GPD Pocket
- Thread starter vcoleiro1
- Start date
rygD
Nihilistic Mystic
Looking forward to reviews from Pandora and other palmtop owners.
blimpsgo180
Member
Nice review. I'm still curious to know how Visual Studio runs though.
freds_shadow
Member
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- Apr 28, 2011
- Messages
- 41
So now it's July 21st and DragonBox has the GPD Pocket back at 500 euro (but the description still mentions the reduced price). Hopefully that means ED has units and will begin shipping this next week. Looking forward to it even though I really do have too many devices as it is.
My Pocket arrived a few weeks and so far, very pleased with it.
Also, have the GPD WIN and several other little devices, so have too many too....
Every time I see my Pocket it makes me think I somehow shrunk my MacBookPro......feels very much the same, just a lot smaller....
Also, have the GPD WIN and several other little devices, so have too many too....
Every time I see my Pocket it makes me think I somehow shrunk my MacBookPro......feels very much the same, just a lot smaller....
The Pockets are on the way to us and should arrive next week.
Sent from my XT1650-03 using Tapatalk
Sent from my XT1650-03 using Tapatalk
rygD
Nihilistic Mystic
I would like some reviews and comparisons with other palmtops for non-gaming purposes. Windows is a huge con for me, and I wish the Pyra could be included in the lineup for hands on comparison.
b_o_b
Advanced Member
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- Sep 7, 2010
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- 1,493
https://github.com/stockmind/gpd-pocket-ubuntu-respin looks promising. I don't know why it takes GPD so long to release an Ubuntu image. It seems like most work is already done for them..
vcoleiro1
Hardcore Member
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- Jan 23, 2011
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- 4,685
Looks like all three crowdfunding campaigns for the GPD Pocket have finished now. It ended up with:
JD.com crowdfunding (China only)
Pockets backed: 5,697
Funds raised: $2,378,242
Makuake.com crowdfunding (Japan only)
Pockets backed: 1,485
Funds raised: $878,506
Indiegogo crowdfunding
Pockets backed: 8,365
Funds raised: $3,478,643
Total
Pockets backed: 15,547
Funds raised: $6,735,391
JD.com crowdfunding (China only)
Pockets backed: 5,697
Funds raised: $2,378,242
Makuake.com crowdfunding (Japan only)
Pockets backed: 1,485
Funds raised: $878,506
Indiegogo crowdfunding
Pockets backed: 8,365
Funds raised: $3,478,643
Total
Pockets backed: 15,547
Funds raised: $6,735,391
comradekingu
Glowing ember
b_o_b
Advanced Member
- Joined
- Sep 7, 2010
- Messages
- 1,493
Received mine today from ED. Installed VLC, Kodi, Firefox, Emacs.
OS - windows... meh... but with the keyboard and using the touchscreen as a mouse (just point with finger) it works quite well and responsive. The trackpoint can be used as well (works okay but feels a bit stiff). I found myself using touchscreen and keyboard more often anyway..
Touchscreen is glossy - fingerprints are immediately visible once the screen is off/black.
Tested some 720p videos and they play without glitches - screen is nice and during playing of the video no noticeable sound crackling.
Youtube videos 720p and 1080p work without any problems as well. 1080p needed to buffer sometimes, but that was probably due to my limited internet bandwidth.
Sound: some people complained about sound crackling on Linux mostly but also on Windows. I can confirm that it does happen on Windows. Not during video play as mentioned but sometimes during silent periods once sudden sounds (eg system sounds) come up.
Firefox / browsing - fast and with the touchscreen it is pretty comfortable
Typing / Keyboard - probably the most popular topic on this forum
I like the keyboard - I have seen plenty of complaints about some of the key placements but it is still a small keyboard and compromises have to be made. Feels a lot better than my eeepc 700 and I can type fine with it (semi blind - two hands). Thumb typing not a problem but I type faster with one hand than thumb typing, so not for me.
I am not a typing wizard, but I wanted to check how fast and accurate I can type on the Pocket compared to my desktop with full sized keyboard.
Used this game (pretty fun btw )
http://zty.pe/
on the GPD Pocket
Wave 008 - 447 points. Streak 49 / accuracy 89.6
on my full sized keyboard
Wave 009 - 627 points. Streak 104 / accuracy 93.5
So not as accurate as the full sized keyboard, but not too bad (at least for my typing skills) - I'm sure I will get used to it.
Nice device and I am very pleased with it. I didn't upgrade the OS to Linux yet, but I will certainly try the ubuntu respin or the official image later.
OS - windows... meh... but with the keyboard and using the touchscreen as a mouse (just point with finger) it works quite well and responsive. The trackpoint can be used as well (works okay but feels a bit stiff). I found myself using touchscreen and keyboard more often anyway..
Touchscreen is glossy - fingerprints are immediately visible once the screen is off/black.
Tested some 720p videos and they play without glitches - screen is nice and during playing of the video no noticeable sound crackling.
Youtube videos 720p and 1080p work without any problems as well. 1080p needed to buffer sometimes, but that was probably due to my limited internet bandwidth.
Sound: some people complained about sound crackling on Linux mostly but also on Windows. I can confirm that it does happen on Windows. Not during video play as mentioned but sometimes during silent periods once sudden sounds (eg system sounds) come up.
Firefox / browsing - fast and with the touchscreen it is pretty comfortable
Typing / Keyboard - probably the most popular topic on this forum
I like the keyboard - I have seen plenty of complaints about some of the key placements but it is still a small keyboard and compromises have to be made. Feels a lot better than my eeepc 700 and I can type fine with it (semi blind - two hands). Thumb typing not a problem but I type faster with one hand than thumb typing, so not for me.
I am not a typing wizard, but I wanted to check how fast and accurate I can type on the Pocket compared to my desktop with full sized keyboard.
Used this game (pretty fun btw
)http://zty.pe/
on the GPD Pocket
Wave 008 - 447 points. Streak 49 / accuracy 89.6
on my full sized keyboard
Wave 009 - 627 points. Streak 104 / accuracy 93.5
So not as accurate as the full sized keyboard, but not too bad (at least for my typing skills) - I'm sure I will get used to it.
Nice device and I am very pleased with it. I didn't upgrade the OS to Linux yet, but I will certainly try the ubuntu respin or the official image later.
pmprog
DNF (Did Not Finish)
- Joined
- Apr 25, 2011
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- 4,150
Are you planning on installing any other programs before swapping to linux? I'm curious on a few things like VICE, MAME, WinUAE for gaming; and dev-wise Visual Studio
Recieved my Pocket from ED, cheers!
USB boot from either port (A or C) by BIOS setting change (Allow all ports before POST) Did a clonezilla image of the mmc, came out at 9GB. Windows is .... Windows, prevented auto updates by specifying wifi as metered connection. Screen is lurrvleee! Keyboard less so but it is functional, still reminds me a large remote.....
I found it's nicer to use the trackpoint handheld with my thumb rather than on a flat surface. I got excited and forgot to charge it properly when it arrived, it said it was 100% and I trusted it, please don't do what I did, after cloning the mmc the battery crashed to 9% and I had all sorts of problems charging and turning it back on, incidentally it has the same charging behaviour as the Win, namely it won't turn on when plugged in charging.....
@b_o_b I use matt screen protectors to eliminate greasy marks.
IMHO, killer feature is ally unibody, it's very well made and should survive being thrown about, and it does fit into a pocket!
Next stop, Debian Stretch, mmmmm.
USB boot from either port (A or C) by BIOS setting change (Allow all ports before POST) Did a clonezilla image of the mmc, came out at 9GB. Windows is .... Windows, prevented auto updates by specifying wifi as metered connection. Screen is lurrvleee! Keyboard less so but it is functional, still reminds me a large remote.....
I found it's nicer to use the trackpoint handheld with my thumb rather than on a flat surface. I got excited and forgot to charge it properly when it arrived, it said it was 100% and I trusted it, please don't do what I did, after cloning the mmc the battery crashed to 9% and I had all sorts of problems charging and turning it back on, incidentally it has the same charging behaviour as the Win, namely it won't turn on when plugged in charging.....
@b_o_b I use matt screen protectors to eliminate greasy marks.
IMHO, killer feature is ally unibody, it's very well made and should survive being thrown about, and it does fit into a pocket!
Next stop, Debian Stretch, mmmmm.
rygD
Nihilistic Mystic
If you feel like putting your money where your mouth is, please make a video. I am kinda on the fence about
Last edited:
b_o_b
Advanced Member
- Joined
- Sep 7, 2010
- Messages
- 1,493
Matte screen protector is a great idea - it doesn't affect the responsiveness?
Looking forward to read your experience with Debian
I will probably wait until the sound issue is solved. https://bugzilla.kernel.org/show_bug.cgi?id=196351
freds_shadow
Member
- Joined
- Apr 28, 2011
- Messages
- 41
Mine just arrived today. Nice, although the keyboard is a cramped. I'll likely be cutting a matte screen from leftover screen protectors.
rygD
Nihilistic Mystic
@sm0kew0n, I really appreciate the video. It is the only review I have watched for the Pocket. I am looking forward to a follow-up that shows performance with Debian.
It does look nice. The hinge seems to be great. (I am now considering trying to swap my Pyra hinge if I feel it is lacking, our the case friction doesn't give it enough hold for me.) I don't really care about scratches, especially with metal things...painting something plastic with a highly contrasting colour, though, looks pretty bad once it starts to get scraped up a bit, if you know what I mean. I am guessing durability isn't as much of a concern if the thing is intended to be disposable, which it seems it is.
My major concern regarding durability is about the dings and bends. In addition to looking bad, it could interfere with functionality, as it might not close properly, and the ports could be taken out of alignment with the holes for them. Then there is the problem of gaps that allow stuff in or otherwise expose the guts to the outside world. The two ways to avoid that are too make the case so thick it is built like a tank, which comes with a bunch of other potential problems, or make it flexible, which is where plastic has a better reputation. It seemed flexible enough when you were showing the bottom cover (love that it screws on, and looks easy enough to remove). The angles along the edges probably prevent the main body pieces from bending as easily. Looks better than I expected. (The reason I wasn't so sure about the durability is that I broke the lid and screen on my ThinkPad x220 a few months ago, and I don't know if there would have been less damage with plastic. Maybe I should just get a Toughbook or something like that.)
And, of course, comments on the keyboard, as mentioned in the video: It is a shame they didn't put more effort/money into it. I agree with your comments on it, and I think I understand what you mean by it being like a large remote. I got the feeling you were trying to show us how it feels at one point. Maybe they will make it better in the next one. I hope the Pyra keyboard has the right feel.
I never looked closely at the dimensions, so it seems a bit large to me. I guess that thinness is what allows for pocketability. Probably a bit easier to fit it in than a brick...not so sure I would be able to sit with it in my pocket, though. (It is already a bit of trying to sit with the Pandora in some of my pockets.)
I will definitely mention it to people looking for sub-subnotebook, non-smartphone/tablet devices, with a real OS and keyboard. Then I can try it out myself.
It does look nice. The hinge seems to be great. (I am now considering trying to swap my Pyra hinge if I feel it is lacking, our the case friction doesn't give it enough hold for me.) I don't really care about scratches, especially with metal things...painting something plastic with a highly contrasting colour, though, looks pretty bad once it starts to get scraped up a bit, if you know what I mean.
I am guessing durability isn't as much of a concern if the thing is intended to be disposable, which it seems it is.My major concern regarding durability is about the dings and bends. In addition to looking bad, it could interfere with functionality, as it might not close properly, and the ports could be taken out of alignment with the holes for them. Then there is the problem of gaps that allow stuff in or otherwise expose the guts to the outside world. The two ways to avoid that are too make the case so thick it is built like a tank, which comes with a bunch of other potential problems, or make it flexible, which is where plastic has a better reputation. It seemed flexible enough when you were showing the bottom cover (love that it screws on, and looks easy enough to remove). The angles along the edges probably prevent the main body pieces from bending as easily. Looks better than I expected. (The reason I wasn't so sure about the durability is that I broke the lid and screen on my ThinkPad x220 a few months ago, and I don't know if there would have been less damage with plastic. Maybe I should just get a Toughbook or something like that.)
And, of course, comments on the keyboard, as mentioned in the video: It is a shame they didn't put more effort/money into it. I agree with your comments on it, and I think I understand what you mean by it being like a large remote. I got the feeling you were trying to show us how it feels at one point. Maybe they will make it better in the next one. I hope the Pyra keyboard has the right feel.
I never looked closely at the dimensions, so it seems a bit large to me. I guess that thinness is what allows for pocketability. Probably a bit easier to fit it in than a brick...not so sure I would be able to sit with it in my pocket, though. (It is already a bit of trying to sit with the Pandora in some of my pockets.)
I will definitely mention it to people looking for sub-subnotebook, non-smartphone/tablet devices, with a real OS and keyboard. Then I can try it out myself.
