Duh, Where To Buy?

[DavidBeoulve]

Okay, I asked this question (off-topic in a thread I can't recall nor find looking through the threads I've posted in) so I'll try to keep my mind focused and work off one thread:

There are loads of sources - where would you recommend to purchase an GPX2 from?

I want the latest version with the fixed firmware, joypad and dayglo-bright screen. From what I've read, they are just easier to get working than the older Mk1's. Correct me if I'm wrong.

I came this ][ close to buying one last night - but I always delay myself on purchases over $100. My lovely Latin wife supports the idea because she knows open-ended games and moddable things keep me busy (off and on) for long periods of time. I keep coming back to moddable games on the PC, but traditional consoles mostly put out Arcade games. You beat them, you want another. She pointed out that "You won't play this all the time - but you always come back to things. Like your XBOX. It sat for months, and now you play it. And is not something you need to keep paying for." She's mostly right about that! Though I will buy commercial games for the GPX2 just to help support it as I can - and because that GTA clone looks like FUN.

FluffyPanda and derrr... gaah... you convinced me.

My friend Brandon thinks it's neat, but then, he loves emulation.

I'm going to talk with my friend Kevin.

In the mean time, if I buy one tonight, I'll need to know -- where from?

 

[virusx]

I don't know where to pick the MK2 now.
But I think you've got 3 main choices :

Buy it from a local (Usa) seller so you could have fast customer's support
Buy it, on import, from Uk (GbaX) or Spain <_< Germany (EvilDragon's shop), because they're supporting this console since its beginning.
Buy it from an asian seller (LikSang, PlayAsia...) for a small money saving (But you'll have to send it back in case of bad bricking)

Ps : sorry for my engrish :unsure:

EDIt : Try to reach those sellers for asking them if they've got the new Mk2 version.
Or perhaps somebody on this forum know that ?!

 

[WrongEyedJesus]

Spain (EvilDragon's shop)

ED is in Germany but the point is valid.

Buying from him or Craig at gbax in the UK is a good bet as they are both active members here and therefore you get a much more personal service and support is more direct. Also I think it's nice to keep things in the community.

Go on, take the plunge, you know you want to.

 

[Montsubai]

Lik-Sang will send out MK2 unit's when their stock arrive in May 2006.

 

[Dzz]

From what I've read, they are just easier to get working than the older Mk1's. Correct me if I'm wrong.

As far as I know, the only person frequenting these forums who has even seen a MkII is Craigix; he has communicated his impressions but it's only a single opinion. Everything else except for those brief first-hand reports is speculation. Basically we don't know how big of an improvement the MkII is.

 

[EvilDragon]

The only thing that is easier on the MK2 is that the screen cover is preassembled, so you don't need to put the screen cover on it first.

The operation of the unit is exactly the same as it was with the old one.

 

[nubie]

Okay, I asked this question (off-topic in a thread I can't recall nor find looking through the threads I've posted in) so I'll try to keep my mind focused and work off one thread:

There are loads of sources - where would you recommend to purchase an GPX2 from?

I want the latest version with the fixed firmware, joypad and dayglo-bright screen. From what I've read, they are just easier to get working than the older Mk1's. Correct me if I'm wrong.

FluffyPanda and derrr... gaah... you convinced me.

My friend Brandon thinks it's neat, but then, he loves emulation.

I'm going to talk with my friend Kevin.

If it was me personally I would get it from Lik-Sang because it is like $149.99 with $10 shipping right now.

I don't know your level of comfort in dealing with crappy hardware though, I would send it back only for malfunctioning screen or obscenely bad battery life.

If it was the headphone jack falling out, the motherboard shifted a little, or the joystick being crap I can fix all those.

And at $160 it is pretty cheap, enough to maybe afford the BoB for USB or the Radek nGage QD mod.

But, To be absolutely sure of getting the right one I would email or PM craigix from gbax.co.uk and check with him.

To my knowledge in order of good customer service imho (leaving out Evildragon's German site only because it isn't as worldwide, though I hear nothing but good things about his shop)

Gbax.co.uk - craigix is highly involved, this business is his baby, he is getting the commercial games off the ground, go here.

gp32z.com - in the States, good service, but swamped staff, might possibly save on shipping, and you can be assured that Jr2swiss (or dave) will make everything right, but he is/was very busy, so be prepared to wait on RMA and such.

Lik-Sang - big commercial outfit, thus a saving of cost, but in HK how will you get it repaired if need be? I would go here only because of the low bottom line ($$), they haven't a clue wich version they are stocking or what the GP32X scene is about.

Mini-rant, why are there so many wannabe GP2X "scenes" popping up, silly really, why would I go to GPMAX2X.INFO to see 2 badly written pages of information that was obsolete at the release last December.

I apologize if anyone actually has a site named gpmax2x, but not if it is a .info site, they aren't real sites usually, just scam sites.

 

[DavidBeoulve]

EvilDragon, I noticed that you wrote "The operation of the unit is exactly the same as it was with the old one." So all that has changed is the orientation of the joypad and the screen?

Nubie! Thank you for the comprehensive list of shops! VirusX, thank you as well!

Dzz - okay, I'm confused...

I guess my new question is - get an MK1 or dig for an MK2?

 

[nickspoon]

The only thing that is easier on the MK2 is that the screen cover is preassembled, so you don't need to put the screen cover on it first.

Bugger!

 

[andre.breves]

No store has MKII in stock right now. GP2X.co.uk says it will start shipping in May 15th.
I ordered my GP2X from lik-sang two days ago, at the $149.90 price, but there were no MKI units in stock. They are accepting pre-orders to the MKII version ath $179.90. Since I had already ordered, I got this pre-order at the older lower price.

 

[Dzz]

Dzz - okay, I'm confused...

Confused about what? The MkII is not shipping yet so none of us have one. Since none of us have one anything we say about them is hearsay.

Edited to add: I believe EvilDragon is a distributor so along with craigix he might have seen one.

 

[sakumi]

I purchased mine from Lik-sang on Saturday and it was at my doorstep Monday.

I call that excelent customer service =)

Oh pay the extra $10 for the UPS shipping ---- totaly worth it.

 

[Dzz]

Dzz - okay, I'm confused...

Confused about what? The MkII is not shipping yet so none of us have one. Since none of us have one anything we say about them is hearsay.

Edited to add: I believe EvilDragon is a distributor so along with craigix he might have seen one.

I purchased mine from Lik-sang on Saturday and it was at my doorstep Monday.

I call that excelent customer service =)

Oh pay the extra $10 for the UPS shipping ---- totaly worth it.

You mean you have a MkII with the new screen and the rotated joystick? If so I'm sure we'd all like to hear your impressions. I did not realize Lik-Sang was shipping MkII units yet; all the other people are indicating that they just shipped out the last of their MkI units and are accepting pre-orders for the MkII.

Edited: Oh, I think Sakumi was just recommending Lik-Sang in general as somebody to buy from and wasn't responding directly to the point about the MkII.

 

[sakumi]

It's most likely MK I (thus the lowered price) but that doesn't bother me. The joystick is fine (i'll get a different cap however) and the screen is great. I see none of these so called scanlines that are mentioned and such. It honestly suprised me how badass it was =)

Firmware was 1.4.0 so that highly leads me to believe MKI. As a first timer, I see no need for an MKII as this is perfect to me.

I'd also like to note USB worked great out of the box with 1.4.0 firmware. If you run the usbmon application as suggested @ gp2x.com (basicly it manualy refreshs the usb ports looking for new stuff) picked it up right away and transfered the first of my files (and firmware upgrade) via usb -> gp2x (battery powered).

I've currently been re-addicted to Sega Genesis (sonic 2 actually) and it runs GREAT.

The NES, and SNES emus are both REALLY to be desired. I'd donate a fair bit of cash to Reesy if he spent some time and got those emu's working as they should. Honestly my C/C++ is so shoddy I'd make a fool of myself trying (include io.h? ).

I cant stand playing mario at varied speeds and this that and the other ___ugh___ honestly was a huge let down with my GP2X and I hope the open source nature of the emus will lead to some strong development.

I've just compiled my hello world program for the GP2X so maybe someday I can contribute too...

 

[DavidBeoulve]

Man - I don't mind getting an MK1 as long as it has Craig's thumbstick adapter! Okay, I'll use Nubie and VirusX's list of shops. Maybe Evil can help me. After all, there's never enough evil in the world!

 

[EvilDragon]

After all, there's never enough evil in the world!

Exactly. And you evil man stole my profile description with this sentence :lol: