What will you use your Pyra for?


In my experience, Windows "just works", say, 95% of the time. However, when you hit a point where it does not "just work", there's often basically no way at all to "make it work". At least not legally.

In contrast, GNU/Linux probably "just works" only, say, 90% of the time (and this percentage used to be much lower in the past, of course). But when it doesn't work, at least there's always something you can do about it. In the very worst case, you'll have to fix some code and recompile some stuff, but at least there's always something you can do.

Of course the median user gets stuck anyway as soon as it doesn't "just work", because they don't have the skills, time or persistence to try to get things to work if they don't "just work".

The other thing is customization. Windows does things in one particular way, and you're supposed to adapt yourself to that. I'm not just talking about user interfaces, I mean basically all software design decisions. In GNU/Linux, whenever there are different opinions on how to do something, the user gets to choose -- the choice is not always easy: it could be a nice user-friendly config dialog, or a config file, or options in a configure script (requiring recompilation), or the option to install alternative software, or the option to fork a project. But there's always a choice.

For someone who is used to Windows, the GNU/Linux way of doing things is difficult, but if you persist, it's very satisfying in the end.

For someone who is used to GNU/Linux, the Windows way of doing things is just frustrating. Extremely frustrating. So frustrating that we tend to become nearly religious about it.
 
For reference, what I had to do to fix my slow Ubuntu VM:


$ /usr/lib/nux/unity_support_test -p
Not software rendered: no
Not blacklisted: yes
GLX fbconfig: yes
GLX texture from pixmap: yes
GL npot or rect textures: yes
GL vertex program: yes
GL fragment program: yes
GL vertex buffer object: yes
GL framebuffer object: yes
GL version is 1.4+: yes

Unity 3D supported: no

$ sudo apt-get install linux-headers-$(uname -r) build-essential
$ sudo ./VBoxLinuxAdditions.run
$ sudo bash -c 'echo vboxvideo >> /etc/modules'
$ sudo shutdown -r now
$ /usr/lib/nux/unity_support_test -p
$ sudo apt-get install compizconfig-settings-manager
$ ccsm

# Select the OpenGL section and then untick the Framebuffer Object option.

This isn't made up stuff that a Windows user is saying to annoying the Linux people, it is just simply the latest struggle I had when using Linux. The time prior to that I also had various problems (it was actually installing Slackware on my Pandora). Thankfully people on the board got me sorted, but again it involved various command line actions, editing files, etc.
 
For someone who is used to GNU/Linux, the Windows way of doing things is just frustrating. Extremely frustrating. So frustrating that we tend to become nearly religious about it.
That made me chuckle! :) Probably one the best explanations so far..!
 
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Windows is getting a lot better in the cmd and powershell departement (at least win7 that I use) however nobody is using/wants to use it. Whereas for linux you are bound to use cli sooner or later out of necessity. 
 
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For reference, what I had to do to fix my slow Ubuntu VM:

$ /usr/lib/nux/unity_support_test -p
Not software rendered: no
Not blacklisted: yes
GLX fbconfig: yes
GLX texture from pixmap: yes
GL npot or rect textures: yes
GL vertex program: yes
GL fragment program: yes
GL vertex buffer object: yes
GL framebuffer object: yes
GL version is 1.4+: yes

Unity 3D supported: no

$ sudo apt-get install linux-headers-$(uname -r) build-essential
$ sudo ./VBoxLinuxAdditions.run
$ sudo bash -c 'echo vboxvideo >> /etc/modules'
$ sudo shutdown -r now
$ /usr/lib/nux/unity_support_test -p
$ sudo apt-get install compizconfig-settings-manager
$ ccsm

# Select the OpenGL section and then untick the Framebuffer Object option.
This isn't made up stuff that a Windows user is saying to annoying the Linux people, it is just simply the latest struggle I had when using Linux. The time prior to that I also had various problems (it was actually installing Slackware on my Pandora). Thankfully people on the board got me sorted, but again it involved various command line actions, editing files, etc.
This looks like setting up Virtualbox guest additions and disabling some of Ubuntu's crappy graphical nonsense.Usually the guest additions can be set up graphically and when logging in to Ubuntu it would have possibly be enough to choose "2D fallback mode" or something like that. Not quite sure about that, but I know I've never had to do anything like this and I've set up a handful of Ubuntu Virtualbox guests.
 
