Discussion
Just seen Ashen's review of this. I know I'm a little behind the curve, and I did search before starting a new topic.
Has anyone owned one? Pretty pricey but there's a website that takes trade ins and sells refurbed units.
I'm wondering how useful it is day to day. With 10 hour battery life, bluetooth, twin SDs and wifi, it's got to be the most useful hand held ever.
Has anyone owned one? Pretty pricey but there's a website that takes trade ins and sells refurbed units.
I'm wondering how useful it is day to day. With 10 hour battery life, bluetooth, twin SDs and wifi, it's got to be the most useful hand held ever.
If your question was late, my answer is postively tardy 
To answer your question, I have one! I assume you have found it already, but the key website is: http://www.openpandora.org
After a somewhat troubled gestation period (it was designed and built essentially by enthusiasts, some of whose enthusiasm exceeded their project management ability) the units are now very solid, available from stock and delivery (via EDs shop in Germany) usually very quick.
Key bits... its essentially a DS sized Linux computer, with gaming controls (dpad, analogue nubs and buttons).
This means its great for running ported Linux games, emulators (PS1, n64, PSP, MAME, old skool stuff like Speccy and C64) and homebrew and indie developers' games.
You can also run LibreOffice, surf the net and use as a mini-computer with a battery life of 10 hours. It also runs android...
Its not especially cheap, but its unique and great at what it does.
To get a feel of the software available to download, take a look at http://repo.openpandora.org which allows you to download apps/programs directly to the pandora, like itunes/play.
The best bit of software in my opinion is MAME (arcade emulation) via C4A which allows you to compete with a hosted, realtime hi-score table.
Feel free to ask any questions, and hopefully I'll spot and reply in less than 4 months !
To answer your question, I have one! I assume you have found it already, but the key website is: http://www.openpandora.org
After a somewhat troubled gestation period (it was designed and built essentially by enthusiasts, some of whose enthusiasm exceeded their project management ability) the units are now very solid, available from stock and delivery (via EDs shop in Germany) usually very quick.
Key bits... its essentially a DS sized Linux computer, with gaming controls (dpad, analogue nubs and buttons).
This means its great for running ported Linux games, emulators (PS1, n64, PSP, MAME, old skool stuff like Speccy and C64) and homebrew and indie developers' games.
You can also run LibreOffice, surf the net and use as a mini-computer with a battery life of 10 hours. It also runs android...
Its not especially cheap, but its unique and great at what it does.
To get a feel of the software available to download, take a look at http://repo.openpandora.org which allows you to download apps/programs directly to the pandora, like itunes/play.
The best bit of software in my opinion is MAME (arcade emulation) via C4A which allows you to compete with a hosted, realtime hi-score table.
Feel free to ask any questions, and hopefully I'll spot and reply in less than 4 months !
Hah, well I bought one anyway from GBAX (the guy's website who was one, if not the mind behind the project).
He has a load that failed initial tests, either for no sound, wifi or dead screens. Mostly the analogue nubs don't work in the early versions.
I got a dead nub one for £80 in a newer silver case (which I don't like) and the keyboard didn't work. He quickly sent me another PCB which now works a treat.
It's VERY handy to take anywhere with you if there's a chance of boredom. From switch on it takes well under 2 minutes to be conkers deep in an emulated game.
All the dedicated Pandora games are simple and a bit rubbish.
I've had almost 100% success with Amiga, C64, SNES, PS One and Megadrive so far. Tomb Raider runs smooth as anything.
Screen is small but good quality and not shiny like stupid modern screens. Touchscreen works very well. Sound is pretty good and loud enough. Has headphone socket. Has a video out but it's composite only and there's no official lead. Guy on the forums sells connector.
Biggest weak point is trying to surf on mine. Managed to install Firefox but it's very slow and clanky and sometimes links just don't work. Likes to quit out very often so I don't use it much.
It's a shame as it reduces it's usefulness a bit, and the keyboard and touch screen are very nice to use and work extremely well. Much easier to put roms on a 32Gb card on my laptop from the intertubes.
I've also not managed to get a flash video to play at all yet.
The battery life is actually as it says. 10 hours easily. So with fairly heavy use you get 2 days easy.
The d-pad is one of the best I've used, especially considering the size.
He has a load that failed initial tests, either for no sound, wifi or dead screens. Mostly the analogue nubs don't work in the early versions.
I got a dead nub one for £80 in a newer silver case (which I don't like) and the keyboard didn't work. He quickly sent me another PCB which now works a treat.
It's VERY handy to take anywhere with you if there's a chance of boredom. From switch on it takes well under 2 minutes to be conkers deep in an emulated game.
All the dedicated Pandora games are simple and a bit rubbish.
I've had almost 100% success with Amiga, C64, SNES, PS One and Megadrive so far. Tomb Raider runs smooth as anything.
Screen is small but good quality and not shiny like stupid modern screens. Touchscreen works very well. Sound is pretty good and loud enough. Has headphone socket. Has a video out but it's composite only and there's no official lead. Guy on the forums sells connector.
Biggest weak point is trying to surf on mine. Managed to install Firefox but it's very slow and clanky and sometimes links just don't work. Likes to quit out very often so I don't use it much.
