Explaining The Pandora

[el_pango]

"In a world where many devices are chained by their manufacturers, the Pandora is unleashed to the full potential you deserve. You bought it, you decide what it can or can't do."

This.

Someone with more acumen for marketingspeak than I will need to translate this, but it seems like you kind of don't buy it just because you want a portable console, you buy it because you want a blank canvas, an open meadow to play in, a freely-accessible laboratory, a library, a worldwide circle of friends -and- a portable console - and you want all that stuff without voiding your warranty or some big, dumb, faceless corporation telling you what you can't do and/or attempting to shove yet another round of pointless sequels down your throat.

There really isn't anything else like that.

 

[paddy]

To me .. it's the smallest laptop in the world (with full game controls) this is what i say to the ad joe,but yes it might not be the smallest (not sure) but going with that in mind usualy well always has blown everyone away ! some that see it only want to know if it can do office,paint web and email and when you tell them yes they get excited because of the form factor and the REAL keyboard - people still like the feel of the older traditional keyboard that touch screen or flat touch keyboard don't give,the REAL volume control is another nice touch,down to earth,easy to use and natural feeling.

Others will love the OS stuff but want gaming,i show them the refined 2x nubs,great dpad and good button set,BUT no one including my self have been impressed with anything gamewise on the pandora,i do not like and nor does any of my buddies or family like homebrew gaming,we all wanted to see fully optimised emulators,should be a given on the pandora for its spec and linux feature set but for now the gaming controls on my pandora are mostly unused.

Get the emulators sorted,and more important show that the pandora can do proper n64 and it will sell sell sell,show a nice up to date young and hip media centre style interface,ease of use for the younger gamers,net jockies out there on all those self proclaimed sites that the pandora is the cool device for using those sites without the ties of a mobile phone.

i would get moblin on the pandora,like a non dev pandora but still open for easy on off internet and IM but you will need flash.


THE PANDORA - created to create -
Buzz Word - Lite Open Free -

Hackers wet dream
Socialite's delight
Gamers paradise
Artists Inspiration

all that above is random though so pick at it if you like.

 

[Grench]

THE PANDORA - created to create -
Buzz Word - Lite Open Free -

Hackers wet dream
Socialite's delight
Gamers paradise
Artists Inspiration

all that above is random though so pick at it if you like.

Continuing it...

System Admin's Savior (VNC)
Are you a Control Freak? Have WE got controls for YOU!
Pandora - there is no app for this.

The OpenPandora Pandora console is a pocket netbook that happens to have great gamer quality controls. It can do what tablet devices do. It can do what PDA devices can do. It can do what a closet full of game consoles can do. It can do what your old PC can do. Pandora Do.

 

[SomeGuy99]

"You've got an app for that."

 

[RajTakhar]

i'm with

cut the marketing BS until all initial 1st batch users see their pandoras

ten exhale the positives

generate the musshy website gump then

doing this now whilst most long term 1st batchers legging it due to constant delays (yeah i'm in till end of month - then passing pre-order to someone else)

yep there will be its not me being cynical - its me faced with reality

 

[Wrath Of Khan]

I usually explain it as a truly portable computer in your pocket to anybody who asks.
I guess marketing depends on how many pandoras can be produced at anyone time.
Total ease of use for the layman.The appstore could be made slicker and centred in marketing,though theres not that
many apps available at the moment.Im certain people will want one if they hear about it,because its brilliant.
Tiny cosmetic issues like the screen bezle and such might need to be ironed out.People tend to latch onto these
sort of things.(Just my opinions here)I reckon it could sell in the thousands,40+maybe(arbitary figure)
I guess marketing has to be in sync with the availability of the pandora or relevant applications.Just my thoughts.
I for one would like it to have a strong alternative presence,the unique underdog,tagline might work.

 

[Unfathomable Depths]

It's just like a big Game Gear but with nipples.

 

[headcrash]

hi,

are people really interested in open source ? look at the apple-mania. obviously a lot of consumers are happy to pay money for prestige and simple usage.

the idea behind the 'apps' is one program for one function. most of the apps are just a fraction of funtions whitch are also provided by multifunctional software, therefore apps are easy to use and people don't have to think a lot. and for that they even pay, although there mostly is a free open-source solution at hand.

the quality of pandora being a flexible platform and giving the power back to the people appeals to useres who like to tweak and find solutions for their own.

but that's not the majority. if you really want to attract a broad range of people you will have to split the image of pandora in several aspects:

- the gaming console

- the multi media center

- the mini-laptop for power-users

- the swiss-knive for nerds

in order to satisfy this different groups I think it's necessary to provide different operating systems and special profiles for the installed software.

- the gamers want a quick boot, a lot of games pre-installed and an internet-connection to install more games or to play online.

- the multi media fans want good media software, easy access to more media and the oppotunity to connect and share it with their community.

- the so called power-users want an umpc with software for pim, office, presentation and easy sync with other platforms (ie. mobile phones)

- last but not least the neards want a clean and stable os, development tools and the option to boot other operating systems.

the good news is, that the pandora can be easily setup in different ways by just putting the right sd-card in a slot.

the bad news is, the configuration and maintanance of the different environtments is not easy and not ready (yet).

to my mind open-pandora has to focus first on good and easy software-solutions (most are already available) before they can attract other people than this community. and you will need more online portals than one.

but there is a huge potential !

greetings

 

[Wrath Of Khan]

hi,

are people really interested in open source ? look at the apple-mania. obviously a lot of consumers are happy to pay money for prestige and simple usage.

the idea behind the 'apps' is one program for one function. most of the apps are just a fraction of funtions whitch are also provided by multifunctional software, therefore apps are easy to use and people don't have to think a lot. and for that they even pay, although there mostly is a free open-source solution at hand.

the quality of pandora being a flexible platform and giving the power back to the people appeals to useres who like to tweak and find solutions for their own.

but that's not the majority. if you really want to attract a broad range of people you will have to split the image of pandora in several aspects:

- the gaming console

- the multi media fans

- the mini-laptop for power-users

- the swiss-knive for nerds

in order to satisfy this different groups I think it's necessary to provide different operating systems and special profiles for the installed software.

- the gamers want a quick boot, a lot of games pre-installed and an internet-connection to install more games or to play online.

- the multi media fans want good media software, easy access to more media and the oppotunity to connect and share it with their community.

- the so called power-users want an umpc with software for pim, office, presentation and easy sync with other platforms (ie. mobile phones)

- last but not least the neards want a clean and stable os, development tools and the option to boot other operating systems.

the good news is, that the pandora can be easily setup in different ways by just putting the right sd-card in a slot.

the bad news is, the configuration and maintanance of the different environtments is not easy and not ready (yet).

to my mind open-pandora has to focus first on good and easy software-solutions (most are already available) before they can attract other people than this community. and you will need more online portals than one.

but there is a huge potential !

greetings

I think you hit the nail on the head here.Well said.

 

[SomeGuy99]

Different OS's are not needed. That can be accomplished with additional menu systems and frontends. We already have XFCE for the tweakers/hackers/devs and Minimenu for retro/homebrw gamers. We can add more to the firmware focused around multimedia etc.

Don't forget, the Pandora asks you on first boot which interface you would like by default!

 

[GizmoTheGreen]

Different OS's are not needed. That can be accomplished with additional menu systems and frontends. We already have XFCE for the tweakers/hackers/devs and Minimenu for retro/homebrw gamers. We can add more to the firmware focused around multimedia etc.

Don't forget, the Pandora asks you on first boot which interface you would like by default!

All interfaces and/or other alternatives might not all fit in to the NAND
thats what different sd-cards for different os's are about.

Personally, it would've been perfect with a (micro?)sd slot behind the battery for more permanent use, so you dont accidentaly eject the OS sd and not the ROMS&EMUS sd, haha

 

[atomicthumbs]

my boss looked at it and said: "wow, this is cute... so small"

quoting this

 

[Aninhumer]

The question is, what message do you want to get across?
Is it meant for marketing? If so, I see no use as it won't be possible to buy a Pandora off the shelf in a long while anyway and you will be able to fill a batch of another 4000 without further marketing. Don't do the third step before the second, imo
Trying to focus on exclusivity will hurt more than it will do good, imo. Get that thing out to the masses, asap.

edit:
Currently the Pandora is that cool underdog handheld and speaks for itself. A slick site would just hurt and look dumb anyway.

To be slightly more constructive than Craig ...
I certainly agree that spending anything on increasing exposure at this stage would be foolish, as it will just lead to people coming, seeing they can't get it yet, and forgetting about it. However improving the product's image to those that do discover it is by no means a bad idea, it increases the chance they'll come back later, or join us in waiting on the forums.

