Pandora (Open Hardware) now available to pre-order

chiark · 30 September 2008, 17:42

3000 units have been made available for pre-order, with delivery sometime towards end of November

http://openpandora.org/retro.html

You might have seen the Amiga emulation running on this - it looks great, and for me it'll be the portable amiga I dreamed of back in 1991 when I was selling Amigas and monochrome Philips laptops as a saturday job whilst studying for my a-levels

Very, very excited about this. It looks superb

!

Dunny · 30 September 2008, 19:27

My order's in!

Had a small concern that they weren't asking for a delivery address, but on enquiry the very helpful lady at gbax said that they knew about the problem and would use the billing address on the card used as payment unless you mail them and ask for it to be changed.

Pandora and 16gb SDHC card for less than 250 notes - get in!

D.

keropi · 30 September 2008, 19:38

does it have wifi?

tonyyeb · 30 September 2008, 19:47

Yes it has Wifi (and bluetooth).

Wish I had the money to pre order one

keropi · 30 September 2008, 20:02

damn! gonna get me one!

Qun Mang · 01 October 2008, 04:00

http://gbax.com/pandorax.html for Americas, Australia, Japan, and Korea.

alexh · 01 October 2008, 10:35

They are still yet to be made... I'll hold off.

chiark · 01 October 2008, 10:36

Pay with a credit card. If it doesn't turn up, you've got the full protection of the consumer credit act behind you. It's zero risk.

alexh · 01 October 2008, 10:37

Hmm, I'll still wait.

tonyyeb · 01 October 2008, 11:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by alexh

Hmm, I'll still wait.

I'm waiting for people to get their first batch, see what issues there are then order for (hopefully) an improved version from the second or third batch.

Plus i'm skint!

woody57 · 01 October 2008, 11:28

I agree there Alexh

While it seems to be genuine .......the lack of functionality of the rest of their website beggars the question as to their competence in actually supplying what they promise

Too many times have Amiga enthusiasts parted with money only to be let down with long delays & NO REFUNDS when weeks turn to months...

IMHO please use caution

stainy · 01 October 2008, 12:19

T_hairy_bootson · 01 October 2008, 12:32

gbax have been around for a while, they originally imported the gp32 to the UK and then became the exclusive UK distributor for the gp2x. There may be delays but I don't doubt craigix will deliver. It is an ambitious undertaking. EvilDragon is the German gp2x distributor and is also tied into this project. Both have never given anyone any reason to doubt their intentions. They have delayed the pre order again and again to make sure the hardware is ready and everything is right.

They have my support, this is everything I could want in a handheld.

john4p · 01 October 2008, 13:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by tonyyeb

I'm waiting for people to get their first batch, see what issues there are then order for (hopefully) an improved version from the second or third batch.

That was my attitude as well. But as soon as preorders started yesterday I couldn't resist and bought that damn thing (didn't wanna wait 'til next year).

About seven weeks left until my full speed portable Amiga 500 (and Super NES) arrives...

I'm usually very sceptical about such things - but those gp32x-folks and EvilDragon have my trust.

tonyyeb · 01 October 2008, 14:05

Please post here when yours arrives, pics included!

tonyyeb · 01 October 2008, 16:04

The site is very slow and at some points unavailable as well as the GP2x forums. Sell out on the cards?

It has been slashdotted and edgadgetted so that explains 99% of the traffic I guess!

DDNI · 01 October 2008, 16:15

It really does look like a great gadget. I have reservations over the screen size, there is certainly space for something bigger. Maybe even bin the speakers. Who doesnt use Headphones on these things?

Regarding it not yet being available, the credit card act is a nice backup, however it doesn't protect against delays and potential credit card interest...

Caveat Emptor...

Dizzy · 01 October 2008, 16:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by chiark

Pay with a credit card. If it doesn't turn up, you've got the full protection of the consumer credit act behind you. It's zero risk.

well if it takes too long for them to finish it, it will not be easy getting your money back

cv643d · 01 October 2008, 17:45

For that price you get a small Asus EEE PC, you can even run XP on it and play emulated games.

I know coz I tested Raine and played Gigawing on a borrowed 7 inch eee PC with a Japanese Saturn pad converted to USB.

Dunny · 01 October 2008, 17:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by john4p

About seven weeks left until my full speed portable Amiga 500 (and Super NES) arrives...

A500? They're aiming for fullspeed A1200 on this beauty :-)

Quote:

Originally Posted by cv643d

For that price you get a small Asus EEE PC, you can even run XP on it and play emulated games.

Yeah, but you can't put an EEE PC in your pocket, and if you want gaming controls you have to hook up a controller. This thing wins the eee all over :-)

D.

tonyyeb · 01 October 2008, 18:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dunny

Yeah, but you can't put an EEE PC in your pocket, and if you want gaming controls you have to hook up a controller. This thing wins the eee all over :-)

D.

And the battery will last MUCH longer and it has bluetooth which the 701 doesn't have. It also has a touch screen and I would think it boots quicker too.

john4p · 01 October 2008, 19:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dunny

A500? They're aiming for fullspeed A1200 on this beauty :-)

Of course - but it will take time. A500-games will be fullspeed playable right from the start (the games that work with the emulator - which should be more than 90%).

Charlie · 01 October 2008, 19:38

Apologies for asking the question...
...apart from wholly agreeing with woody57 - Amiga enthusiasts of all people should be wary of pre-order deals...
...why do I want one of these..? Coolness factor aside.

(my HP TC1100 from eBay cost me less & can do everything this can + lots more & is of comparable size)

tonyyeb · 01 October 2008, 19:55

Why would an Amiga fan want one?

- Decent emulation of Amiga
- Very portable (fit in a big pocket)
- Runs Linux (and linux apps)
- Media Player
- Built in game controls
- Touch screen
- Wifi, bluetooth, USB host (plug in game pads, printer, web cam etc...), SD reader
- Keyboard
- Web browser
- Great battery life (8+ hours)

Just a geeky gadget that has LOTS of applications IMO.

Toffee · 01 October 2008, 20:22

I can't wait to get my hands on one of these! I will wait for the second batch although I'm realy tempted to order one now. I like the fact it has all these standard connections USB, WiFI, Blue Tooth and SDHC. They reckon it will be able to run FireFox 3 and Quake 3 smoothly as well.

Charlie · 01 October 2008, 21:09

Fair enough

chiark · 01 October 2008, 22:33

time for first chargeback query according to visa or mc rules? 180 days ...

No risk. If it's not received by end of this year then simply get onto your crdit card company

gklinger · 02 October 2008, 08:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by chiark

Pay with a credit card. If it doesn't turn up, you've got the full protection of the consumer credit act behind you. It's zero risk.

That was my thinking as well so I went ahead and ordered. Looks like lots of good fun and I've been waiting so long...

john4p · 02 October 2008, 09:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charlie

(my HP TC1100 from eBay cost me less & can do everything this can + lots more & is of comparable size)

Doesn't have gaming controls.

tonyyeb · 02 October 2008, 09:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charlie

(my HP TC1100 from eBay cost me less & can do everything this can + lots more & is of comparable size)

No way is it a comparable size. The Pandora is close to the size of a DS!

Your TC1100: 21.6 x 2.0 x 27.4 cm
DS: 13 cm × 2.1 cm x 7.3 cm

Plus you can't compare buying something on ebay and buying something for new.

MazinKaesar · 02 October 2008, 09:41

Uhm... maybe it can be nice, but what games will be released? Without games it will be only an expensive gadget!

DDNI · 02 October 2008, 09:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by MazinKaesar

Uhm... maybe it can be nice, but what games will be released? Without games it will be only an expensive gadget!

Its an Emulation platform. You have at least 20 years of back catalogue to choose from...

tonyyeb · 02 October 2008, 10:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by DDNI

Its an Emulation platform. You have at least 20 years of back catalogue to choose from...

Absolutley. And there will be native games developed and ported to it (such as Quake 3 for example) as well as the GP2x games that are available. Plus any Linux software 'potentially' could work on it. So it probably will have more software available to it than an unhacked DS or PSP without the need of a hack?

MazinKaesar · 02 October 2008, 13:21

Uhm... too expensive, even 'cause emulator can run on PSP too (well, without keyboard).

john4p · 02 October 2008, 13:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by MazinKaesar

Uhm... too expensive, even 'cause emulator can run on PSP too (well, without keyboard).

Neither Amiga 500- nor Super NES-emulators are fullspeed on PSP. It could be possible but no one made an emu from scratch specifically for PSP.

