|
|
Post by Kalisiin Kumaki on Sept 20, 2012 16:21:37 GMT -5
I have Firefox on this, so can browse the web, and check my web-based email on the fly, I have a word processor, a spreadsheet, a database program, an daily organizer and a calculator installed and working - I have Vlc for videos, and have Audacious and Rockbox for audio, haven't decided which one I might like better.
This thing is so great, can play over 1,000 games on 19 different emulators (and those are just the ones I have!!), surf the web, do word processing, have a daily manager, and listen to music, all on the same device...with over ten hours of battery power.
This thing just rocks as nothing else ever!!
I have the following emulators all up and running:
NES
SNES
GBA
GBC
GB
PC Engine
Coleco
SEGA Genesis
SEGA Master System
SEGA Game Gear
MAME4ALL
PanMAME
FBA
Atari 2600
Atari 7800
Atari Lynx
MSX
Amiga
Commodore 64
Intellivision
NEO GEO Pocket
Anyone notice that I do NOT have the Atari 5200 emulated? Because the thing is a ginormous turd, lol. Oh, the Pandora is great, but the Atari 5200 itself sucks...and just like the original...the emu for this one is balky and awkward.
There also are emulators for
SEGA Playstation
SEGA Saturn
NEO GEO
Nintendo 64
and many others!!
They even have a Nintendo DS emulator out there...mostly to shut a few people up, because, of course, the Pandora has only one screen, so you can't REALLY emulate the DS very well...
At any rate, this thing is worth every penny of the five hundred bucks it cost me...was finally able to get it because my tax refund FINALLY came thru.
|
|
|
|
Post by Warlock on Sept 22, 2012 12:35:16 GMT -5
So what advantages does the Open Pandora have over the other off-brand portables, or, say, a hacked DS or PSP?
- HC
|
|
|
|
Post by Kalisiin Kumaki on Sept 22, 2012 15:42:18 GMT -5
So what advantages does the Open Pandora have over the other off-brand portables, or, say, a hacked DS or PSP? - HC Didn't you notice I mentioned that the Pandora is a full Linux computer? I can surf the web on this thing. I have Firefox installed on it. It has a full QWERTY keyboard, and a full Linux operating system. everything else goes on the SD card...the internal memory is for the OS only. Like to see anyone surf the web with a hacked DS (which I have) or a PSP...LOL!! Yes, I know the DSiStore has a crappy browser you can use...I have done it...but it has only a virtual keyboard, which totally blows. Plus, quite frankly, the screen's bigger than either of those. This thing, literally, is an entire computer you can fit in your pocket. The screen is about the size of a DSiXL. Forget laptops, this is a pocket computer! Okay, okay, okay...I know one could say, get a tablet....but that thing's way bigger than the Pandora...the small size makes it very convenient. It also has a full real keyboard....it plays all kind of emulators...I have since also installed the Playstation emu, and have some stuff working on that, too. I can tell you, from someone who owns almost every kind of hacked/hacker devices out there...this one stands above them all! |
|
|
|
Post by Vireo Gilvus on Sept 22, 2012 16:52:33 GMT -5
So it runs Linux, eh? Does that mean it can run Windows emulators like WINE? I'd like to hear how it handles Windows-based game engines such as RPG Maker and Super Mario Bros. X.
|
|
|
|
Post by Kalisiin Kumaki on Sept 22, 2012 21:15:18 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by Warlock on Sept 23, 2012 7:55:09 GMT -5
I'm genuinely curious, here- there's no need for attitude. I do want to say that as a guy who used a Treo with a chicklet keyboard for several years, I'm not totally sure how I feel about using a keyboard with a footprint smaller than a DS screen... For serious typing (eg longer than this post), a full-size keyboard is only the way to go.
Aren't most of those emulators also available on the fancier Droid phones? Of course, that's going to be equally or more pricey and probably require a data plan, and definitely won't have real gaming controls.
Re Wine: my experiences attempting to get RM games running under Wine have not been good, but maybe the Linux version is better tha the Mac version?
- HC
|
|
|
|
Post by Kalisiin Kumaki on Sept 23, 2012 11:37:31 GMT -5
First, if you caught a whiff of attitude, my apologies as none was intended. I sincerely was wondering if I hadn't been clear about this being a fully-functional Linux computer you could put into your pocket.
Second...this is not really intended for when you happen to be at home and have your desktop/laptop handy...it's definitely easier to type on a full-size keyboard...this is something that is very convenient to have on-the-fly, though.
Even a laptop is cumbersome to carry and set up when you're on the fly.
I'm not aware if these emulators are available on higher-end Droid and iPhones or not, as I have no real experience there, I own a Droid2. I know that some of the ROM sites mention the ability to play the games on Droid phones, but I haven't looked into that as I have no plans to keep my smartphone beyond the contract period I signed up for. This thing does everything I ever wanted from a smartphone, and without the monthly data plan, so it will pay for itself in about a year and a half.
and you're right...Droid phones and other such devices cergtainly do not have real gaming controls as this thing does.
I have to be honest, first and foremost, it is a gaming machine. But there's lot of other useful apps, and the ability to surf the web from any hot spot, etc...and it IS a fully-functional Linux computer you could put in your pocket...aces on convenience!
the fact is this is a very nice, and very personalizable - device...which is very good to have on the fly - and also can play music files and games and videos, and just about anything else you could want...there are even GPS apps...which have maps that you can download so that you can use it offline.
My point is...this thing, as pricey as it might be...has the capacity to replace a LOT of very pricey items we currently have....and with no need for a data plan, and it's ability to replace other items (ipod, etc) it easily pays for itself. It's also very convenient for on-the-fly stuff, the size makes it that way. also, you can have a full retro 80's arcade you can carry in your pocket.
Plus, it's just plan damn cool!!
Seriously, no attitude was intended so I apologize if you perceived one...I was, as I said, honestly curious if I had clearly explained exactly what this device is, what it does, and what it is capable of doing.
|
|
|
|
Post by Warlock on Oct 1, 2012 8:25:48 GMT -5
I know that emulators exist for the Droid phones, but I'm an iOS user myself so I can't tell you much about them.
As for the iOS side of the world, there are no emulators in the official App Store, but if you're jailbroken, they are available on Cydia- unfortunately, they're also paid-only there :/ The other major drawback is that none of the iDevices have physical buttons (whereas at least some of the Droids do); a touchscreen may work acceptably for an RPG, but I can't imagine trying to play an action game that was designed for a real controller on it.
It does sound pretty cool as an alternative to a netbook with a gaming focus. That there's a GPS feature is really nice too! Does the device have a GPS receiver too or is that based on something else? I know there are some tricks to mimic a GPS based on proximity to wireless networks...
The Pandora is a clamshell design, right? How big is it when it's closed?
- HC
|
|
|
|
Post by Kalisiin Kumaki on Oct 1, 2012 10:08:02 GMT -5
I have not experimented yet with the GPS. You should ask that sort of question on the Official Pandora Forums. I'm on there, so I can ask and get a definitive answer for you.
Yes, the Pandora is clamshell design...closed, it is about the size of a 3DS.
The most awesome thing - of course, is the incredible ten hour battery life. and I've ran mine far more than 10 hours of intermittent heavy use, and still had juice left. In fact, once I did sixteen hours of being continuously on...although not always in use...though it had quite a bit of heavy use, and still had 26% of the battery left.
Yeah, it is on the pricey side...but when you stop and consider all the devices and expense this thing can save you, it more than pays for itself.
Consider: Music player replaces the Zune or Ipod you currently own...that's 200 bucks right there...if you'd gotten the Pandora first.
Ability to surf the web means you no longer really need a smartphone. That's at least 30 bucks a month you save when you no longer need a data plan. That's $360 in one year.
GPS could be replaced, at least, in theory, have to see how that works in practice, but, if so...there's another at least $100 saved.
So...just with that...Zune/Ipod, GPS, and six months of data plan thru Verizon...that's $480 saved right there, and the unit I got cost $500. The more jumped-up version now available goes for $700. so another 6 months of data plan saved puts you at $660. So, in a year, this thing can pay for itself!
I'll find out for sure for you about the GPS stuff and get back to you.
|
|
|
|
Post by Warlock on Oct 1, 2012 10:33:53 GMT -5
10 hours of battery life is pretty awesome- that's one of the things I'm kind of dismayed with the latest generation of consoled for. My DS Lite held out for an entire plane trip from MA to Australia; the 3DS and Vita, on the other hand, are advertised as if 4 hours of battery life is impressive.  - HC |
|
|
|
Post by Kalisiin Kumaki on Oct 1, 2012 20:28:14 GMT -5
Exactly. The battery life IS awesome. And it'll do everything a Vita would....and more.
I got some info on GPS for you.
A useful GPS app requires:
Maps/satelite photos
current location information
The latter must come from a GPS reciever chip (either built in, or (in the case of the pandora) with a USB dongle.
The former can either be downloaded from the internet on the fly, or saved to disk for later use
So there you have it. You can download and save the maps for later use. You need a USB dongle to obtain current location info. So the GPS receiver is not built in. But there is a USB port where you can connect one.
Whether or not this setup is actually compatible with driving...is another matter. As I've no experience trying this, I could not say. But it seems like it could be done. A bit laborious, to be sure...and I dunno how you'd "dock" the device so that it didn't get in your way in the car...and so you could easily view it while driving. But you could have a passenger navigate for you.
|
|
|
|
Post by Kalisiin Kumaki on Oct 1, 2012 20:29:13 GMT -5
The important thing here is...while talking up all the Pandora CAN do...I have to be careful not to talk about things maybe it CAN'T do...or do well, and GPS looks to me a bit like it might be cumbersome with the Pandora...but do-able. At best.
|
|
