[mazza558]

BBC News Link

Because Ubuntu supporting ARM netbooks has been big in the news over the past few days, I think it'd be fantastic if Craig and the team contacted Canonical/Ubuntu and became a partner. This could be the absolute best way to get the Pandora out there. ARM were even talking about having Ubuntu + ARM-based netbooks available by next June. It fits perfectly! What's more, the 256mb of RAM upgrade pretty much qualifies the Pandora to be in Netbook territory.

A partnership between OpenPandora and Ubuntu would quite possibly bring:

1. A stable and fully working version of Ubuntu to the Pandora, supported by Canonical themselves
2. Lots and lots of publicity, much more than if the team port Ubuntu themselves
3. A better reputation, as the pioneer and flagship netbook running on ARM
4. More time to focus on other aspects of the device
5. Many more developers and users

I think it's vital to take this opportunity and run with it. Considering at the time Pandora was being designed, such an idea was essentially unheard of, the Pandora could keep its pioneer reputation. It's easier for ARM, Pandora and Canonical, as the companies don't have to manufacture the hardware (as this is already being done).

If we miss this opportunity, we might see a bigger company like HP/Dell making a netbook-like device in a year or so, using similar hardware to the Pandora, and taking all the glory whilst we get forced into obscurity.

This post has been edited by mazza558: 18 November 2008 - 04:58 PM

[mali]

I vote for 'Yes'

[Magic Sam]

+1 for publicity, reputation, and developers

[chiark]

It would be bloody fantastic, and I'd vote for yes, but conditionally - I don't think anyone would want to delay manufacturing or release of these things , and as long as it didn't delay anything then it would make absolute sense.

[mahousaru]

*drools*
I vote for yes too

[mindlord]

While it sounds like a great idea. Getting in bed with huge companies (even Canonical) usually comes with loss of freedom, as they so love to finagle with the spec to suit their needs. They would take one look at the Pandora's small keyboard and either demand the design be changed to something more touch-typable or just take a pass on it. The ones with the money tend to push the others around, that's just business.

Personally, I'd attempt to open a channel of communication none-the-less and see where it goes, but I wouldn't commit to anything without a lawyer.

[mazza558]

Canonical aren't really a huge company. All we need to do is present what hardware we have, and I'm sure they'll want to co-operate, especially if they can get their hands on a pre-release pandora board (hint, hint)

[cosurgi]

Canonical aren't really a huge company. All we need to do is present what hardware we have, and I'm sure they'll want to co-operate, especially if they can get their hands on a pre-release pandora board (hint, hint)

Devs have more important work now. The idea is great, but the communication should start after 1st batch is finished, sent, and after devs had their long deserved break on hawaii.

This post has been edited by cosurgi: 18 November 2008 - 05:52 PM

[Bryce Leo]

Devs have more important work now. The idea is great, but the communication should start after 1st batch is finished, sent, and after devs had their long deserved break on hawaii.

I agree. The Devs need to get batch one finished, take a good break, then start batch two, then maybe look into partnering after they've relaxed and rejuvenated.

[VRAndy]

1) Ubuntu while confirmed working, isn't planned as the default OS for the Pandora.
2) Pandora can't really be a "flagship" anything until you can actually buy them.
3) The reason Pandora came out as awesome as it did, is because it was developed free from corporate influence. (Compare Pandora with all the other small electronics on the market.)

If we miss this opportunity, we might see a bigger company like HP/Dell making a netbook-like device in a year or so, using similar hardware to the Pandora, and taking all the glory whilst we get forced into obscurity.

I don't care if Pandora gets 'glory' or not. We always knew that the big companies would build stuff that would outsell Pandora. I small time independent project like this will never get that sort of glory.

What makes Pandora great is that it's designed to pander to the needs/wants of a relatively small group of people, but it (will) pander to them very well. For those of us in this small group, this makes it stand out in an ocean of devices made for "everybody".

[mali]

The release is planned for mid 2009. A devboard and some mails may be enough for the task. It doesn't hurt to ask IMO

This post has been edited by mali: 18 November 2008 - 09:16 PM

[Etinin]

That would be sad.
Ubuntu has different goals. The Pandora is made for power-users, Ubuntu is focused solely on ease of use, not giving much attention to things such as performance.

This post has been edited by Etinin: 18 November 2008 - 06:03 PM

[VRAndy]

P.S. I don't understand all the nerd-love for Ubuntu. It's a perfectly fine Linux distro, I recommend it for the desktop. But why does it have such a cult? Why does the mere mention of its name get people so hot and bothered?

[mali]

*sigh*
I'm out, have to work...

[sebt3]

Canonical aren't really a huge company. All we need to do is present what hardware we have, and I'm sure they'll want to co-operate, especially if they can get their hands on a pre-release pandora board (hint, hint)

In fact, as the pandora is the first ARMv7 to date, the ubuntu team is waiting for their pre-ordered pand (link).

back to the topic (I mean strictly).
I'm not sure that I want openpandora to be a partner of Canonical. Having Ubuntu running on the pandora will do enough on the PR side.
Partner mean having a business plan together. Pandora won't help the ubuntu support sales. Being a canonical partner wont bring more customer to the pandora. But the hype having ubuntu running on the pandora will. And, that's done allready.
What we need as a community, is more members. To get more member, we need an other buzz. The next will be :
- pandora in the first-batch users' hands, and pre-order date set for batch 2.
Until then, we should stay calm (& quiet) and wait for the dev to deliver. It's now a matter of weeks before the pandora start shipping. And we should be able to be #1 on digg just after the new year start.

Remember that the annoncement of the partner ship between ARM and Canonical arrive after the video by EvilDragon. Not before. The big company are just tring to capitalise on top of the buzz the devels generated with ubuntu on the Pand.

Craig & co. Continu working as usual And deliver as soon as possible
But If you can get money from shuttlework (canonical owner) with a partneship, go for it else my advise is : forget these damn slow company...

EDIT: readability : I should re-read my post _before_ posting...

This post has been edited by sebt3: 18 November 2008 - 06:06 PM