MazinKaesar · 02 October 2008, 14:39

I have to admint that this Pandora is tricky, but it's expensive anyway

keropi · 02 October 2008, 14:51

it is not THAT expensive! it has an OK price

tonyyeb · 02 October 2008, 14:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by keropi

it is not THAT expensive! it has an OK price

Especially for a brand new piece of hardware.

cv643d · 02 October 2008, 15:10

Its really small compared to the EEE. But Im waiting for reviews.

Nobody but Nintendo (and Sega with their Japanese Saturn joypad) knows how to make a great D-pad, so that is one area I would like to know more info on.

john4p · 02 October 2008, 15:34

The quality of its Dpad is also one of the most important aspects to me. I just hope for the best.

Here are some pics - the first showing the dpad, the last comparing its size to standard notebook and EeePC.

The Pandora's screen is 4.3" - like the PSP (but with a higher resolution and slightly different x:y-ratio) - which is huge for a handheld.

30 September 2008, 17:42	#1
chiark Needs a life Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: England Posts: 1,564	Pandora (Open Hardware) now available to pre-order 3000 units have been made available for pre-order, with delivery sometime towards end of November http://openpandora.org/retro.html You might have seen the Amiga emulation running on this - it looks great, and for me it'll be the portable amiga I dreamed of back in 1991 when I was selling Amigas and monochrome Philips laptops as a saturday job whilst studying for my a-levels Very, very excited about this. It looks superb !

30 September 2008, 19:38	#3
keropi . Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Ioannina/Greece Posts: 5,041	does it have wifi? __________________ *A1200D mfilos ed.* : ACA 1231/42 , Indivision MK2 , IDEfix Express , Subway , PicoPSU 120w custom 3.9 ROM/OS**

30 September 2008, 20:02	#5
keropi . Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Ioannina/Greece Posts: 5,041	damn! gonna get me one! __________________ *A1200D mfilos ed.* : ACA 1231/42 , Indivision MK2 , IDEfix Express , Subway , PicoPSU 120w custom 3.9 ROM/OS**

01 October 2008, 10:35	#7
alexh Thalion Webshrine Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Oxford Posts: 10,501	They are still yet to be made... I'll hold off. __________________ Thalion Webshrine

01 October 2008, 10:37	#9
alexh Thalion Webshrine Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Oxford Posts: 10,501	Hmm, I'll still wait. __________________ Thalion Webshrine Last edited by alexh; 01 October 2008 at 10:42.

30 September 2008, 19:27	#2
Dunny Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Scunthorpe/United Kingdom Posts: 334	My order's in! Had a small concern that they weren't asking for a delivery address, but on enquiry the very helpful lady at gbax said that they knew about the problem and would use the billing address on the card used as payment unless you mail them and ask for it to be changed. Pandora and 16gb SDHC card for less than 250 notes - get in! D.

01 October 2008, 04:00	#6
Qun Mang Klingon for Christ Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Qo'noS Posts: 102	http://gbax.com/pandorax.html for Americas, Australia, Japan, and Korea.

01 October 2008, 10:36	#8
chiark Needs a life Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: England Posts: 1,564	Pay with a credit card. If it doesn't turn up, you've got the full protection of the consumer credit act behind you. It's zero risk.

01 October 2008, 11:28	#11
woody57 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Manchester Age: 90 Posts: 801	I agree there Alexh While it seems to be genuine .......the lack of functionality of the rest of their website beggars the question as to their competence in actually supplying what they promise Too many times have Amiga enthusiasts parted with money only to be let down with long delays & NO REFUNDS when weeks turn to months... IMHO please use caution __________________ Lord, grant me the serenity to accept the things I can not change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to hide the bodies of the people that I may have to kill because they piss me off

01 October 2008, 12:19	#12
stainy Zone Friend Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Stanstead Abbotts / Hertfordshire Age: 41 Posts: 1,215	__________________ KO-GATHERING.COM - KICK OFF 2, PLAYER MANAGER and others. http://www.ko-gathering.com

01 October 2008, 16:15	#17
DDNI Targ Explorer Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Northern Ireland Age: 38 Posts: 4,534	It really does look like a great gadget. I have reservations over the screen size, there is certainly space for something bigger. Maybe even bin the speakers. Who doesnt use Headphones on these things? Regarding it not yet being available, the credit card act is a nice backup, however it doesn't protect against delays and potential credit card interest... Caveat Emptor... __________________ A1200D Blizzard 1230 MKIV 50Mhz 32mb RAM, 4GB HDD, CWB Full. AmigaOne X1000 AmigaOS.net The home of AmigaOS Twitter @AllanU74 _/-\| \|\/\| \| (-, \|-\_

