63 replies to this topic

[Prometheus]

I can't comment on batches, but just to let you know, *no* Pandoras are shipping with 128MB of RAM or the smaller NAND. That change applies to the ~4000 unit first batch as well.

[WizardStan]

Is Pandora ever gonna undergo mass production or is it going to continue to be in released in batches. Im kinda confused regarding the batch release system. Apparently the second batch is shipping with 256mb of ram instead of 128 & a larger NAND? I want to order one, but I want to know if the second batch will have 256mb or RAM. If so ill order later on. I know 128mb is perfectly enough and there is still enough space left even when running ubuntu, but id rather have 256 than 128mb. I understand if someone flames me for this post haha, its just that i keep reading that Pandora hasnt been officially released & that all these batch releases are for testers or devs only. Im new obviously and I know how people rly hate that.
i apologize for being a bother.

We've been told that all batches will be the same, give or take a few small changes for parts that may not be available anymore. The memory and nand will remain the same.
And they're unlikely to do any sort of mass production. They're not looking to sell millions, just many many thousand, so they do them in smaller batches. It would suck for them to have huge quantities leftover with no market.

[Pleng]

I think the plan is to eventually hold stock of units. The project will go nowhere fast if they have to continually produce in batches with 6 months lead time.

I'd hope that once they have the pre-orders in for the second batch (or third, if finances dictate) they'll produce, say, 50% more units than were pre-orders for general sale.

[mindlord]

I suspect that once the Pandora gets into the wild demand is going to seriously ramp up. While the target market is emulation buffs and hackers. The device as it stands is still a great mobile computing platform, and is spot-on as a linux system admin tool. It's the smallest fully functional computer out there with a keyboard (no matter how small), and it's openness is going to make it a target for many unique applications and hardware implementations.

[Painguy]

alright thanks. so no 256 mb of ram? the main site says it has 256mb of ram? w/e lol im not complaining 128 is obviously enough anyway. thx

[Gruso]

alright thanks. so no 256 mb of ram? the main site says it has 256mb of ram? w/e lol im not complaining 128 is obviously enough anyway. thx

You misunderstood - ALL Pandoras have 256MB RAM.

[Painguy]

alright thanks. so no 256 mb of ram? the main site says it has 256mb of ram? w/e lol im not complaining 128 is obviously enough anyway. thx

You misunderstood - ALL Pandoras have 256MB RAM.

oh lol my bad. some first impression i made didnt i? lol

[Devin-O]

The ARM microprocessor sure seems to be nice, but with all the people had hoping they could run WINE/Windows etc on it, wouldn't it be better just to put a x86 processor into the Pandora itself? (Or is that too much for it to handle..)

Edit - Oh crap I necroposted.

Edited by Devin-O, 12 January 2010 - 04:28 PM.

[RenegadeChic]

The ARM microprocessor sure seems to be nice, but with all the people had hoping they could run WINE/Windows etc on it, wouldn't it be better just to put a x86 processor into the Pandora itself? (Or is that too much for it to handle..)

Edit - Oh crap I necroposted.

well... its stickied but still... i think we kinda got over the x86 vs ARM thing about 2 or so years ago.

[WizardStan]

The ARM microprocessor sure seems to be nice, but with all the people had hoping they could run WINE/Windows etc on it, wouldn't it be better just to put a x86 processor into the Pandora itself? (Or is that too much for it to handle..)

Edit - Oh crap I necroposted.

x86 uses up a lot more power for not as many instructions. And I think you are either overestimating the number of people that want to run Windows or underestimating the power of ARM Linux and what is and will be available for it in the coming months.

[Devin-O]

The ARM microprocessor sure seems to be nice, but with all the people had hoping they could run WINE/Windows etc on it, wouldn't it be better just to put a x86 processor into the Pandora itself? (Or is that too much for it to handle..)

Edit - Oh crap I necroposted.

x86 uses up a lot more power for not as many instructions. And I think you are either overestimating the number of people that want to run Windows or underestimating the power of ARM Linux and what is and will be available for it in the coming months.

Perhaps so, I just figure that despite all the possibilities Pandora has have already, wouldn't it just give even more possibilities with the x86 architecture? Maybe if it was possible to underclock (not sure if that's the right word, correct me if I am wrong) the processor, and make it require less power, then it's just thumbs up all around.

[fischju2000]

The ARM microprocessor sure seems to be nice, but with all the people had hoping they could run WINE/Windows etc on it, wouldn't it be better just to put a x86 processor into the Pandora itself? (Or is that too much for it to handle..)

Edit - Oh crap I necroposted.

x86 uses up a lot more power for not as many instructions. And I think you are either overestimating the number of people that want to run Windows or underestimating the power of ARM Linux and what is and will be available for it in the coming months.

Perhaps so, I just figure that despite all the possibilities Pandora has have already, wouldn't it just give even more possibilities with the x86 architecture? Maybe if it was possible to underclock (not sure if that's the right word, correct me if I am wrong) the processor, and make it require less power, then it's just thumbs up all around.

Sony tried an x86 handhelds. 1.33ghz processor, 4.5" screen, the VAIO UMPC series. Size comparable to the Pandora and N800, although much thicker (1.5 inches, the Pandora is just over 1 inch). It had serious drawbacks, including a $2500 price tag, battery life under 2 hours, and the last models ran Vista. Then you have the OQO Model 2, 1.6ghz on the high end model, and while it's thinner it also sold for nearly $2000. On these you have a max 4 hour battery life. While XP might not be as bad, it still doesn't make sense to put a desktop OS on these devices, and some even had Vista.


The Pandora's size, battery life, efficiency with the power it brings thanks to Linux, and price are thanks to it's ARM chipset. The Pandora has so many possibilities because it doesn't run x86.

[Awakening]

If we want 8-10 hours of battery life (I even bought a spare) we better stick to ARM.

[mali]

The FAQ says that Pandora will have suspend and hibernation functionality. It might be better to make the info more precise, imo.

[second exodous]

Admittedly I'm a little behind on the times and when one of the official team members says 'I took some pictures and put them on my photo bucket' I have to hunt through threads looking for a link to his photobucket.

I should probably bookmark all of these but I haven't, will now, but for newbies it would be nice to have photobucket and tweet links on the first post of this thread. Just an idea.

Also, a link to the toolbar install would be cool also.