[Monk]

While I disagree with mazza558 (my re-pre-order was placed earlier today) I can see the point. I do NOT want any further slippage to the delivery date if it can bve avoided, but I AM a little more anxious that OpenPandora get as many pre-orders as possible. Even if they have passed a theoretical "minimum amount" (unstated) I imagine that the larger each batch is the cheaper they will be to make, so refilling the original 4000 units would be optimum, for OPs finances. If they haven't passed the "minimum amount" yet then it's even more important that people cough up!

Without dismissing the problems that there have been, or waving away the real risks in being involved in this venture as a cash-up-fron-customer, I feel we should be encouraging reprepurchases rather than dismissing potential Pandora-owners.

MWeston has had the FDM case for about two days now IIRC - and in that time we've had two videos! Superb work, showing what many have been asking for - a completed hardware prototype, showing that the gubbins can actually fit in the case (and better still, showing that they paid attention and modified the battery cover design to PANDER to the customers!). I rather hope that, some time in the next 7 days, more will be shown of the Pandora booting Angstrom and suchlike. It sounds like manufacturing won't start for at least 3 weeks, so there is time before shipping for the team to show us a lot - but given what MWeston has managed to show in 2 days I think there is room for hope that we will see at least 1 more video before the repreorder process deadline is met - and anyone who misses that has another 2 weeks, potentially, to place a NEW order. So it's not like they're taking away ordering altogether even when repreordering is complete.

[Squidge]

I just expected the software to be more workable than it currently is, despite warnings that it'd be a bit rough to start with - I didn't expect this rough.

Its rough because Michael isn't using the software that is being worked on. He's busy and probably does have the time to update his hardware to the new distribution just for the point of taking a video when all the software he has at the moment works on his current setup.

However, you have seen the proper Angstrom distribution working in other videos, just not with all the other bits added. So you need to imagine yourself joining all the bits of videos together

[Zeno Arrow]

(P.S - I guaranteee that if I pull out of the first batch, the next day there'll be this mind-blowing video of the final thing in the final case running Doom III at 60 FPS, or something ridiculously cool, and I'll regret it )

Precisely, you'll regret it if you give up on your pre-order, so don't do so. Go through with the pre-order and if you really can't work with the software when it arrives put the Pandora away somewhere safe until the stability you require is there. That's better than waiting for the second batch.

Personally I think you're worrying over nothing. The Pandora software is coming along nicely by the looks of things, MWeston just didn't have the current Angstrom build to show in his video.

[MWeston]

Well, mazza558, just for you I will try to get Angstrom going. I'll need help from the other guys because these big distributions are not my area of expertise. I use the raw kernel and the console for that reason.

I've been reluctant to do it because I didn't want to ruin a card that I use in other devices (not that 2GB cards are expensive so that's a pretty lame excuse) and also ED has done a fantastic job of previewing that stuff. He does better commentary too. I find it hard to get excited when talking to myself and a camera.

[mazza558]

Well, mazza558, just for you I will try to get Angstrom going. I'll need help from the other guys because these big distributions are not my area of expertise. I use the raw kernel and the console for that reason.

I've been reluctant to do it because I didn't want to ruin a card that I use in other devices (not that 2GB cards are expensive so that's a pretty lame excuse) and also ED has done a fantastic job of previewing that stuff. He does better commentary too. I find it hard to get excited when talking to myself and a camera.

You know, that statement alone may have just convinced me to keep my place in the first batch

I just thought it'd be good to see the progress, given that the last we saw of Angstrom was quite a while ago and according to the Pandora git repository, lots of stuff's been done.

This post has been edited by mazza558: 29 January 2009 - 05:55 PM

[TaG]

Well, mazza558, just for you I will try to get Angstrom going. I'll need help from the other guys because these big distributions are not my area of expertise. I use the raw kernel and the console for that reason.

I've been reluctant to do it because I didn't want to ruin a card that I use in other devices (not that 2GB cards are expensive so that's a pretty lame excuse) and also ED has done a fantastic job of previewing that stuff. He does better commentary too. I find it hard to get excited when talking to myself and a camera.

Don't be critical on yourself - you don't need to say much/anything if the demo is good.

I think showing the unit not connected to a pc, ie 'running under it's own steam', will prove beyond any doubt that it is not vapourware and therefore satisfy any doubters and tech sites alike.

ps - I know it's not vapourware, but other's may have doubts. The final CNC case before the deadline would have been good too...

[Karas]

You have to understand is called a Pre-order for a reason because you order it before its released. If your skeptical I would say that the first batch isn't right for you and you should leave a spot for someone who really wants this system regardless of the minute flaws it might suffer from upon initial release. There are plenty of people who would jump on your spot without even seeing this recent video first. Plus the last thing the project needs right now is more delays

[fusion_power]

I just expected the software to be more workable than it currently is, despite warnings that it'd be a bit rough to start with - I didn't expect this rough.

I'm sure, the Software will be ready. For example, Squidge has a OMAP Devboard since over a Year, many Devs have recieved one of the first Pandora boards beginning of 2008, I'm sure the've done more than make a quick port here and some demos there or shaking their balls all this time.

Well, mazza558, just for you I will try to get Angstrom going. I'll need help from the other guys because these big distributions are not my area of expertise. I use the raw kernel and the console for that reason.

Wow, is it that complicated? I mean, you are the Pro and I have no clue about Linux and installing. if you can't get the OS easily onto the Pandora to work, how should little amateurs like me handle the Software onto the Pandora? Am I missed something?

[mali]

You have to understand is called a Pre-order for a reason because you order it before its released. If your skeptical I would say that the first batch isn't right for you and you should leave a spot for someone who really wants this system regardless of the minute flaws it might suffer from upon initial release. There are plenty of people who would jump on your spot without even seeing this recent video first. Plus the last thing the project needs right now is more delays

I don't think that you have to teach mazza558 what pre-order means. He has big credit among us all, he is the Community Blog guy after all

[Kyosys]

you're missing the fact that he's holding a prototype, and you'll hold a unit meant for customers like you, with a preinstalled system.

[MWeston]

Wow, is it that complicated? I mean, you are the Pro and I have no clue about Linux and installing. if you can't get the OS easily onto the Pandora to work, how should little amateurs like me handle the Software onto the Pandora? Am I missed something?

Everything is loaded from memory cards during testing/development. Shipping Pandoras will have everything in NAND with an easy way to upload new firmware as it comes out.

Maybe it will be easy to do. I've never tried it before so we shall see.

[Eternalodyssey]

Oh please oh please don't delay the cutoff! While understand the please of some, I would surmise its the collective of the many that we believe the project is good to move forward. There are plenty of videos showing what the board is doing outside of the case so I wouldn't think it would be too far out of sight that the system is capable of all that and more once it is the hands of many. We're behind you on the cut off date! Forward! Onward!

[Kyosys]

It's for the best of the team as well!

More delays = I show up at evil dragon's front door

[mali]

It's for the best of the team as well!

More delays = I show up at evil dragon's front door

Don't do the PARALAX, he might just eat you then

This post has been edited by mali: 29 January 2009 - 07:05 PM

[DynaMight]

As long as the hardware is solid and stable then I'm not that fussed about the software side assuming most basic hardware like wifi/BT etc is functioning and it has some kind of basic GUI launcher, which I assume is the case since ED demo'd this weeks ago and appeared to be working ok.

Dont forget that once the units are built they can then be flashed with the most upto date software image and once the final plans actually go to the manufacturers there isn't a lot more they can do except sort the software

Theres rarely any complicated devices made these days that come with stable/feature complete software from the get-go.