For reference, what I had to do to fix my slow Ubuntu VM:

$ /usr/lib/nux/unity_support_test -p
Not software rendered: no
Not blacklisted: yes
GLX fbconfig: yes
GLX texture from pixmap: yes
GL npot or rect textures: yes
GL vertex program: yes
GL fragment program: yes
GL vertex buffer object: yes
GL framebuffer object: yes
GL version is 1.4+: yes

Unity 3D supported: no

$ sudo apt-get install linux-headers-$(uname -r) build-essential
$ sudo ./VBoxLinuxAdditions.run
$ sudo bash -c 'echo vboxvideo >> /etc/modules'
$ sudo shutdown -r now
$ /usr/lib/nux/unity_support_test -p
$ sudo apt-get install compizconfig-settings-manager
$ ccsm

# Select the OpenGL section and then untick the Framebuffer Object option.
This isn't made up stuff that a Windows user is saying to annoying the Linux people, it is just simply the latest struggle I had when using Linux. The time prior to that I also had various problems (it was actually installing Slackware on my Pandora). Thankfully people on the board got me sorted, but again it involved various command line actions, editing files, etc.
This looks like setting up Virtualbox guest additions and disabling some of Ubuntu's crappy graphical nonsense.
Usually the guest additions can be set up graphically and when logging in to Ubuntu it would have possibly be enough to choose "2D fallback mode" or something like that. Not quite sure about that, but I know I've never had to do anything like this and I've set up a handful of Ubuntu Virtualbox guests.
And a lot of us Linux users hate Ubuntu for such reasons.
 
I'm hoping that with a ubuntu or debian based system elements of the normal linux pc experience will be available. Since I use my Ubuntu laptop for browsing internet and watching youtube, these are two tasks I found simply not possible (?) on the pandora since anything flash based doesn't seem to work well with it, and even downloaded youtube videos don't work on it due to them being 720. However the Pyra will be able handle these tasks (in theory) So my goal for the Pyra is portable word processor, Mini Minecraft Rig and hopefully total laptop replacement!

I use Open With (Firefox Extension) to call MPV which uses Youtube-dl all the time
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Some do. Ever heard of Bell Labs ?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bell_Labs

Sadly, big companies usually pick marketing and profit over innovation and research..
 
Would you use it like a ping-pong paddle? The Pandora is very good at that, because when you bend the screen beyond 180 degrees, it recoils back. And if you are good... you might get a double click and start any application on your background. (this distracts your opponent even more...)
Would you use it as a freesbie on a parking lot full of pavement. (make sure the rotation speed is adequate when it leaves your hand. The Pyra is made "curvy" (and extra chunky) to make use of wind updrafts)
Would you use it as a bottle opener? (because the pyra logo HAS to be replaced by one)
Would you dip it in the soup to let the internal temperature sensor tell you if the soup is hot? (because there is no breakout board anymore...)
Would you swat a mosquito with it (against a wall)? (Pyra 1, Mosquito 0)

If the anwser is yes to any one of these questions... I can help you save up to 700 euro...
 
ed wants us to do all these silly things with our pyras. if we break them often enough, sales increase and we get the price in the raspberry pi zero range.
so win win, right?!
 
Ultramobile porn facilitation.
 
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Although this thread is a little bit older, it seems to be the right place to put my first forum entry: So, hello everybody! :)

I will use my Pyra mainly as a laptop on the go. Check server-statuses seems to be a perfect application for this device. Also the GPS-Capabilities will come in handy when travelling.
The main reason why I choose the Pyra, is the fact, that it runs Linux and is respecting my privacy! I think it will replace my Android smartphone almost completely (except camera, telephony and sms)

Maybe I will start playing games again: I don't have any experience regarding the emulators running on Pandore/Pyra. Can anybody give me some hint, which emulator I should try on my Kubuntu Box and where to get free ROM's?

Another thing: It's great, that this device is almost fair produced! I think this should be more advertised!
 
The mobile editions of the Pyra should be fairly practical for SMSing on the go, if someone writes a little software to handle that. Telephony will require a headset to be really practical, but shouldn't be much more work software-wise.

Can't help you on where to get roms from, but in my experience your favourite search engine should help. Emulator-wise, I've found mednafen to run almost everything I want on x86, at least up to 32-bit stuff.
 
The mobile editions of the Pyra should be fairly practical for SMSing on the go, if someone writes a little software to handle that. Telephony will require a headset to be really practical, but shouldn't be much more work software-wise.

Yes true, SMSing is for sure much more fun having a full keyboard. I ordered the mobile version anyway :)
I think with a Bluetooth headset the Pyra is also a good candidate for making phonecalls.

My next mobilephone might be a dull 20$ Phone, if the Pyra works as I expect. No more Google-Smartphones (y)
 
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