Cheap, powerful, open source portable console to run UAE!

[Jethro_Tull]

Take a look at this:

http://www.teamteabag.com/2008/04/13/pandora-retro-gaming-system-and-mini-laptop/

http://www.openpandora.org/blog.php

A portable console with open source projects in mind, including emulation, just like the GP2X, but more powerful.  

The 800 x 480 high resolution screen, fast RISC processor, DSP co-processor, dual high-capacity SD cards, full USB ports, and a QWERTY keyboard bode well for the device to be used as a hand held Amiga computer, not only for gaming, but also for running applications!

For Amiga users this could be a killer product!  With a few dedicated developers to port and adapt UAE for this machine, the possibilities are endless! A fast, highly capable Amiga in the palm of your hand!

One to watch closely me thinks!  Detailed info here:

http://pandora.bluwiki.com/go/Pandora_FAQ

[Amigamia]

Actually I see AROS running on this device rather than UAE emulated.

[Jethro_Tull]

@Amigamia

Realistically, AROS is currently of no earthly use to 99.99% of Amiga users, or anyone else for that matter.  There are no major applications running on AROS and the OS itself is still in it's infancy.  The Pandora will have it's own version of Debian Linux, with a custom GUI, so there is no need for another OS which won't offer anything new or significant.

Don't get me wrong, AROS on the Pandora would be nice, but a proper UAE port which uses all the Pandora's capabilities (High-res screen, ARM CPU, DSP co-processor, PowerVR GPU, full USB, etc) would surely be much more useful and more beneficial for existing Amiga users.  

[motorollin]

Oh wow! I love my GP2X but this thing looks amazing!

--
moto

[ChuckT]

It looks interesting but I would have to add a USB keyboard to do any serious typing on it.  The "DC in" cable is really in a bad place.

What is the memory size limit on the two SD slots that the unit will accept?

Why not just run Win UAE on an Eee PC?

[Crom00]

On any given Sunday in the NYC Metro area, there are computer shows that sell 1.8-2.2 ghz laptops that may be a bit bulkier than this,but make great AmiKit laptops, mame players, etc. To me that is the ultimate game laptop. One friend bought one of these for her daughter and they're quite nice for an older Off lease laptop.

[motorollin]

ChuckT wrote:
It looks interesting but I would have to add a USB keyboard to do any serious typing on it.

True, but it's not designed as a "serious" device. It's a portable games console. The keyboard is a bonus really IMO, to be used with emulators that need it occasionally (as others have mentioned).

ChuckT wrote:
The "DC in" cable is really in a bad place.

As it is on the GP2X :-)

ChuckT wrote:
Why not just run Win UAE on an Eee PC?

The Eee PC is not quite as portable as this and also doesn't have D-Pad controls. But yes, I suppose the Eee PC could be an option.

--
moto

[ptek]

It will cost 212 Euro. Do you find it cheap?
It's more than the PSP.

[monami]

that's kinda old news. i've been looking at those images for 6 months. so it's been released now? lots have commented on it's uglyness. or this or that function. i like many of the changes from the gp2x which had serious design flaws in my books...

[Fester]

It's amazingly small. Design-wise, it looks very nice. Those two things make it attractive.

One article note says designers will customize a Linux version for it. Curious to see if EUAE will run on it right out of the box...

[Crom00]

Yep. a PSP with the pandora battery hack is like a dream come true. The NEO GEO games alone make it worth while.

[tokyoracer]

I am very intrested in this, I need to get a GP2X first though.

[tonyyeb]

Crom00 wrote:
On any given Sunday in the NYC Metro area, there are computer shows that sell 1.8-2.2 ghz laptops that may be a bit bulkier than this,but make great AmiKit laptops, mame players, etc.

Really? Only a bit bulkier? The eeePC is the smallest laptop I know and it is still quite a bit bigger than the pandora will be.

It looks to be about the size of a Nintendo DS:

http://pandora.bluwiki.org/go/Image:Pandoracomparison.jpg

http://pandora.bluwiki.org/go/Image:Fluffy16.jpg

[Ilwrath]

I think it's a great idea and size.  I wish it were more like the PDA smartphone layout (think HTC TyTN - touchscreen inputs by default and slide open keyboard when needed), instead of the Nintendo DS / mini laptop (always open, hinge in the middle) layout.  

A full computer that fits in your shirt pocket is really handy.  I still love my iPaq for this very reason.

[ChuckT]

The Youtube demo shows you what it can do.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06hjDLMBaf8