Pandora (retro utopia, on shiny new hardware?)

[Zor Prime]

I used search to see if anyone had mentioned this handheld console / computer and didn't see anything.

I never got a Turbo Express so this is what I'm using to fill the void.  I nor my family had enough money to buy a Turbo Express.  I placed a preorder on it (the Pandora), saved up in advance to do it.

It looks like I'll be able to replace the PSX on down with it.   

I just need to order some memory cards and the S-Video cable and I'll be set.

Cool thing is ... it was supposed to originally have 128MB of memory, the guys putting this out have upped it to 256MB of memory at no charge to anybody.  The main guy (Craig) has said they're making no money on this thing the first round.  How unbelievable is that?  Anyway ...

---> Link <---

I was originally looking for like a Micro-ITX form factor motherboard to cram in a MAME controller, and use solid state storage and basically have an arcade in a box (literally).  Then I ran across the ARM based Beagleboard, and then I stumbled across somebody mentioning the OpenPandora project ... and low and behold I placed a preorder on it.

[MissaFX]

I've been watching the open pandora project and one of the biggest problems with the unit is facing you on the front page of the website...Look at that woman't hands, to play the pandora you HAVE to not have fingernails.  My nails are usually 3/4" long and let me tell you playing the pandora looks like hell if you have nails.

This kind of oversight in the main control scheme makes me wonder what other things need to be overhauled on the device.

Also, I have heard it will have GPXX software which is nice, but a little limiting in what you can do.  Given some very dedicated, gifted programmers I am sure in time it will have a few slick emulators, but for the moment the PSP does everything I need and my nails are really only a problem for the [] button, and only because if I am not careful and didn't have a screen protector, I could hurt the screen...I always use a protector though to get around this problem.

At least you are buying pandora when it is less vaporware and more real, when people were were talking about paying for one a year ago, it had me concerned because I didn't think a real product would materialize, at least not one that met all the claims of the creator. 

Hopefully if nothing else, it will make an interesting portable web browser than can hopefully run modern flash.

[guyjin]

Look at that woman't hands, to play the pandora you HAVE to not have fingernails.  My nails are usually 3/4" long and let me tell you playing the pandora looks like hell if you have nails.

Well, if you can type with nails that long, I'm sure you can learn to play with nails that long.

[Keranu]

I WISH I didn't have the bad habbit of biting my fingernails. I would love to grow them out once or twice just to see what it's like.

[Arkhan]

I WISH I didn't have the bad habbit of biting my fingernails. I would love to grow them out once or twice just to see what it's like.

wear mittens 24/7!


That pandora thing looks pointless honestly.. >_<

[ceti alpha]

I've been keeping an eye out for the Pandora, but you can be gauranteed that they will release a new model next year with bugs worked out. At least, that's what happened to the GP2X...Nintendo DS, PSP. hehe

[Zor Prime]

Sent out my re-pre-order today.  Was gonna hold off until Monday, but wanted to get that damn thing in the mail like yesterday.

Hopefully arrives before April.  Majority of it is done now.

Just need the CNC case, WiFi drivers, and an OS package thrown together and flashed and off we go to the races with mass production.

There's a re-order deadline in effect, if anyone has cash laying around to burn and wants to score one before the 2nd batch arrives sometime later in '09.  There's some people not re-pre-ordering, so, some slots open I believe.

[Tatsujin]

what can it do?

[Zor Prime]

what can it do?

Emulation: PSX, Jaguar, N64 most likely at some point with everything below them.  Can use DOSBOX as well, the Pandora will perform roughly like a 486 in DOSBOX.  I think there's an Amiga emulator working.  If not, someone will.

Quake 2 has already been shown running months ago.  With hardware acceleration Quake 3 should spin like a top, but that's just my own speculation nothing definite.

Pretty much it can do anything that can be compiled for ARM.

Technically it should be able to emulate the DS due to native support without blinking, but I'm not sure how you handle the dual screens.  I reckon you could fit both screens on Pandoras high resolution screen.

And there's a working MAME port.

It has svideo support so I plan on playing a lot of crap on my TV with a usb controller plugged into the Pandora when I'm at home.

Then there's the nifty fact it's a complete computer with WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity, and you don't have to use Angstrom Linux if there's another OS that can be compiled for ARM if you want.  It's an open system.

And the screen is the best there is on any hand held gaming console, and no peculiar weird native resolution so old games can fit the screen perfectly.  You can play old vertical arcade games on the screen sideways if you are really inclined.

Also, with the exception of the case (maybe the buttons?  I dunno ...) being made in China, everything else is made in the USA.  The quality should be the best around.  This is one particular thing that pissed off the people making the Pandora, crap quality of other comparable hand held units.

Concerning the hardware I expect a good solid product the first time around ... These guys can't really afford to screw that up, at least software can be worked on at a later point.  Although, supposedly the early adopters are going to be covered if anything disasterous does occur free of charge minus shipping I guess.  On top of the roughly 4 thousand Pandoras being assembled they're ordering extra parts as well for fixing stuff.

Considering all it can do, and I probably left things out $330 isn't such a bad deal.  I'm sure there's things that don't even interest me that it could do.

