38 replies to this topic

[mazza558]

See the thread title.

Since the Pandora is getting pretty close to release, some sites might get their hands on one (e.g Engadget, Ars Technica) and review it. What do you think they'll be saying about it?

What will the overall consensus be?

[Gruso]

I reckon the folk at Engadget will be all like

On the whole though, I think the common thread between reviews will be "huge potential, niche market." That'll be early on though. If the device starts to draw the interest of biggish software development teams, the tech press will realise that it's so much more than a GP2X-like oddity.

[EmuGuy]

Hopefully it will be crowned "2009 Gadget of the Year"!

It may depend on what software is available at the time of the review, and the ability of the reviewer to realize the potential, instead of writing it off as 'meh, just another netbook'.

should easily standout from other gadgets though, due to it's gaming controls. I am very interested to see what people think of the hardware itself: keypad, nubs, screen, etc.

[MechsWillOneDayStepOnYou]

The pre-order people will either become vindicated or look like the biggest bunch of suckers on the planet.

2009 bit of nerd tech? or maybe 2009 scam of the year?

As for reviews Im sure there will be plenty of people moaning about things which were done intentionally (i'm speaking of the OS of course).

[Zeno Arrow]

As for reviews Im sure there will be plenty of people moaning about things which were done intentionally (i'm speaking of the OS of course).

Why would people moan about the OS? The main distro already seems capable enough and there's some tweak time before launch.

[Wookiee]

One Linux mag mentioned Pandora, I think it was Linux Format about one maybe two months ago. It was only a couple of lines along the lines of 'not yet seen in the wild'.

Hopeful that there will be something to show them soon.

[ignatz]

It does all depend on how it all ends up feeling, working, looking etc but i'm not really playing fair by the nice thread idea by mentioning that so assuming the above are all as good as we hope i expect....

The words linux, angstrom, homebrew, emulation, gamepark, gp2x, gp32 and geek to be lavishly tossed about.

Some comparison to the surprise success of netbooks and mentions of the pre-order rush tempering comments about how niche and geeky the whole thing might seem.

Interest in the unusual business model and community involvement in the project.

The most impressive emus and apps touted to grab attention. "Psx games!" "Firefox!"

A last line joke about its fitness for secretive pron viewing.

Oh and a huge swathe of idiot comments mis-comparing it to existing devices and expressing smug shock that anyone could be impressed by such a thing.

I assume we ll all be here debating the merits of navigating such posts from the nubs v the touchscreen.

[atomicthumbs]

Entirely positive.

Duh.

[Mithrildor]

In one a sentence: A really great gaming device , which is sadly to hard to use for beginners in Linux.

That's what I think the reviewers would say.

[PlopperZ]

Why would you say that?
I imagine it'll be as simple to use as the GP2X. Drag n' drop games and emulators from your computer. What's so hard about that?

[Mithrildor]

I dunno lol.

Btw when I read that chip told that if everything goes well the pandora will be sent at the of the month I almost died by some food in my mouth (lol)

[quote]

The pre-order people will either become vindicated or look like the biggest bunch of suckers on the planet.

2009 bit of nerd tech? or maybe 2009 scam of the year?

As for reviews Im sure there will be plenty of people moaning about things which were done intentionally (i'm speaking of the OS of course).

Wow, you're even more anti Pandora than Orkie
Good on ya

[WizardStan]

In one a sentence: A really great gaming device , which is sadly to hard to use for beginners in Linux.

That's what I think the reviewers would say.

They didn't say that about the Mattel JuiceBox. They didn't say that about TIVO. They didn't say that about the WRT45G Router. They didn't say that about the many other devices people use in their everyday lives that already run Linux whether they realize it or not. I can't imagine any reason why the Pandora (once the GUI is complete) would be any different.

[RajTakhar]

I think the magazines should be sent Pandoras for review AFTER the first batch has been sent out

Let the first orders get out there ... Get the buzz going, get some half decent emulators showing the possibilities of this baby.

Then let the press at them

Simply sending out the first rush of devices may do more harm than good - you want to bestow an established supply chain, great apps, great potential apps and a modest userbase created without much press coverage

That way when the reviewers do see the Pandoras they will think - this thing has the potentional, with a established userbase and great developer community behind it as well as some great apps emulators already running

=====
+ and Hopefully Very Soon!!! a

http://gp2xwizandpandora.blogspot.com/

[audovoice]

I think the magazines should be sent Pandoras for review AFTER the first batch has been sent out

SCREW THAT!
I am one of those people hoping to get my hands on one of the extra 200-300 hundred.