The Rise of Pyra - A story about the past 6 months
- Thread starter Askarus
- Start date
No?
They're effectively doing that survey for the preorderers they can serve. If you survey others, they might change their mind by the time their Pyras are ready, so why bother?
People may want something now and something else later. If you don't have a date to tell them they can get X at time Y, there's no point asking.
The current production lots are small enough to assume no Pyras are going to be left unsold with the current practice, so no work is lost.
If one of the lots comes out unsold, even after asking all possible preorderers, then, well, don't build more and wait until someone comes buy the few you've built. It's not a big stock to worry about.
Congratiolations to the new Pyra Owners, feel free to make Pyra Videos ^^
Awesome. So happy to see some Pyras delivered
I got my Pyra today! After all these years it's finally here, the wait is over! Some very long Two Months...
It's a black case, standard / no modem variant with all that implies.
Here are some impressions after the first few hours.
The Pinephone keyboard case comparison is done only as a reference point for those who might be familiar with that hardware.
All tests were done with the default OS after applying all official updates.
- the case looks gorgeous and it has a more pleasant feel than the Pinephone keyboard case.
- the thumb typing is something that works well and is again better than the Pinephone keyboard case. The base of the Pyra is heavier than the lid, and it can be grasped comfortably while operating the controls. The Pinephone keyboard case is top heavy and some key combinations are awkward. This would be the case on the Pyra as well, if not for the shoulder buttons.
- first boot went fine, I could connect to wifi on 2.4 and 5GHz, installed some updates and a few utilities.
- BT works correctly and I could connect a keyboard and a mouse at the same time without any issues.
- charging via the USB3-OTG connector started at about 1.99A, then started to decrease as the battery approached full charge. Out of the box the battery was charged around 50% or so. Shut down at 97% charge and the charger current is 0.03A as it has been for a while.
- it took a while to open the battery door but once opened I immediately used a fine file to shave a bit from the top of the long tabs, all around the bottom contour and a bit from the topmost part of the short tabs. I did all this with partial closure retries before I installed the battery for the first time.
Afterwards I noticed that while gripping the closed, upside down Pyra in order to use my thumbs to slide open the battery door, the upper part of the lid pressed so hard into the bottom lower part that it left marks in the coating. It turns out the case has sharp edges which will mark itself when gripped tightly while closed.
For anybody who wants to avoid such marks I would recommend to put a long piece of office/electrical tape on the upper edge of the lid while wrestling the battery door open. It's a very minor thing but it can be completely avoided with the above mitigation.
- the HDMI connection doesn't appear to be working.
- the headphones do have some electrical noise but once they are selected for audio output the sound is fine, no distortion. Same behavior for TRS and TRRS headphones.
The wheel is sw controlled and by default only works for the speaker volume. For headphones the volume can be controlled via sw.
- for the Steam Deck owners: there is no smell worth mentioning. And for those who wonder: no, I didn't lick it (yet). Join me on my cooking channel next week...
That's all for now, have faith and ED will deliver.
It's a black case, standard / no modem variant with all that implies.
Here are some impressions after the first few hours.
The Pinephone keyboard case comparison is done only as a reference point for those who might be familiar with that hardware.
All tests were done with the default OS after applying all official updates.
- the case looks gorgeous and it has a more pleasant feel than the Pinephone keyboard case.
- the thumb typing is something that works well and is again better than the Pinephone keyboard case. The base of the Pyra is heavier than the lid, and it can be grasped comfortably while operating the controls. The Pinephone keyboard case is top heavy and some key combinations are awkward. This would be the case on the Pyra as well, if not for the shoulder buttons.
- first boot went fine, I could connect to wifi on 2.4 and 5GHz, installed some updates and a few utilities.
- BT works correctly and I could connect a keyboard and a mouse at the same time without any issues.
- charging via the USB3-OTG connector started at about 1.99A, then started to decrease as the battery approached full charge. Out of the box the battery was charged around 50% or so. Shut down at 97% charge and the charger current is 0.03A as it has been for a while.
- it took a while to open the battery door but once opened I immediately used a fine file to shave a bit from the top of the long tabs, all around the bottom contour and a bit from the topmost part of the short tabs. I did all this with partial closure retries before I installed the battery for the first time.
