The Pandora Information Index

[user13z5]

The ARM microprocessor sure seems to be nice, but with all the people had hoping they could run WINE/Windows etc on it, wouldn't it be better just to put a x86 processor into the Pandora itself? (Or is that too much for it to handle..)

Edit - Oh crap I necroposted.

x86 uses up a lot more power for not as many instructions. And I think you are either overestimating the number of people that want to run Windows or underestimating the power of ARM Linux and what is and will be available for it in the coming months.

Perhaps so, I just figure that despite all the possibilities Pandora has have already, wouldn't it just give even more possibilities with the x86 architecture? Maybe if it was possible to underclock (not sure if that's the right word, correct me if I am wrong) the processor, and make it require less power, then it's just thumbs up all around.

 

[fischju2000]

The ARM microprocessor sure seems to be nice, but with all the people had hoping they could run WINE/Windows etc on it, wouldn't it be better just to put a x86 processor into the Pandora itself? (Or is that too much for it to handle..)

Edit - Oh crap I necroposted.

x86 uses up a lot more power for not as many instructions. And I think you are either overestimating the number of people that want to run Windows or underestimating the power of ARM Linux and what is and will be available for it in the coming months.

Perhaps so, I just figure that despite all the possibilities Pandora has have already, wouldn't it just give even more possibilities with the x86 architecture? Maybe if it was possible to underclock (not sure if that's the right word, correct me if I am wrong) the processor, and make it require less power, then it's just thumbs up all around.

Sony tried an x86 handhelds. 1.33ghz processor, 4.5" screen, the VAIO UMPC series. Size comparable to the Pandora and N800, although much thicker (1.5 inches, the Pandora is just over 1 inch). It had serious drawbacks, including a $2500 price tag, battery life under 2 hours, and the last models ran Vista. Then you have the OQO Model 2, 1.6ghz on the high end model, and while it's thinner it also sold for nearly $2000. On these you have a max 4 hour battery life. While XP might not be as bad, it still doesn't make sense to put a desktop OS on these devices, and some even had Vista.


The Pandora's size, battery life, efficiency with the power it brings thanks to Linux, and price are thanks to it's ARM chipset. The Pandora has so many possibilities because it doesn't run x86.

 

[Awakening]

If we want 8-10 hours of battery life (I even bought a spare) we better stick to ARM.

 

[mali]

The FAQ says that Pandora will have suspend and hibernation functionality. It might be better to make the info more precise, imo.

 

[second exodous]

Admittedly I'm a little behind on the times and when one of the official team members says 'I took some pictures and put them on my photo bucket' I have to hunt through threads looking for a link to his photobucket.

I should probably bookmark all of these but I haven't, will now, but for newbies it would be nice to have photobucket and tweet links on the first post of this thread. Just an idea.

Also, a link to the toolbar install would be cool also.

 

[gruso]

To be honest I don't remember any posts where a dev has said 'I took some pictures and put them on my photo bucket'. They either post the pics directly in the forums, or they don't say anything because some starts a thread straight away.

Anyway, the best way to go about this is to find the links, post them here, and hope that Chip adds them to the first post. These links pretty much cover your request:

http://twitter.com/Craigix
http://twitter.com/EvilDragon1717
http://s198.photobucket.com/albums/aa99/MWeston_2007/
http://photobucket.com/Open-Pandora-unofficial

RSS feeds -> profit.

 

[second exodous]

To be honest I don't remember any posts where a dev has said 'I took some pictures and put them on my photo bucket'. They either post the pics directly in the forums, or they don't say anything because some starts a thread straight away.

Anyway, the best way to go about this is to find the links, post them here, and hope that Chip adds them to the first post. These links pretty much cover your request:

http://twitter.com/Craigix
http://twitter.com/EvilDragon1717
http://s198.photobucket.com/albums/aa99/MWeston_2007/
http://photobucket.com/Open-Pandora-unofficial

RSS feeds -> profit.