01 October 2008, 17:45	#19
cv643d Registered User Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Stockholm/Sweden Age: 35 Posts: 704	For that price you get a small Asus EEE PC, you can even run XP on it and play emulated games. I know coz I tested Raine and played Gigawing on a borrowed 7 inch eee PC with a Japanese Saturn pad converted to USB. __________________ #1 Amiga 1200, Apollo 1260 @ 50MHz, 32MB fast RAM, 1GB CF-card, IndivisionAGA, MicroniK 1.86MB Floppy drive #2 Amiga 600, ACA630 25MHz, 32MB fast RAM Vintage Amiga Hardware Blog Amiga News Vintage Amiga Programs Amiga Fish disk database Amiga stuff for sale

01 October 2008, 19:38	#23
Charlie . . Mouse . . Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Nowhere Age: 44 Posts: 1,792	Apologies for asking the question... ...apart from wholly agreeing with woody57 - Amiga enthusiasts of all people should be wary of pre-order deals... ...why do I want one of these..? Coolness factor aside. (my HP TC1100 from eBay cost me less & can do everything this can + lots more & is of comparable size) __________________ Charlie. Are you pondering what I'm pondering? The Qube RiscOS Server FTP Systems Projects ClassicOS BB

01 October 2008, 20:22	#25
Toffee Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Farnborough Posts: 95	I can't wait to get my hands on one of these! I will wait for the second batch although I'm realy tempted to order one now. I like the fact it has all these standard connections USB, WiFI, Blue Tooth and SDHC. They reckon it will be able to run FireFox 3 and Quake 3 smoothly as well.

01 October 2008, 21:09	#26
Charlie . . Mouse . . Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Nowhere Age: 44 Posts: 1,792	Fair enough __________________ Charlie. Are you pondering what I'm pondering? The Qube RiscOS Server FTP Systems Projects ClassicOS BB

01 October 2008, 22:33	#27
chiark Needs a life Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: England Posts: 1,564	time for first chargeback query according to visa or mc rules? 180 days ... No risk. If it's not received by end of this year then simply get onto your crdit card company

02 October 2008, 09:41	#31
MazinKaesar Super Robot Pilot Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Modica (Italy) Age: 37 Posts: 821	Uhm... maybe it can be nice, but what games will be released? Without games it will be only an expensive gadget!

02 October 2008, 13:21	#34
MazinKaesar Super Robot Pilot Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Modica (Italy) Age: 37 Posts: 821	Uhm... too expensive, even 'cause emulator can run on PSP too (well, without keyboard).

02 October 2008, 14:39	#36
MazinKaesar Super Robot Pilot Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Modica (Italy) Age: 37 Posts: 821	I have to admint that this Pandora is tricky, but it's expensive anyway

02 October 2008, 14:51	#37
keropi . Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Ioannina/Greece Posts: 5,041	it is not THAT expensive! it has an OK price __________________ *A1200D mfilos ed.* : ACA 1231/42 , Indivision MK2 , IDEfix Express , Subway , PicoPSU 120w custom 3.9 ROM/OS**

02 October 2008, 15:10	#39
cv643d Registered User Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Stockholm/Sweden Age: 35 Posts: 704	Its really small compared to the EEE. But Im waiting for reviews. Nobody but Nintendo (and Sega with their Japanese Saturn joypad) knows how to make a great D-pad, so that is one area I would like to know more info on. __________________ #1 Amiga 1200, Apollo 1260 @ 50MHz, 32MB fast RAM, 1GB CF-card, IndivisionAGA, MicroniK 1.86MB Floppy drive #2 Amiga 600, ACA630 25MHz, 32MB fast RAM Vintage Amiga Hardware Blog Amiga News Vintage Amiga Programs Amiga Fish disk database Amiga stuff for sale

02 October 2008, 15:34	#40
john4p Registered User Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Germany Age: 34 Posts: 2,742	The quality of its Dpad is also one of the most important aspects to me. I just hope for the best. Here are some pics - the first showing the dpad, the last comparing its size to standard notebook and EeePC. The Pandora's screen is 4.3" - like the PSP (but with a higher resolution and slightly different x:y-ratio) - which is huge for a handheld.

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