GPD Win (x86 Computer / Palmtop)

[red]

I'm not really concerned. If I get the GPD win I fully intend on setting it up to boot into big picture mode and using teamviewer for setting programs up else that would be anything tricky on a small screen.

 

[doragasu]

@Exophase: I have just tested The King of Fighters XIII under ArchLinux + Wine, and unfortunately it runs very slow. Even reducing the resolution and configuring the game for static backgrounds, the game runs too slow to be playable. For reference, on a 6 year old desktop I have (Core2 DUO E8400 + GTX260), with the same software configuration (ArchLinux + Wine) it runs fullspeed, at rock solid 60 fps. I'm wondering where the bottleneck is, in the CPU or the GPU...

Next, I'll give Skullgirls Linux native port a try.

EDIT: Tested Skullgirls (Linux, native). At 1384x768 skips some frames, but lowering resolution to 960x540 (almost the same resolution as the PSVita), it runs very smooth.

EDIT2: Launched again KOF XIII (Wine) and fired task monitor. None of the 4 cores goes 100%, and kofxiii.exe only uses around 65% CPU (of the 400% available). So it looks like the bottleneck is in the GPU.

 

[rygD]

Here is another render of the GPD WIN

It looks uglier (imo) and harder to hold than the Pandora/Pyra. The curve on the botton seems pointless and wasteful to me. I think the sharp edges around the keyboard will slice people's hands open (I mean this as both a joke and seriously, however I am not sure how serious since my super sensitive soft hands have never had a problem with edges on the Pandora). Honestly, I was expecting it to look flashier and prettier than the Pyra, however that doesn't seem to be the case. I think it looks even more like a toy than the Pandora.

Ok, so I have a rant if anyone wants to indulge me. If you don't want to hear it, then feel free to pass it up, TLDR; bitching about interfaces.

Can't you just hit the key to bring up the start menu and use arrows, and use keyboard shortcuts and such for everything else? This is what I often do. I probably missed your point.

 

[pmprog]

I quite like how the keys are actually next to each other, they also appear to be a bit larger than the Pyra's, both of which appeal to me - though proof will be in the pudding when it comes to actually using them.

Curious that they have both a Dpad and arrow keys though, seems like a wasted set of 4 keys, but I guess it depends how the Dpad appears to the device (ie, whether a joystick or mimics keyboard input)

 

[TrashyMG]

I quite like how the keys are actually next to each other, they also appear to be a bit larger than the Pyra's, both of which appeal to me - though proof will be in the pudding when it comes to actually using them.

Curious that they have both a Dpad and arrow keys though, seems like a wasted set of 4 keys, but I guess it depends how the Dpad appears to the device (ie, whether a joystick or mimics keyboard input)

May appear larger, but my guess they're actually smaller and will be more prone to accidental key presses if the layout stays the way in that render. I suspect they will run into some difficulties in the design and modify a few things by the end.

 

[pmprog]

Possibly. The unfortunate issue with both the Pyra and this is that it'll be extremely unlikely I'll ever be able to see one physically before buying one

 

[levi]

Can you not still alter the size of window furniture and the task bar in windows, like you could in older versions? I remember having to enlarge everything the first time I got a 1080p capable screen and graphics hardware.

 

[fusion_power]

The curve on the botton seems pointless and wasteful to me.

Quite the opposite. And I miss similar design on the Pandora/Pyra so the case does not appear that bulky. It could slide much better into pockets and also the grip would be better if the bottom part is also curved like the lid shell. Sadly, this was not improved on the Pyra.

 

[directive0]

Would love to get one and run Ubuntu on it.

 

[rygD]

My guess is the keyboard will be of the sort on Android smartphones that have keyboards.

Quite the opposite. And I miss similar design on the Pandora/Pyra so the case does not appear that bulky. It could slide much better into pockets and also the grip would be better if the bottom part is also curved like the lid shell. Sadly, this was not improved on the Pyra.

The way I look at it is if they can make it smaller like that on the bottom, and they have dead space around the display, and 2 columns of keys that can be removed, then the whole thing can probably be made smaller, so it is a waste. I don't paint my pants on, so the Pandora (or a brick Game Boy) can slide into my pocket just fine. Now, if it will be comfortable or not is another story, but even a typical flagship Android is not comfortable in my pocket, and I would probably crack the screen if I didn't adjust or remove it before sitting.

As for the look, well that is pretty much covered above. It looks like they had some ideas that don't match my own, and I would rather have something that makes use of every bit of interior space instead of giving it a rounded bottom. Also, I like angles, not curves.

Regarding the grip, I "hold" devices like this between the lowest joints on my index and middle fingers, kinda lightly squeezed between my hands, with fingers supporting it or hitting rear buttons as needed (sometimes another finger supports the lowest edge of the device that is closest to my torso). Less surface area on the sides means the grip is not as good for me. I care more about being able to actually hold and use a device of this sort than how easily it can slide into my pocket (which can always be assisted by using backs of fingertips/nails to hold open the pocket).
[doublepost=1455214318,1455214216][/doublepost]

Would love to get one and run Ubuntu on it.

