For Sale: First Batch Pandora (Black 256MB CC Version)

[Wootson]

Up for sale is a First Batch Pandora, which was originally shipped by Craig and received by me in February 2011. Personally I've waited over two and a half years for this device, after payment in September 2008. I'm selling the device because I'm not using it very much and it's probably better off with someone who does, and maybe even has the potential to create some software that can be added to the official repository. Selling the device also means that I will be leaving the Pandora community.


I'm assuming that the reader of this page knows what a Pandora is, and what it can be used for! It does not cook your eggs every morning and it has no flux capacitor!


The Pandora works perfectly, including the speakers, headphone port, both SD card slots, all buttons, both nubs, audio control wheel, LCD lid, USB, power adapter, etcetera. The LCD is 100% scratch free and has no dead pixels or whatever kind of problems. L + R buttons on top are not mushy as some Pandora owners did experience. All LEDs also work like intended. This device can run at 800Mhz extremely stable, 1Ghz is possible, but not very stable the few times I've tried with the old firmware versions. It might be somewhat different these days with the newly released SuperZaxxon v1.51 firmware. I think that running it at 900Mhz all the time is surely possible, but I suggest keeping it at 800Mhz to have more battery life, and you won't notice those extra Mhz very much. I can't speak for the difference between 256MB and 512MB internal RAM, but in my experience everything runs very solidly, with and without creating extra swap memory on an SD card. You will have a pleasant experience with 256, even with very demanding applications like the Mozilla Firefox webbrowser.


http://wootson.home....enPandora/1.JPG


http://wootson.home....enPandora/2.JPG


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http://wootson.home....enPandora/4.JPG


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Few slight problems with this device are as follows:

• Action button A is a little stiff, but does register perfectly. All Pandora's have this as far as I know. Can be fixed by yourself by removing a slight piece of plastic from the underside of the button. I never dared to open the device, so that's why it's not fixed.
  
• Small crack near the right speaker. Has no effect on sound.
  
• Hairline crack near the hinge location.
  
• Little flake of paint came off at the directional pad.
  
• In my experience the internal Wi-Fi is limited to around 80kB/s to 90kB/s. If you want faster speeds, please consider buying a tiny USB Wi-Fi dongle (around 10 to 15 euro).
  
• Few very minor usage scratches on the battery cover.
  

All Pandora's seem to suffer from a somewhat bad plastic case quality, so even if you buy a 100% new device you will still end up with some wear and tear eventually. Buying a new silver case at EvilDragon's shop is an option (24 euro excluding shipping costs), but not necessary as the cracks have no effect on the reliability of the hardware itself.


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Also included are a (formatted) 8GB Transcend SDHC card, and the official Pandora case in which the device perfectly fits. I can also put some nice bonus stuff on the card, if that is your wish. Normally you need to buy this separately. Of course the battery case and the power adapter are also included.


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The unit will be flashed with the latest firmware, so you will have an out-of-the-box experience like with any newly bought Pandora (SuperZaxxon v1.51). The device will be charged to the max before shipping, so you can use it right out of the box.


Now for the most important, the price: 250 euro (including PayPal costs that need to be made by me). Can be shipped (tracking/signed if needed) to anywhere in the world, as long as you pay. Or you can come pick it up right at the door if you can travel to The Netherlands. I accept PayPal or international bank transfer (IBAN/BIC). A new Pandora (512MB, 600Mhz, silver casing) costs you 440 euro excluding shipping. A 1Ghz version with silver casing and 512MB costs you 666 euro excluding shipping costs!

 

[Wootson]

Just having typed all this and having re-installed the firmware and then checking if everything works perfectly, I get a purple screen. You gotta be kidding me!! WTF!!

 

[BAFelton]

Pm

 

[sswam]

Sorry to see you might be leaving the community.


Watch out that Alex doesn't throw you in the drink!


I will remember you as the old enthusiastic Wootson


who made this video:

https://www.youtube.com/embed/niPco_fLe-s?feature=oembed

 

[Wootson]

I'm going to receive a replacement unit from Craig after EvilDragon receives the current one. If the new unit comes without any problems I'm probably going to keep it and be a little more active around the device.


It's just that I always carry a fifteen inch laptop with me at school, which is really necessary because the study material (hardware and software) is not very accessible via Linux and Android. Plus I can hook it up to a monitor via VGA so I can work on two screens at the same time. A power source is always nearby, so I can't see myself use the Pandora that much in that environment, apart from using it for playing games, surfing the school's intranet, and some PDF reading before exams. For example: using Putty for managing the school's routing equipment is really a pain in the ass via the Pandora, when you have a multiple large screen combo at hand. I also don't travel that much anymore by train and bus, but mostly with my own car. So I can't use it for that anymore either. At home I have a small army of consoles (both retro and current generation), and a fast desktop PC with all bells and whistles. So the Pandora never really received the attention it deserved.


I guess I just need to find some use for it. But I think I'm going to need some help with that. It's a one of a kind device that can truly do a little bit of everything, that's why I always kept it. It's just that everything it can do is not very far away in my environment.


Regarding the Pandora video: luckily I'm not a boycotter, naysayer or a nonbeliever, else I would seriously get my ass kicked by Alex. Pandora will keep existing no matter what, I have no doubt about it. Maybe I need to find new ways to use the Pandora and make a new video about it... :lol:

 

[Wally]

I'm considering using my Pandora for public transport use over my iPad as I don't want to have to carry a backpack around everywhere I go and it'll fit in my pockets fine (If I find a pair of jeans with larger pockets that is) I would still carry my iPad to other locations.


Some of the things i'd like to use it for: Tethering to iPhone (Just for data not emails, youtube etc), Gaming, Carrying around documents that I need all the time, Special applications I require for work, videos and maybe other stuff that I haven't really planned. It's nearly time for my seasonal re-evaluation anyway.

 

[ekianjo]

Special applications I require for work,

What applications? I am curious

 

[Wally]

As an example: Maybe an excel like App (Gnunumerics?) which would then use a barcode scanner to scan assets

 

[ekianjo]

As an example: Maybe an excel like App (Gnunumerics?) which would then use a barcode scanner to scan assets

I see

 

[ekianjo]

Sorry to see you might be leaving the community.


Watch out that Alex doesn't throw you in the drink!


I will remember you as the old enthusiastic Wootson


who made this video:

https://www.youtube.com/embed/niPco_fLe-s?feature=oembed

Excellent video ! First time I saw it!

 

[sansors]

Hi,


The console is still for sale ?


Thank you.

 

[Wootson]

This topic can be closed, as I sold my Pandora to EvilDragon for 200 euro. It will be repaired and later it will be resold as a refurbished unit. This also helps OpenPandora a little financially.