Pandora (Open Hardware) now available to pre-order - Page 9

Predseda · 15 December 2009, 14:40

I will ask bicsuit if he made the case

MethodGit · 15 December 2009, 15:08

Some thoughts:

1) Nice to see they've added Start and Select buttons to the unit - I could swear that a previous video showed a unit without them, making SNES emulation a bit more awkward.

2) Those nibs look too flat to my liking - I'm REALLY hoping they're more useable than the PSP's pathetic excuse for a nib (and even more hopelessly pathetic in the Go).

3) I don't think I like the switcharound on the main face buttons - why have X at the bottom?! I'm not sure if they were attempting a PSX/Nintendo mixture there.

Hungry Horace · 15 December 2009, 20:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by plankton

I'm surprised how he bothered to talk about the hinge. Flimsy hinge is a huge problem with DS lite, it's cool to hear pandora team was aware of potential problems and took their time to make it durable.

agreed, the NDS Lite hinge is awful.

That last video showing the build quality certainly does make it look very appealing.

Antiriad · 16 December 2009, 08:06

The Odroid looks interesting...

chiark · 16 December 2009, 15:26

It does, doesn't it? I must admit I prefer a keyboard though. (Even if the pandora keyboard is less than perfect in my eyes - I'd have made the device bigger/different shape to get a proper keyboard layout)

Coagulus · 16 December 2009, 19:09

Speaking as a rubber keyed speccy user of old, the space bar is in the right place!

john4p · 16 December 2009, 20:17

[ Show youtube player ]

Photon · 16 December 2009, 20:44

Yeah, the keyboard is obviously Spectrum-inspired. Which is not bad, but ofc not like a "proper" keyboard for serious use either. I guess you can attach USB keyboards etc, so no biggie.

As mentioned by others, now the only problem for Pandora is to get units out fast enough, have it in stock somewhere who'll deliver it in a few days. It's very bad that they didn't push for a big amount of these out (as in "sellable") before xmas.

john4p · 19 December 2009, 20:43

http://www.gp32x.com/board/index.php...ndora-preview/

john4p · 22 December 2009, 09:28

Some N64-emulation:

[ Show youtube player ]

Looks fullspeed, doesn't it? But it really isn't yet - if there's a lot going on (e.g. in Mario levels) it slows down.
BUT - it's rendered at the full 800x480 resolution in that vid.

The developer Ari64 now changes it so that N64-games will be rendered at 400x240 (native resolution of N64-games is 320x240) and then just upscales the pic.
This results quite in a lot of performance plus.

Here is a vid of Banjo Kazooie rendered at 400x240:

[ Show youtube player ]

john4p · 23 December 2009, 09:10

The only thing I was worried about was the quality of the dpad. After the newest video those worries have been (almost) wiped out:

[ Show youtube player ]

chiark · 02 January 2010, 22:32

they do look fantastic... I will start squirrelling money away for one I feel

pubzombie · 03 January 2010, 01:46

cant wait - ordered mine 12months ago. Full speed Wings on the bog - yay

JackTheKnife · 03 January 2010, 02:27

I am waiting too. Hope to get it at the end of January.

chiark · 03 January 2010, 10:35

You're more patient than me

pubzombie · 04 January 2010, 20:29

mmm patient ! i am not sure; i have come close to asking for my dosh back several times. the lack of progress news on the forum and the constant accusations of 'rip off' and 'vapourware' nearley got to me.
I will only believe full speed miggy emulation when i see it for me self

Fred the Fop · 05 January 2010, 08:41

I can wait. I have a Nintendo Ds, iPhone, PSP 3000, GP2x Wiz and 2 GP2X's. But if this thing is as good as it seems, the wait will be very painful

pubzombie · 05 January 2010, 11:12

jeez you got enough there? Is the wiz any good? I have a GP2x and love it to bits but tend to use the ST emulation over miggy. I hated my iphone, the touch screen is rubbish for gaming. sent it back after a week. Got an LG instead and that aint much better. great screen and dolby mobile sound but a crap phone for calls and txts.

john4p · 15 January 2010, 09:48

Another hands-on review by a customer who visited the Pandora's creator to test one of the prototypes:

http://www.gp32x.com/board/index.php...n-craigs-door/

Btw., the cases are still not finalized. Today another revised version is supposed to start its journey from China to England...

chiark · 29 January 2010, 16:20

...and the case still hasn't started its journey!

16 December 2009, 15:26	#165
chiark Needs a life Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: England Posts: 1,707	It does, doesn't it? I must admit I prefer a keyboard though. (Even if the pandora keyboard is less than perfect in my eyes - I'd have made the device bigger/different shape to get a proper keyboard layout) Last edited by chiark; 16 December 2009 at 16:07.

04 January 2010, 20:29	#176
pubzombie Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: westmids Posts: 900	mmm patient ! i am not sure; i have come close to asking for my dosh back several times. the lack of progress news on the forum and the constant accusations of 'rip off' and 'vapourware' nearley got to me. I will only believe full speed miggy emulation when i see it for me self Last edited by pubzombie; 04 January 2010 at 20:29. Reason: spelling - dyslexic dysfunctionist

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Realms of Arkania: Blade of Destiny - HD RPG Remake now available for pre-order	Neil79	Retrogaming General Discussion	1	05 July 2013 17:24
Open Amiga Game Database - Open Beta	FrodeSolheim	support.FS-UAE	3	01 May 2013 22:37
Hurrican game port of the Open Pandora on Android ?	VRil	Retrogaming General Discussion	3	06 December 2012 15:29
The 8-Bit Book 1981-199x available for Pre-Order...	Paul_s	News	24	13 November 2009 17:05

15 December 2009, 14:40	#161
Predseda Puttymoon inhabitant Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Tromaville Age: 46 Posts: 7,539	I will ask bicsuit if he made the case

15 December 2009, 15:08	#162
MethodGit Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: The Streets Age: 39 Posts: 2,731	Some thoughts: 1) Nice to see they've added Start and Select buttons to the unit - I could swear that a previous video showed a unit without them, making SNES emulation a bit more awkward. 2) Those nibs look too flat to my liking - I'm REALLY hoping they're more useable than the PSP's pathetic excuse for a nib (and even more hopelessly pathetic in the Go). 3) I don't think I like the switcharound on the main face buttons - why have X at the bottom?! I'm not sure if they were attempting a PSX/Nintendo mixture there.

16 December 2009, 08:06	#164
Antiriad The Sacred Armour Of Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Sussex, UK Age: 44 Posts: 1,141	The Odroid looks interesting...

16 December 2009, 19:09	#166
Coagulus Gets there in the end... Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Wales Posts: 862	Speaking as a rubber keyed speccy user of old, the space bar is in the right place!

16 December 2009, 20:17	#167
john4p Competition Moderator Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Germany Posts: 4,756	[ Show youtube player ]

16 December 2009, 20:44	#168
Photon Moderator Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Eksjö / Sweden Posts: 5,602	Yeah, the keyboard is obviously Spectrum-inspired. Which is not bad, but ofc not like a "proper" keyboard for serious use either. I guess you can attach USB keyboards etc, so no biggie. As mentioned by others, now the only problem for Pandora is to get units out fast enough, have it in stock somewhere who'll deliver it in a few days. It's very bad that they didn't push for a big amount of these out (as in "sellable") before xmas.

19 December 2009, 20:43	#169
john4p Competition Moderator Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Germany Posts: 4,756	http://www.gp32x.com/board/index.php...ndora-preview/

22 December 2009, 09:28	#170
john4p Competition Moderator Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Germany Posts: 4,756	Some N64-emulation: [ Show youtube player ] Looks fullspeed, doesn't it? But it really isn't yet - if there's a lot going on (e.g. in Mario levels) it slows down. BUT - it's rendered at the full 800x480 resolution in that vid. The developer Ari64 now changes it so that N64-games will be rendered at 400x240 (native resolution of N64-games is 320x240) and then just upscales the pic. This results quite in a lot of performance plus. Here is a vid of Banjo Kazooie rendered at 400x240: [ Show youtube player ]

23 December 2009, 09:10	#171
john4p Competition Moderator Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Germany Posts: 4,756	The only thing I was worried about was the quality of the dpad. After the newest video those worries have been (almost) wiped out: [ Show youtube player ]

02 January 2010, 22:32	#172
chiark Needs a life Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: England Posts: 1,707	they do look fantastic... I will start squirrelling money away for one I feel

03 January 2010, 01:46	#173
pubzombie Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: westmids Posts: 900	cant wait - ordered mine 12months ago. Full speed Wings on the bog - yay

03 January 2010, 02:27	#174
JackTheKnife Amiga Fetish Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Downstate NY Age: 49 Posts: 267	I am waiting too. Hope to get it at the end of January.

03 January 2010, 10:35	#175
chiark Needs a life Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: England Posts: 1,707	You're more patient than me

05 January 2010, 08:41	#177
Fred the Fop flaming faggot Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Versailles Age: 55 Posts: 2,808	I can wait. I have a Nintendo Ds, iPhone, PSP 3000, GP2x Wiz and 2 GP2X's. But if this thing is as good as it seems, the wait will be very painful

05 January 2010, 11:12	#178
pubzombie Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: westmids Posts: 900	jeez you got enough there? Is the wiz any good? I have a GP2x and love it to bits but tend to use the ST emulation over miggy. I hated my iphone, the touch screen is rubbish for gaming. sent it back after a week. Got an LG instead and that aint much better. great screen and dolby mobile sound but a crap phone for calls and txts.

15 January 2010, 09:48	#179
john4p Competition Moderator Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Germany Posts: 4,756	Another hands-on review by a customer who visited the Pandora's creator to test one of the prototypes: http://www.gp32x.com/board/index.php...n-craigs-door/ Btw., the cases are still not finalized. Today another revised version is supposed to start its journey from China to England...

29 January 2010, 16:20	#180
chiark Needs a life Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: England Posts: 1,707	...and the case still hasn't started its journey!

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)