Ah thanx, a few I didn't have. I have all the rss feeds now, but I still think it would be great to have them listed on the first post of this thread. As Chip says in the first post:

Everything you wanted to know about the Pandora, but were too lazy to search for

I should have been bookmarking this whole time but kept thinking 'I'll have my Pandora soon anyway I don't really need to bookmark these.' Now since the case is green lighted that is probably true and I'm just starting to bookmark!! Oh well, I'm sure after it's out they'll still post info on software updates and such.

 

[gruso]

Oh, and just a reminder to people not to hotlink from MWeston's album.

Senor Chip, serving suggestion:

http://s198.photobuc...9/MWeston_2007/ [Do not hotlink from this album]

 

[fischju2000]

There is the option for a public Google Reader page. A person could make one and subscribe to all the relevant feeds, so when somebody wanted all the latest info they could just visit the single page. Like this incomplete test page: http://www.google.com/reader/shared/fischju3000 - Though Pandora Press usually has it all in a timely fashion.

 

[Grench]

If things pan out and the price comes down in a year or two on these, I might consider them for my -then- 9-10 year olds. We'll see whats what in a year or two.

Of course, by then they'll have been using Linux for 4 years. I got them each a computer a few years ago.

8 year old twins - they each have their own Pentium 4 512MB desktop machine running Ubuntu 8.04. Less than $100 a machine and it lets them play all the Linux games they get time for as well as PBSKids.org games - they're great by the way. I decided to go that route rather than getting them a dedicated console, loosing my TV or letting them loose with my laptop. It has worked out real well.

Parents love to brag about their kids and the neat things they have done for their kids. Just natural.

There is a fine line between broadening their horizons and spoiling the crap out of them though.

 

[Asiyura]

Anyway, I think the pandora is more aimed at the 20+ average geek that want to play his first gaming loves anywhere.

 

[taras]

Ahh! I somehow managed to get into the first batch! Excited (nobody will remember me, I used to post here in the days of the GP32...)

Now to start reading all this info...

 

[Esn]

Can somebody please add this tool to the first post:
http://www.gp32x.de/board/index.php?/topic/52664-keep-track-of-the-latest-pandora-development/
http://alec.mooo.com/lol/cxs.php

 

[Namo]

I've looked around quite a bit, but I can't seem to find some information I'm curious about concerning the analogue nubs. I'm wondering if you can press them like a button similar in fashion to the PlayStation controller?

 

[mali]

^ Nope, no center click.

 

[Namo]

Ah, bummer. Thank you.

 

[paddy]

About the nubs ,i can't see flat nubs being any good ,i guess ill just need to wait and try them for real but wont they have the same problem the psp nub has ? i had an idea long ago about a nub being flat with a spring action so when you press it down it clicks out and you have an anolog like that of ps3 or 360 then you press it down and click and it drops to the same level as the case for when you close the lid ,this would give you anolog controls like the consoles and be ok for small devices like clam shape and open psp style ,built cheap enough to be easy to replace ,even replacable by unscrewing it ,saves alot of problems with people breaking them.


My idea is something like that of a ball point pen you write with ,you click it down to release the tip.

 

[Prometheus]

You haven't explained what the problem you mentioned is, as far as I can see. :blink:

 

[paddy]

The problem is .... (invisible text) so you see clearly it is no good.


emm the problem is that there is no real leverage ,uncomfortable to use ,quite inaccurate to use generally and fiddley with no precision,these are all the things that lots of people with a psp complained about ,didn't you know ? i mean you must know that not many people like the psp anolog nub and there are quite a few reasons why people don't like it and mostly it's just nothing like a real anolog stick.

ps ,sorry if i am assuming you have tried out a psp previously or do own one.

why is it when you edit something other things get messed up (doh)

 

[Prometheus]

I didn't know, actually, as I have no interest in Sony's products and practices. Thanks muchly for the explanation.

I'm fairly confident about the Pandora's nubs, myself - after all, the team developed them, and they seem to have paid great attention to everything else.

EDIT: Also, the "invisible text" thing made me chuckle - thanks. :lol: