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[socket]

Looks like it has a lot of potential.

It's still not out yet but there are some videos floating around on youtube and some digital renderings of what the final product will look like. It's price tag is pretty steep but may be a nice alternative to an eee pc or the like.  Around £199 (inc VAT), $330, Euro212 (Ex.VAT).



Official Site: http://openpandora.org
Pandora Wiki: http://pandorawiki.org/Pandora
Wikipedia Entry: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pandora_(console)

[youtube=425,350]
http://youtube.com/watch?v=1WOMFrOCti4[/youtube]

[spoiler=Specs from Wikipedia]    * Texas Instruments OMAP3530 processor at 600MHz (can be overclocked to 900MHz)
    * 128MB DDR-333 SDRAM
    * 256MB NAND FLASH memory
    * IVA2+ audio and video processor (based on the TMS320C64x+ DSP Core at 430MHz) using TI's DaVinci technology
    * ARM Cortex-A8 superscalar microprocessor core
    * PowerVR SGX 530 (110 MHz) OpenGL ES 2.0 compliant 3D hardware
    * Integrated Wi-Fi 802.11b/g
    * Integrated Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR (3Mbps)
    * 800x480 resolution touchscreen LCD, 4.3" widescreen, 16.7 million colors (300 cd/m2 brightness, 450:1 contrast ratio)
    * Dual analog controllers with center pushbuttons
    * Full gamepad controls plus shoulder buttons
    * Dual SDHC card slots (currently up to 64GB of storage)
    * Headphone output up to 150mW/channel into 16 ohms, 99dB SNR
    * TV output (composite and S-Video)
    * Internal microphone plus ability to connect external microphone through headset
    * 43 button QWERTY and numeric keypad
    * USB 2.0 OTG port (480Mb/s) with capability to charge the Pandora
    * USB 2.0 HOST port (480Mb/s) capable of providing standard 500mA current to attached devices
    * Externally accessible UART for hardware hacking and debugging
    * Brick prevention with integrated bootloader for safe code experimentation
    * Runs the Linux operating system (2.6.x)
    * 4000mAH rechargeable lithium ion battery
    * Aprox. 10 hours of runtime for video / general applications and 100 hours for music playback
    * Dimensions: 140x83x27mm
[/spoiler]

[tennisgy]

I'd rather see a real platform made with those specs so real developers can put time into it and make really good games for the system you know?  It's too pricey with the lack of new game releases (besides homebrew) IMO

[socket]

Yeah I see your point.  I just like the whole idea of it being a communication device, too.  I keep finding myself playing homebrew more than retail games on my DS.  I guess I just have a thing for emulation of older systems and whatnot. 

[ratx]

I've been following it with interest - I'm thinking of it being as more of a UMPC than for gaming too.  Please someone port a decent mod tracker to it

[socket]

OMG.  I didn't even consider that!   

[zektor]

I was following it for some time over at the GP32x forums (where the whole idea of the system was pretty much conceived) and was/am really looking forward to it. There are some vids on youtube with the analog control pads in action which look really nice. With the specs it should be a phenomenal device. I'll still need the $330 when it does go into mass production however...

[socket]

Yeah, I started a "gadget" fund and have been trying to scrape some extra cash together.  Not sure if I'll have $330 when it comes out, but hopefully!

[754boy]

Yeah, I started a "gadget" fund and have been trying to scrape some extra cash together.  Not sure if I'll have $330 when it comes out, but hopefully!

I've been saving up for this thing for over 3 months. Have $270 so I should be good whenever it's finally released 

[uzumakishade]

this looks pretty sweet and nice specs but i dont think ill be buying it rgiht away. i might wait for a price drop and when more things are developed for it but definately not a bad price

[VoX]

I just hope that you can run a full Distro on it, that would be awesome

[DeVS]

Would be cool if we can put the upcoming Google Android OS on it.

[Altor]

Actually I just recently heard of this device and I think it sounds very exciting.

My one qualm with it is that its CPU is ARM-based... so doesn't that mean finding software that runs on it will be very difficult?  I hear they're porting Linux to it, but even so... I hope they make it easy for complete tux noobies like me to find and run software.

As a PMP, portable OpenOffice, PDA, or emulation-god, it's got a lot of potential.  I just don't see it working as a gaming device though.  Homebrew is an incredible concept but it's so _incredibly_ rare to find a commercial-quality homebrew game.

If it was able to attain WinXP compatibility though, it would be the ultimate portable device.

Something I'm MORE excited about is this:

http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=31428&vpn=LU.S050B.002&manufacture=Acer (NCIX is currently the only retailer carrying this model, this isn't an ad)

It's the new Acer UMPC.  Roughly the size of an EEEpc but with:
-Better keyboard
-Bigger, better screen
-Faster GPU (still an intel GMA but it's a vastly superior model - GMA 900 in eeepc, GMA 950 in Acer.  Difference is like night and day in 3d gaming, but still pales in comparison to "brand name" onboard GPUs)
-Better CPU (Intel "atom" 1.6ghz processor, although it does not live up to the hype, it is still a very decent processor for general use and any game over 4 years old in my estimation)
-120 gb hard drive (a spinner, not flash unfortunately, WinXP doesn't get along with Acer's flash drive model)
-6-cell battery for 6-7 hours of "real" battery life under load, not at idle, with all bells and whistles like wifi active)
-1 gb RAM
-1 multi-reader + 1 SD-only reader
-3 USB ports
-VGA out
-built-in mic and webcam
-built-in wifi, 100mbit ethernet
-upgradeable to have internal WiMAX or universal 3G wireless modem

It's a monster of a UMPC, in other words, and it's goregous to look at.  As with the EEE pc there are multiple configurations but the one I linked to and just described is only $429.99.  Compare that feature set with any other UMPC and to get somethins similar you'll be paying far, far more.  With the low-end configurations (8gb flash, 3-cell battery, Linux) the price goes down to $379.99, only $60 and change more expensive than Asus' lowest-end EEE but with exponentially greater value.

Compared to the pandora, it's not nearly as portable, but I think it might be more practical.  And it's still tiny and lightweight compared to any "normal" laptop.

[kkan]

that acer is also out here in the uk

Acer Aspire One A150L / Atom N270 1.6GHz / 1GB / 120GB / 8.9" / Linux / NetBook /

avail soon on play.com in the uk ..

Due for release on 07/08/2008

£249.99 

[socket]

Yeah, the ARM proc is going to cause some issues... But from what I understand from lurking through the forums is that linux is definitely being developed for it.  I also think the touch screen gives it huge potential, and analog sticks will make for some interesting controls for such a device.  I kind of agree about the quality of homebrew games, but at the same time I big on emulators and a few programmers have already made some great progress.

Arcade: http://youtube.com/watch?v=CbPQJUOsQBQ
SNES: http://youtube.com/watch?v=iVyyvadS6KA
Jaguar: http://youtube.com/watch?v=pe_R787gREc&feature=user
Genesis/Megadrive: http://youtube.com/watch?v=8HhIt8A-d34

[DeVS]

Makes no sense to use an Arm processor. For the price their asking they should have used the new Atom processor, then they could run anything with ZERO compatibility problems. I don't think they even use Arm processors in cellphones anymore do they,lol?