Basically it's a gaming console + computer in one.  I don't know if any native games will ever be developed, I don't really care.  With just the Amiga library I could probably play a new game every day until I die and not play the same game twice anyway.

[Zor Prime]

Good news, my money order arrived and Debs (one of the two OpenPandora front desk ladies) notified me yesterday it made it to the UK.

That was a bit stressing.  I had a $293.xx money order somewhere between the USA and the UK with no idea where it was since I didn't have tracking on it, and no confirmation.

But, it did make it there in 5 days flat using standard U.S.A. 1st class mail.

Still need to get the S-Video / Composite cable that's made to attach to Pandora's EXT. Port but I'm gonna wait until CC orders are accepted again.  Not gonna rock the boat at this point.

[geise]

I have been a member over at gp32x.com for a long time and I have been following the progress of the Pandora since it was talked about on paper and was just a dream.  It's a great idea for retrogamers that want games on the go, but I feel it's a bit of an overkill.  Also it's a fast system using the new arm cortex A8 but it is not going to be near a 486 for DOSBOX.  I heard decent things from devs over at the gp32x.com forums regarding dosbox, mame, amiga, and such, just don't expect n64 for a while, or 100% fullspeed.  BTW MWeston is the guy at the gp32x forums that is making the board and everything.  He is actually in Canada.  Craigix is the main man with the idea and stuff. He is from the UK. He's also doing a lot of the funding and everything else.  Evildragon (ED) on the forums is also working with the Pandora Team. He is in Germany.  This is mainly being done in the UK.  Right now I'm not giving them any of my money just because it has been an ongoing issue with the banks over there.  Especially people that preordered through Paypal.  A lot of people got refunds cause of goofups with the banks in the UK.  The pandora team has worked really hard at refunding everyone so they can place an order again and keep their preorder spot.  It's just a tad risky to me to give them that much money.  People have faith in the guys behind the project but there's just so many things that can go wrong.  I have much respect for what they are doing, but I would hold on to my money if anyone wants to get one.  Wait for a while and see how it goes.   If people do still want to preorder it is suggested that a Money Order is the  best way to go.  Also people should check out the Wiz if they are interested in homebrew/linux handhelds.  It's no pandora but it's a nice little system that is coming out.  A dev by the name of Exophase has made an extremely awesome PC-Engine emulator for gp2x handheld and is porting it over to the Wiz and Pandora.  It's up there with Magic Engine, and in some ways is better.  The Wiz also has an OLED screen (granted only 2.8") but it has a goo 320x240 resolution. Great for oldschool emulation.  Anyways I hope the Pandora turns out great and anyone that preordered finally gets one sometime this year.

EDIT:  Sorry I didn't see that you already preordered or knew it was being done in the UK.  Well I hope it's done soon.  It's  been a long time going and they've had a ton of problems that they have thankfully overcome.  I hope you get one soon.

[ceti alpha]

Very interesting. Thanks for the advice and lowdown on what's going on with the Pandora project. I've been really considering one of these things, but I'll take your advice and not go there for now. 

[Zor Prime]

Egh.  People standing around with their hands in their pockets isn't going to make the project come alive.

I saved up for about a month and set the cash aside for it and considered it gone regardless if I get a product or not, so it's not an issue for myself I've already taken it out of the equation.

Fortunately there seems to be enough persons like myself to ensure it is going to happen, so the first round is pretty much guaranteed.

I'm going to be happy playing Gate of Thunder on it like in the old magazines where a Turbo Express was advertised with Gate of Thunder on the LCD.  Remember those ads?   

Also looking forward to having it at the office, I can have it shoved in a bag and wear a bluetooth headset walking around doing stuff listening to my favourite music tracks with no trendy assed iPod or other comparable item.  Heheh.   

[geise]

I don't want to persuade anyone from preordering a Pandora if they wanted to get inline for one.  Yes the Pandora team is needing preorders to help the development costs of the project.  I understand that.  It's just $330 is a lot of money that some people just can't afford to dish out at the moment.  If I did have the money I probably would've preordered.  It's just the Pandora isn't anything I really need at the moment.  Personally, I'd rather wait.  Everything seems rushed.  The gp32x Pandora forum is crazy.  There is so much speculation going on.  I know people are frustrated because they forked out money way back in November I believe, and knowing it was going towards development costs to help the project.  I actually forget the date the preorder officially started but things have come up and the development keeps getting pushed further back.  They never officially said a "final" date but I can tell people are getting anxious.  I have faith they'll release it but I think it's going to be after april.  The case isn't even finished yet and neither is the keyboard.

[Zor Prime]

The gp32x forum sucks.

There's so many jerks there I only check up on the Pandora's stat about once a day sometimes.

Half of the time people are trying to stir trouble and spread rumours it's bogus.

I understand a lot of people going nuts because they have invested cash into the project, but I did as well.  None of them should have paid up if it was money they weren't willing to risk.  But, some people don't get that.

I was personally more agitated about losing a few dollars from exchange rates when I was refunded.  Only when I realized I only had to send back what I got was I cool with it.