100% success! (2011-12-24)

[ahahah]

And can you update the Pandora for an A15 dual core and a rogue PowerVR 6 GPU while you are at it?

or a simple 1GHz cpu would be fine also. :wub:

 

[Binky]

mumble overclock wub? :huh:

 

[leathco]

Double the RAM? Sounds cool. Should help quite a bit for those using these as a portable computer, and maybe for emulators that are RAM hogs.


I'm seriously debating to use ta check to buy one of these, or a new phone to augment my iControlpad. The ONLY thing I am worried about is lead time. I didn't order last year due to all the problems (heck, I STILL wouldn't have one if I had ordered last year! Although I know most everyone has been waiting for years, but eplaining to my wife I was gonna drop 500 USD and not get a product for a year or more was a bit hard). It'd be easier to convince her if I can tell her I'd prolly have it by summer.

Since September 2011, the preordering is 10 USD, the rest needs to be paid when the unit is ready to ship

If I can do the pre-order now, than pay in full in February once full production starts (I don't want to sit on the money or the wife will use it for something else), I'll go for it. My old GP2X Wiz buttons are shot.

Yes, that's how it currently works

OK, pre-ordered. Can I use the same link I got to PayPal in the e-mail to pay a bit on the pandora each week, or would that start a new preorder instead? I was considering paying 20 bucks a week til February than pay the rest off than.

 

[mikeb]

Sorry to come late to the party, but I have a different question related to the new PCBs (I hope you are still responding to this thread).


I currently have a Pandora in for repair.


Its been in repair for months because it has power/charging issues, which means it needs a new PCB and there have not been any PCBs available :-(.


With the new production run, will you be able to use the new PCB to repair my Pandora ?


Will you be able to prioritize some of the first PCBs for repairs ?


Thanks,


/Mike B.

 

[Binky]

As there are very few working US PCBs available, I think it is very likely you will get a German (new) one. I think priorities depend on what is finacially possible (loosing money is bad!).

 

[MarkoeZ]

Exactly.


I have to at least cover the costs to produce one complete PCB.


It depends on the price I can sell the old unit. If I can sell those for 200 EUR (a used Pandora with half the RAM), then I can swap a PCB for about 130 - 150 EUR.


Don't forget that I'll also lose sales with that (some users who would've bought the big version might buy the small one), so this needs to be included in this calculation as well.


AND I have to give a full warranty on these used Pandoras I sell as well. If a PCB fails, I have to replace it for free for half a year...

Late reply. And yeah, sounds sensible.


Sorry if my original post sounded a bit negative, did not have a great day that day. And not having a lot of money in my techbudget did not help either.


Time to start saving up then

 

[Tetlee]

What are the improvements to the actual case? Was one of my disappointments with the current Pandora, is it better quality altogether(tougher and better fit/less gaps, improved hinges) or the same only stronger?

 

[diligentcircle]

What are the improvements to the actual case? Was one of my disappointments with the current Pandora, is it better quality altogether(tougher and better fit/less gaps, improved hinges) or the same only stronger?

I assume it's the same, but with the dreaded mystery cracks no longer showing up (which are apparently caused by extremely low temperatures, I've heard), if it's an upgraded case at all. But for me, that would be plenty of reason for a new case; Michigan would show no mercy on a case that's sensitive to the cold (though I don't have cracks yet; fingers are crossed).

 

[Binky]

I think they have added extra thickness/re-enforcers at the points where it was known to crack, but it is otherwise the same case.


If the team ever needed something to fill up their spare time, I would vote for a completly new case, including a better plastic and some added shock resistance, though in ED's case, I would rank sleep as more important

 

[craigix]

A new case would be up to $100k, that's on top of the previous $50k or so the old case cost.


It's a shame metal would wreck the wifi and BT.

 

[wermy]

A new case would be up to $100k, that's on top of the previous $50k or so the old case cost.


It's a shame metal would wreck the wifi and BT.

What if you did something like the original iPhone did for its antennas? Have somewhere on the case with plastic in stead of metal: http://common.ziffdavisinternet.com/util_get_image/16/0,,i=164122&sz=1,00.jpg


I know it'll probably never happen (ok, it's even less likely than "probably never"), but a metal case would just be insanely cool.

 

[ensoniq2k]

What if you did something like the original iPhone did for its antennas? Have somewhere on the case with plastic in stead of metal: http://common.ziffda...122&sz=1,00.jpg


I know it'll probably never happen (ok, it's even less likely than "probably never"), but a metal case would just be insanely cool.

+1 from my side. A aluminum-casing with a rubber back for the antennas. Carbon fibre would also be awesome but extremely expensive

 

[Tetlee]

A new case would be up to $100k, that's on top of the previous $50k or so the old case cost.


It's a shame metal would wreck the wifi and BT.

A metal case would be very cool! Thanks for answering, in a way makes me more content to know the case is all but the same, saves me considering the upgrade when it comes about as the extra RAM alone isn't issue enough to me to warrent the expense.

 

[fusion_power]

A new case would be up to $100k, that's on top of the previous $50k or so the old case cost.


It's a shame metal would wreck the wifi and BT.

True. Would a WiFi Antenna directly behind the LCD work? So it could be used as the only non-metal covered part of such an device as "window" for the Signals: the LCD Screen itself. ^^"


I'm sure there are more ways to go out with the signal. I don't have an iPhone but I've read that its case is also made out of metal and somehow they have to lead out the signals, same for Metal Cased Laptops, Tablets etc...

 

[craigix]

They pay $75k or so for a custom designed antenna.

 

[McLovin]

I'd definatly prefer a rugged case to a metal one. I really really love my motorola defy for beeing so robust and waterproof. metal is not needed to achieve that.


I hardly take my pandora with me cause the case feels like an egg you need to protect.

 

[skeezix]

The crazy thing is there are antenna engineers; thats their job, you pay them huge piles of cash and they help design cases, with cables woven into them and such. Totally nuts


As tech becomes more and more high tech, you end up with more and more specialists at weird things


jeff

 

[WizardStan]

I hardly take my pandora with me cause the case feels like an egg you need to protect.

Having dropped my Pandora on more than one occasion, smashed it into walls and tables while riding around in my pocket, being sat upon, I can safely say that it is not an egg that needs to be protected. At no point in time did I ever get the impression that it was fragile and needed to be protected so I've no idea why you would think so.


To be fair, it does have a few cracks, most stress related (poor cooling of the plastic, I think, causing it to shrink it bad ways), one obviously related to a nasty drop, but none making it feel any more fragile than before. They're battle scars. My Pandora is gonna pick up all the chicks with its tough exterior yet gentle interior.

 

[skeezix]

yeah, Pandoras can take a pretty good abuse; I mean, inside there is a pcb, and the LCD, and not a lot of other stuff The PCB is not likely to come apart without some _serious_ impact, so your LCD is the main risk.. and thats inside. Don't keep the pandora in a pocket with loose change and keys But bashing the thing around while closed .. theres not a lot to break the function; scars sure, but should still operate. If the LCD cable pops loose or something that'd be annoying, but not too hard to fix


jeff

 

[Binky]

Heres a thought: has anyone tried putting lumps of sugru on the corners? Would it help?