It's a shame as it reduces it's usefulness a bit, and the keyboard and touch screen are very nice to use and work extremely well. Much easier to put roms on a 32Gb card on my laptop from the intertubes.
I've also not managed to get a flash video to play at all yet.
The battery life is actually as it says. 10 hours easily. So with fairly heavy use you get 2 days easy.
The d-pad is one of the best I've used, especially considering the size.
Slight correction... there is a tv-out cable now.
Its composite (which is a bit rubbish) and S-Video, which is roughly scart quality but not all tvs have them althoug I think you can convert S video to scart (but my tv has one so no need).
Browsing works fine on mine - I tend to use qupzilla but firefox on a newer 1ghz model is ok. Not lightening fast but definitely reasonable.
Screen is nice, better than a DS but DS size. But its not a tablet.
If you like gadget for gadgets sake, and especially if you like PS1 era or older games, then you'll love it.
Its composite (which is a bit rubbish) and S-Video, which is roughly scart quality but not all tvs have them althoug I think you can convert S video to scart (but my tv has one so no need).
Browsing works fine on mine - I tend to use qupzilla but firefox on a newer 1ghz model is ok. Not lightening fast but definitely reasonable.
Screen is nice, better than a DS but DS size. But its not a tablet.
If you like gadget for gadgets sake, and especially if you like PS1 era or older games, then you'll love it.
Keep an eye on this page: http://gbax.com/index.shtml
I've got one of these JXD android game console thingys, and it's great - MAME , C64 , Atari , MD , SNES , Amiga , DosBox etc... and only about £50. So far I've found that pretty much everything runs at full speed bar Dosbox, which is to be expected I suppose.
The screen can be a tad grainy on some colour backgrounds, but that's really my only gripe with it, when playing games it is superb. Only had it a few months so can't comment on the durability etc.. yet.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/JXD-Portable-Internet-Resi...
The screen can be a tad grainy on some colour backgrounds, but that's really my only gripe with it, when playing games it is superb. Only had it a few months so can't comment on the durability etc.. yet.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/JXD-Portable-Internet-Resi...
andyb said:
Slight correction... there is a tv-out cable now.
Its composite (which is a bit rubbish) and S-Video, which is roughly scart quality but not all tvs have them althoug I think you can convert S video to scart (but my tv has one so no need).
Browsing works fine on mine - I tend to use qupzilla but firefox on a newer 1ghz model is ok. Not lightening fast but definitely reasonable.
Screen is nice, better than a DS but DS size. But its not a tablet.
If you like gadget for gadgets sake, and especially if you like PS1 era or older games, then you'll love it.
Well, it's on it's way! Should be here on Wednesday :-)Its composite (which is a bit rubbish) and S-Video, which is roughly scart quality but not all tvs have them althoug I think you can convert S video to scart (but my tv has one so no need).
Browsing works fine on mine - I tend to use qupzilla but firefox on a newer 1ghz model is ok. Not lightening fast but definitely reasonable.
Screen is nice, better than a DS but DS size. But its not a tablet.
If you like gadget for gadgets sake, and especially if you like PS1 era or older games, then you'll love it.
I ordered it from the dragon box shop, linked from http://boards.openpandora.org/page/homepage.html I was kind of warned away from gbax... Some interesting things on the forum about the chap who runs the site if you look. Anyway, basically I bought a new one from dragonbox. It left the ups depot in Barking at 22:20 according to the tracking site! Should be in my grasp tomorrow 
Spill.
You're aware the guy and lady who run GBAX are the main creators of the Pandora? I've seen bad words about him, too, but I guess any deal that's 4 years late is going to create bad feelings!
I bought a JXD 7300 tablet from his website and it died after about 2 months and he refunded me without quibble.
Glad you're enjoying it too!
You're aware the guy and lady who run GBAX are the main creators of the Pandora? I've seen bad words about him, too, but I guess any deal that's 4 years late is going to create bad feelings!
I bought a JXD 7300 tablet from his website and it died after about 2 months and he refunded me without quibble.
Glad you're enjoying it too!
Spill the issue I'm having? It's a tiny thing, only the apps on the first SD card I insert appear on the desktop, none from the second card inserted appear. I can launch them via the pnd manager so it's not a huge issue.
I am aware that gbax is run by one of the founders, Craig is it? I don't really know what went on, only read a few snippets, but a friend of mine who has had a Pandora for a couple of years suggested that I buy one from the other site, so I did :-) Ordered Monday, arrived today, so happy with that. Gran Turismo runs nicely!
I am aware that gbax is run by one of the founders, Craig is it? I don't really know what went on, only read a few snippets, but a friend of mine who has had a Pandora for a couple of years suggested that I buy one from the other site, so I did :-) Ordered Monday, arrived today, so happy with that. Gran Turismo runs nicely!
DKS said:
Ah I see. Yeah, Craig.
You know about formatting the card with \pandora\menu or apps or mmenu etc?
I find sometimes I have to remove and re-insert the SD card if apps down't run.
Cheers, yes, I have the right folder structure on the cards. Whichever card I slot in first, the app icons appear, but don't for the second one. Odd!You know about formatting the card with \pandora\menu or apps or mmenu etc?
I find sometimes I have to remove and re-insert the SD card if apps down't run.
Gassing Station | Video Games | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff