jan 29, 2011

Well, SpikeyNDS and I will be enjoying our two Pandoras (pre-ordered one in August and now ordered a premium $500 so we both can have one). We are also getting the 3DS's and the NGP whenever it comes out. Yay for disposable income! It is not fair to compare the Pandora to the 3DS or NGP because they are targeting different users. If you only have enough cash for one of them, then by all means, make your own decision. But don't judge the Pandora based on what the 3DS or NGP can do.

The Pandora has it's merits. I'm looking forward to an ultra-portable way to play classic Sierra games with a real keyboard and C64 games. Can I do that with my DS? Yes, but it will not be as convenient. I could also do that with a netbook, but the portability isn't there.

I can't wait to get my Pandora!

We should have our first one within a week or so and we still expect to receive the other one by the end of March. It will probably get here even sooner due to the increased production. So exciting!!

cwstjdenobs · Jan 29, 2011

cwstjdenobs said:
EDIT: And I'm not saying it would be easy, but for the people the Pandora is aimed at (if it's not just to tickle peoples ego) should be easy enough to do or learn the missing skills.

Well I guess I'm retracting that statement due to this:-

QUOTE(m|kk| @ Jan 29 2011, 05:55 PM) The Pandora has it's merits. I'm looking forward to an ultra-portable way to play classic Sierra games with a real keyboard and C64 games. Can I do that with my DS? Yes, but it will not be as convenient. I could also do that with a netbook, but the portability isn't there.

I can't wait to get my Pandora!

We should have our first one within a week or so and we still expect to receive the other one by the end of March. It will probably get here even sooner due to the increased production. So exciting!!

I guess it's easy to forget not everyone who appreciates this sort of thing will look at it and think "but only if they'd... time to open up kicad".

I really aren't trying to put down people who chose to buy this, I hope you enjoy it and directly supporting open source this way gives you a nice warm feeling inside while playing on your emu's outside. But I couldn't honestly tell someone who can't make their minds up to bother.

dryganaye · Jan 29, 2011

Dunny said:
Just to add my (rather biased, admittedly) 2 penn'orth -

I've had my Pandora for about a month now, maybe a bit more. The build issues are largely gone now as production gets more experienced workers. The quality of the unit is way above that of a NDSL/DSi - it really does make my DS's look bad. The screen is very much worth it with a full 180 degree viewing angle.

I've got two 32GB SDCards in there, one packed with MAME, Megadrive, N64, SNES, PSX, GBA/GB/GBC, Speccy, C64, Amiga and Atari ST games, the other with my development files. Because this thing runs a full desktop OS (XFCE), anything I build on my main x86 linux box runs natively on the Pandora thanks to the miracle of cross-compiling. This isn't strictly a games machine - I can run OpenOffice, mplayer for HD movies, various MP3 players etc. It's a full desktop computer, just like a netbook, but it's a lot smaller and has D-Pad, face buttons and Twin Analogue nubs.

The stock 600Mhz CPU speed is easily changed - mine goes way over 1GHz without hassle and no real degradation in battery life, which is around 14 hours on full load whilst playing games - drops to about 11 hours when overclocked.

And of course, it's fully open. You don't need to root it or jailbreak it, you just download your games and run them. There's shitloads of games available - not just emulators, but most decent homebrew is being ported. Good luck getting your homebrew running on your 3DS this year. Or next year for the PSP2, if ever.

Would I have bought it at $500? Yes, I would. No, it's not a Laptop. But yes, it really is. Besides, I have mine and it cost me a mere 200 quid. Can't complain, can I? Especially when I've just been stuck in a traffic queue and been able to run off a bit of Mario64 (fullspeed, 800x480 resolution graphics) and R-Type Delta (again, full speed at high res). What's not to like about that, and which other handheld lets you do the same?

D.

Gosh, you make me almost wish I had waited a bit longer and gotten one...almost. :-)

Alot of the reasons you state was why I was interested in a Pandora in the first place: Loads of configurability, alot of multimedia and games accessable on-the-go and a long battery life all in a small form factor.

But the basic fact is that this isn't a x86 Windows or Mac anything. If you're capable in Linux or able and aiming to learn then it might be worth it, if not, you're at the mercy of other more capable programmers and developers. Is that worth it, a $500 device which will only provide (And is *aimed* at providing) a community-based and sourced homebrew applications?

Sure, it can play all of the old games (You mention Mario64 and R-Type Delta) but how substantial will the new games be? Surely nothing comparable to what's offered by S. & N. I always install a few emulators and a few favorite games on all of my computers, but honestly, I don't play them that often, maybe a few minutes (They're more like full-motion pictures filled with nostalgia really). I can't conceive of wanting to play old games I've beaten a few times again on an even smaller screen. It has a cool gee-whiz factor, but not much more.

As I said, if you're a linux developer/user then this is likely to appeal to you (Which you seem to be from your comments), but if you're a regular Mac or Windows user you're probably not gonna be as wow'd as you would be in you could install whatever software that you'd normally use on a desktop, notebook or netbook. I know alot of the power and battery benefits of the Pandora are derived from it being an ARM-based and not x86-based system, but that's still negates a bit of its usefulness for some.

The build issues I were referring to weren't manufacturing defects necessarily (Bad/wrong parts, wi-fi speed issues) but the quality of the cases relating to the fact that the Pandoras aren't manufactured by the best Chinese manufacturers that money can buy. I'm not faulting the 'design' of the Pandora, but from what I've heard on the forums I rather doubt its as well-made as a DS Lite. I think its too early and there are too few Pandoras to make that claim absolutely yet. Of course not everyone takes care of their devices to the same degree.

In the end you as a Linux user may have valued a $500 portable ultra-compact Linux computer, but most Windows/Mac users or Nintendo/Sony gamers with little spending money would probably have a different take.

I don't hate the Pandora Project or wish it ill will, I still think its awesome...in a way...just not as relevant as it once seemed to be.

junkerde · Jan 29, 2011

pandora back in the day i thought used to be the shit. but the design was pretty ugly and cluttered, the hardware is getting old, and the $500 dollars just for playing emulators and such or linux, cmon id rather get a laptop to run linux and windows and play emulated games perfectly. Plus the pandora doesnt look portable at all, id rather get a laptop, pos.

m|kk| · Jan 29, 2011

Most laptops don't have d-pads or gaming nubs or touch screens. The Pandora is a very specialized device. And it's definitely portable! Especially if you have a purse

cwstjdenobs · Jan 29, 2011

m|kk| said:
Most laptops don't have d-pads or gaming nubs or touch screens. The Pandora is a very specialized device. And it's definitely portable! Especially if you have a purse

Now that's just BS. It won't fit in a purse or it would fit in a wallet. I could see it fitting in one of them handbags only big enough to fit a purse and a phone in though. Just.

m|kk| · Jan 29, 2011

My "purse" is a medium to large sized bag that holds my wallet and all of my gadgets (currently DSi, PSPgo, iPhone, and Kindle). A Pandora will easily fit in there too. Being female has it's advantages. I'm also certain that the Pandora will easily fit in the pocket of cargo pants/shorts for guys too. Unlike a laptop or netbook.

milkchocolate · Jan 29, 2011

The pandora is the king of gaming but the stupid mass will always only have consumer products like DS, DSI or 3DS because they´re only sheeps and not special.

cwstjdenobs · Jan 29, 2011

m|kk| said:
My "purse" is a medium to large sized bag that holds my wallet and all of my gadgets (currently DSi, PSPgo, iPhone, and Kindle). A Pandora will easily fit in there too. Being female has it's advantages. I'm also certain that the Pandora will easily fit in the pocket of cargo pants/shorts for guys too. Unlike a laptop or netbook.

Ah sorry, a purse in British English is a women's wallet, what you call a purse we'd call a handbag. I really didn't know there was a difference in this aspect, sorry. But hey, I know for the future.

m|kk| · Jan 29, 2011

Lol! In the eastern US they call it a pocketbook. I've always just said purse

. In any case, the Pandora is easily stowed for females with such a bag, and I still think it'll fit in cargo pockets for guys. I can't wait to play some old adventure games using both the touch screen and keyboard for commands. It's just not the same on a netbook (or a DS with soft keyboard). We are fortunate that we have the cash to spend on the devices (and I do get that warm, fuzzy feeling supporting the Open Pandora team). It's not for everyone, but it has its merits. There's really nothing else like it so it's not like there is a cheaper alternative with the same features.

OrR · Jan 29, 2011

There is no alternative to the Pandora. If you need proper gaming controls and a proper PC, both in your pocket, there is only this. Of course, it's not for everyone. If you want new big name franchises, go get a 3DS or NGP. However, if you like classic gaming, indie gaming, and also want an open system that you can actually use the way you want to, there are few choices. If you want really well thought out gaming controls, keyboard, touchscreen, full desktop OS etc., there is only the Pandora. It has Wifi, Bluetooth, powered USB host (!), two SD card slots, more than 10 hours of battery life, ... It is more flexible and does more than even most netbooks and it fits in your pocket. 500$ really isn't an unreasonable price, especially considering that they are producing them in batches of a few thousand, not a few million.

Calling the hardware outdated is pretty idiotic. More processing power is always nice but a 600 Mhz - 1 Ghz ARM is still plenty of power at this point. The one software category that would benefit most from raw power are emulators and there the jump to proper Dreamcast emulation is quite a ways off. N64 and PS1 run pretty well, though, as far as I know.

This project has to make it so they can keep producing successor devices in this class because nobody else does it. If you don't have the 500$, well, get another handheld for now. However, if you have the cash and see the value of the Pandora, get on board now to support this insane, awesome project!
I just sent them another 100€ as a donation, just because I want to contribute to keeping this project alive. (Upgrading my order to 500$ didn't make sense because my Pandora will arrive in 1-2 weeks, anyway.)

Veho · Jan 29, 2011

m|kk| said:
There's really nothing else like it so it's not like there is a cheaper alternative with the same features.

[semi-serious] Well, you could get a SmartQ V5, one of those mini keyboard thingies, a USB gamepad, and then, I dunno, stick it all together with duct tape

Might end up being slightly larger than the Pandora, though; the SmartQ and the keyboard are roughly the size of the Pandora, but the gamepad would stick out a bit

Still, you'd get a Linux machine (comes with Ubuntu) with specs similar to the Pandora (with dual boot options into Android and Windows CE for multiple OS goodness), and a few extras like HDMI-out, for $220.

The downside is that it's not as open as the Pandora, and consequently doesn't have as many devs working on it specifically. And I'm pretty sure it doesn't have any native emulators.

[/semi-serious]

On a more serious note, the Pandora is a pretty impressive little device, and a really interesting concept, and deserves support. And it actually costs $350, not $500, and $350 is a pretty fair price for what you're getting. Of course, some people don't need/want/care for some of the features and only focus on the few they find interesting, and then view the price of the gadget based off of one or two features. It's like seeing the 3DS has a virtual console that plays Game Boy titles, and then saying "well, $250 is a bit much for a Game Boy, I mean, it's an old console."

And why can't some (other) people simply say "it's not my cup of tea" and leave it at that?

Pandora to cost $500

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