Afterwards I noticed that while gripping the closed, upside down Pyra in order to use my thumbs to slide open the battery door, the upper part of the lid pressed so hard into the bottom lower part that it left marks in the coating. It turns out the case has sharp edges which will mark itself when gripped tightly while closed.
For anybody who wants to avoid such marks I would recommend to put a long piece of office/electrical tape on the upper edge of the lid while wrestling the battery door open. It's a very minor thing but it can be completely avoided with the above mitigation.
- the HDMI connection doesn't appear to be working.
- the headphones do have some electrical noise but once they are selected for audio output the sound is fine, no distortion. Same behavior for TRS and TRRS headphones.
The wheel is sw controlled and by default only works for the speaker volume. For headphones the volume can be controlled via sw.
- for the Steam Deck owners: there is no smell worth mentioning. And for those who wonder: no, I didn't lick it (yet). Join me on my cooking channel next week...
That's all for now, have faith and ED will deliver.
Git1
Very Active Member
- Joined
- Dec 23, 2020
- Messages
- 229
I got my Pyra today! After all these years it's finally here, the wait is over! Some very long Two Months...
It's a black case, standard / no modem variant with all that implies.
Here are some impressions after the first few hours.
The Pinephone keyboard case comparison is done only as a reference point for those who might be familiar with that hardware.
All tests were done with the default OS after applying all official updates.
- the case looks gorgeous and it has a more pleasant feel than the Pinephone keyboard case.
- the thumb typing is something that works well and is again better than the Pinephone keyboard case. The base of the Pyra is heavier than the lid, and it can be grasped comfortably while operating the controls. The Pinephone keyboard case is top heavy and some key combinations are awkward. This would be the case on the Pyra as well, if not for the shoulder buttons.
- first boot went fine, I could connect to wifi on 2.4 and 5GHz, installed some updates and a few utilities.
- BT works correctly and I could connect a keyboard and a mouse at the same time without any issues.
- charging via the USB3-OTG connector started at about 1.99A, then started to decrease as the battery approached full charge. Out of the box the battery was charged around 50% or so. Shut down at 97% charge and the charger current is 0.03A as it has been for a while.
- it took a while to open the battery door but once opened I immediately used a fine file to shave a bit from the top of the long tabs, all around the bottom contour and a bit from the topmost part of the short tabs. I did all this with partial closure retries before I installed the battery for the first time.
Afterwards I noticed that while gripping the closed, upside down Pyra in order to use my thumbs to slide open the battery door, the upper part of the lid pressed so hard into the bottom lower part that it left marks in the coating. It turns out the case has sharp edges which will mark itself when gripped tightly while closed.
For anybody who wants to avoid such marks I would recommend to put a long piece of office/electrical tape on the upper edge of the lid while wrestling the battery door open. It's a very minor thing but it can be completely avoided with the above mitigation.
- the HDMI connection doesn't appear to be working.
- the headphones do have some electrical noise but once they are selected for audio output the sound is fine, no distortion. Same behavior for TRS and TRRS headphones.
The wheel is sw controlled and by default only works for the speaker volume. For headphones the volume can be controlled via sw.
- for the Steam Deck owners: there is no smell worth mentioning. And for those who wonder: no, I didn't lick it (yet). Join me on my cooking channel next week...
That's all for now, have faith and ED will deliver.
Great to hear you got your Pyra! Thanks for taking the time to share your first impressions; great wrap.
Bosbeetle
Terminally lost
aha fresh blood
Whe have the second day of dezember 2024, and 14:55 in German Time..
There is an conspiracy that a few 100 years where fake, so take the 2024 whit a bucket of salt ..
There is an conspiracy that a few 100 years where fake, so take the 2024 whit a bucket of salt ..
Not everyone who has ordered a unit answers to their final E-Mail after 8 yeears of waiting.
senorgomez
Member
- Joined
- May 3, 2009
- Messages
- 150
First off, I'm biased, I ordered Oct 2016, honestly don't know if I can verify it still exists than besides email record.
Can we get an idea on the big picture?
How many completed units are waiting on an unanswered email? Are they sitting in boxes until a reply?
What is the number of shipped units per month? Or three months if you prefer?
Given the rate of last year-ish of production, how long would it take for remaining orders to be fulfilled?
I think triaging the orders could be a good approach to get units out the door in a couple of ways.
If someone doesn't respond in 2 weeks, be it 8 years late, they get bumped.
Also offering the pyra as a kit that gets assembled by the owner should be a valid option.
Yes, there is filing of edges, little tweaks to the shoulder pads, but that can be videoed as a one-off instructional demo.
For those that are willing to risk self assembly (yea me), seems like a good way to start getting through the order list.
Can we get an idea on the big picture?
How many completed units are waiting on an unanswered email? Are they sitting in boxes until a reply?
What is the number of shipped units per month? Or three months if you prefer?
Given the rate of last year-ish of production, how long would it take for remaining orders to be fulfilled?
I think triaging the orders could be a good approach to get units out the door in a couple of ways.
If someone doesn't respond in 2 weeks, be it 8 years late, they get bumped.
Also offering the pyra as a kit that gets assembled by the owner should be a valid option.
Yes, there is filing of edges, little tweaks to the shoulder pads, but that can be videoed as a one-off instructional demo.
For those that are willing to risk self assembly (yea me), seems like a good way to start getting through the order list.
Unfortunately this is wrong. Pretty much the whole case needs reworking on multiple areas.
Then there is the testing part. Even tested PCBs sometimes do not boot later for whatever reason.
We can not simply ship out the parts.
One we have the parts in a state so that people will be able to assemvble a Pyra, the majority of the work has already been done.
We currently have prepared housings in stock. One of the main issues was the uboot and OS. aTc updated the OS and once that has been finalized, hopefully the non-booting situation will improve by a lot.
Unfortunately I have started my new job now and do not have any spare time left to help building Pyras any more
TeDaDeS
Forum Addict!
While it was very good you could help out, I assume this means the progress slows down again.Unfortunately I have started my new job now and do not have any spare time left to help building Pyras any more
Enjoy your new job
While it was very good you could help out, I assume this means the progress slows down again.
Enjoy your new job
There are still Pyras left of the ones I have built I suppose.
ED told me that not many people responded to their final E-mail.
We still have about 100 black cases prepared and about 80 copper ones. So things are in line but the situation is still far from good.
spud42
Very Active Member
ED coming here ans giving us a "state of the nation " post would help.
Personally i appreciate all the work you have put in to keep this alive but not hearing from ED for 12 months??
Personally i appreciate all the work you have put in to keep this alive but not hearing from ED for 12 months??
GNF
Still Fresh
- Joined
- Dec 5, 2016
- Messages
- 5
- Age
- 49
@Askarus Yes, I fully agree! You did great work. All your statusuopdates info and fresh ideas on how to move forward are highly appreciated.
Thank you for all your hard work! Kudos!
Also gives the people that are further down the queue and periodically checking the forums some hope I guess.
That would help a lot indeed. As long as ED posts it feels like the project is still alive. When he doesn't it feels like the project is dead. His posts do make a big difference.
I can imagine that the project excpectations and financial burdens weigh heavily on the man and he needs some time off. But I hope he will be back on the forums soon.
A monthly post would be nice. Even if there is no progress. E.g. post news every 1st saturday of the month. That is 12 times a year 2 or 3 paragraphs of text. That should be doable. To save time you can even let ChatGpt rewrite the post for you, e.g. in another tone of voice, or let it check for spelling.
To keep morale above an all time low I'd suggest once more publishing a list of all ordernumbers (9-digit letter code) somewhere on the forum, together with some status items e.g.: in production, e-mail sent, verification received, ready for delivery, delivered, cancelled, returned etc. so ppl do not have to wonder if a mail was sent or not or where they are in the queue. This way you can just look it up yourself and we, the community, or the part that is left, do not have to guesstimate if there is any progress. We'd just look at - and inspect the queue. The downside is you need iron discipline to maintain such a list, but the benefits are that it will prevent a lot of extra comms and confusion.
ClockworkCoder
Chaotic Neutral
This is what I'm most concerned about re getting things moving again. If we're just waiting for a handful of responses at at time, from people who've made an order now over 8 years ago, clearly there will be a very significant number of changes in circumstances.
Somehow there needs to be more official updates (one every 2 months, for example), and some way of pushing through the non-responders to those who actually want a Pyra (and are in a position to commit)...
Holding up for any reason is not helping.