Please do and report back. I might pick one up second hand and experiment if it will work without too much messing around.

 

[God Ginrai]

Did Allwinner have a chip that would be a decent fit for the Pyra while the Pyra was being developed? If so, ED will have talked to them, and asked if they'd supply thousands of chips to him rather than millions. Unless there was some other problem, like NVidia's insistence that you let them design your system for you, the answer was probably no.

They did (the A80), but ED didn't think that he would be able to get his hands on it soon enough for him to meet his development timeline for the Pyra. The two biggest reasons for the separate CPU board were users asking for x86 or the A80 instead of the OMAP5.

I still hold hope for a stronger ARM SoC (A80 or otherwise) that I can upgrade my Pyra to somewhere down the line thanks to ED's decision to have a separate CPU board.

-God Ginrai

 

[levi]

Ah, fair enough. I just worry at how much these extra CPU board will multiply testing and maintenance requirements for AtC, Notaz, ptitSeb and all the rest of the army of porters and devs. Even the Pandora with its two different SoCs that contain exactly the same CPU core(s) has kept a number of devs busy. But I'm confident that ED will not just jump at every latest chip that comes his way, but waits for a really worthwhile upgrade for us to buy and add to developer's testing requirements.

 

[God Ginrai]

Well, I doubt ED would be jumping at every new SoC that comes his way simply because developing the new CPU board would require time and money that he couldn't invest unless he was convinced it would pay out.

-God Ginrai

 

[Grench]

If I were to guess - I doubt that there will be a 'new' SoC board available for at least 18 months - more likely 2 years.

 

[FBnil]

Sinds we are talking about mouse, here is a video on that. Pretty interesting. Skip if you know the math already...


Maybe it can clarify what @SNESFAN was trying to say about interfaces... for mice (not for touch or menu, but you can extend it mentally)

 

[Binky]

^ Isn't that defeated when a UI has unexpected features?
For example, MS Office likes to pop up a set of text formatting and copy/paste tools next to the cursor under certain circumstances. I find this very confusing, because it turns up when i haven't consciously commanded it to do so and fails to present an easy way to dismiss it, resulting in a few seconds wasted trying to work out what this thing is, why its there, and how to make it go away.

Admittedly, I could get used to it if I used MS Office enough, but predictability of UIs is just as important as size and positions of buttons, especially for little used tools. Standards like having scrollbars on the right-hand edge of the window and summoning context menus by right clicking make a huge difference to usability.

 

[SNESFAN]

Sinds we are talking about mouse, here is a video on that. Pretty interesting. Skip if you know the math already...


Maybe it can clarify what @SNESFAN was trying to say about interfaces... for mice (not for touch or menu, but you can extend it mentally)

That's really cool, and completely spot on. Thanks for finding/posting that.

Sums up my rant really well. My additions to that idea are just an adaptation to a touchscreen/game pad controlled handheld.

 

[ible]

considering another SOC at this point in time would be a little bit harmful to the already small community -- fragmenting it would be bad, and may alienate some who would miss the developers on the other SOC.

but i suppose with open source games/programs it wouldn't be much of an issue. just recompile.

 

[thatgui]

Just so we're clear, I'm only talking about the OS, and not individual applications....

But in the end its all about UI paradigms, if only the OS provides a suitable way to use the device it may be a good start, but you won't achieve much if every application breaks the usageflow. So you will probably not really adapt to what the OS offers, but try to take the "middle ground" (like already using the nubs to start an application, because you know you will have to use them as soon as the application you started is usable.

Quite the opposite. And I miss similar design on the Pandora/Pyra so the case does not appear that bulky. It could slide much better into pockets and also the grip would be better if the bottom part is also curved like the lid shell. Sadly, this was not improved on the Pyra.

But its still bulky - it may slide in easier, but it still will bulge your pocket to the same extent, or not ?

Sinds we are talking about mouse, here is a video on that. Pretty interesting. Skip if you know the math already...

Maybe it can clarify what @SNESFAN was trying to say about interfaces... for mice (not for touch or menu, but you can extend it mentally)

While it was interesting to watch, I am not sure, this fully applies here. As rygD already pointed out you can easily use the keyboard to achieve most of what you want to do on the GPD Win or the Pandora/Pyra - so while this surely is an interesting topic to explore, it looks to be only one "half of the truth". With the other halve being the psychology behind people developing usage patterns not based on whats actually most effective but based on what they think is effective, or sometimes just "why are people sometimes so dam lazy"

 

[Faust]

About the gaming buttons (including the directional arrows) GPD should do like ED with the Pyra and combine keyboard key and gaming button, lots of games don't recognise gamepad, the way ED did the keyboard let us to use the gamepad even with the game that can't detect it or that not built to use with it.

It will let us to use the pyra as a gamepad for computer gaming.

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