 

[Jumpman]

I agree with the logic of without more units available, I really don't see the point in explaining this device to the masses.

I showed mine off at a poker game a few weeks ago, and there was a few interested faces, and a good friend really liked it, but no one was willing to pay ebay prices(of course), and in most circles, most feel technology is always being improved. So unless someone can play with a toy yesterday, many won't wait around. At least most of the people I know.

Now I personally know that nothing like the Pandora will be in the market anytime soon, but what's the point in explaining something that no one can put there hands on?

The people who actually own a unit, are the elite that preordered ASAP on day one, and waited for almost 2 years. That is a very rare situation. I feel this question would be better asked once at least the first 4000 are in customer hands, and many more people can give a wider spectrum of opinions from the market(friend, family, bus rides, sitting in the park), and then the team could form a better idea of how to explain it to that wider audience.

I completely agree with Mali that the biggest focus right now should be getting this device to the market. We could all make 10,000 people interested in this device today, and not a single one of them could buy it tommorow, so what's the point? So unless there is some kind of grand plan to get more units completed and shipped out ASAP, I would put this discussion on the back burner, as I feel it could only serve to piss off more future customers who may actually become interested, and then realize they can't even buy one until who knows when?

Chris

 

[xyta]

Sex sell so I think it should be something along the lines of..

We already had a discussion about adult software in the Germnan forums. Could be a gap in the market since Apple's appstore is censored. Nippleware has definitely a potential of becoming the killer app of the Pandora.... If you have a look on technology history you'll notice that the first video format conflict was won by the technical inferior VHS system (against Betamax and Video 2000) due to the availability of porn films.

http://www.mediacollege.com/video/format/compare/betamax-vhs.html

Another pro argument for the Pandora is that its software respects the privacy of the users(s). No personal user data is transferred to OP (as far as I know). In contrast to other Android and Apple devices.

 

[Alpha2]

Average people want devices that do what they ask and dont make their life more difficult. Show how useful and fun the system is and people will be interested, if they dont see an obvious flaw they may even come up with ways it'll be useful to them. Free games, useful applications, easy internet surfing, Music and video on the go with decent battery life; these are the things that the average consumer wants on the end user level. When you look at things like PSPs or iPods/phones they do many of these things but people still hack them to get even more to the point where you have people making a business out of making these machines even more useful by hacking them for the consumer or telling them how it's done. Even respected doctors and lawyers will say "hey if I can get a bunch of things easier I'll jail break my device in a second" With the Pandora none of that in necessary.

 

[Elanzer]

Most "regular" people don't see the limitations in something like an apple device because they wouldn't normally cross the boundaries of control to begin with. they won't multitask on a portable device, they wouldn't know how to copy and paste files on their ipod as opposed to syncing with itunes even if they had the option, and they don't understand hardware specifications. the reason closed systems like apple are successful is exactly because it only serves specific purposes through artificial limitation.

By advertising primarily with freedom, you will miss alot of people who just don't see the cages, and advanced users will understand the difference immediately just with "full linux desktop".

 

[Alpha2]

You can't divide users in to know-nothings and super hackers. The average person is always someone in the middle. To assume the majority so simple that they'd never try something other than a brand name device to begin with suggests that it wouldn't even be worth trying to sell to them. The the target audience are people who buy unlocked cellphones and MP3 players that arent ipods. People willing to not be hearded into doing something just because they're "supposed to". These are people who are willing to look for alternatives and if the Pandora is visible enough they'll find it useful to their needs.

 

[SoleGrave]

I like the fact that the specs are listed on the site page. No fluffy marketing schpeal voiced by Lance Henriksen. No flowery new age philosophy about software. Just facts. Dont get me wrong, having fun with the Pandora is what its all about but it takes real work and time to make it happen. I remember a magazine article in which they asked 10 or so of the greatest minds (or most successful) in game development about what they wanted most. More than one wished for universal development tools with an open platform. In a loose sense the Pandora is giving us that choice. Some real pictures of the Pandora would be neat too.



.

 

[spaceballs3000]

Yes, I really want to show the difference between us and closed source systems, so when people say the usual 'just get a iphone lol' we can say 'well no, look at this page and understand why that isn't the best solution for everyone'.

Show them this then http://wiki.openmoko.org/wiki/Neo_FreeRunner