Pandora handheld now shipping: first mass-produced unit unboxed, world somehow survives
By Sean Hollister 
posted May 23rd 2010 5:49AM
posted May 23rd 2010 5:49AM
[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
posted May 23rd 2010 5:49AM
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It looks alot like an NDS
@Xylias
The original looks like a kirf.
@Xylias
Other than that its a clamshell I cant find much similarities. DS has 2 small screens, Pandora 1 big screen, Pandora has nubs, DS not, Pandora has Keypad, DS not, Pandora has 2 SD slots, DSi has 1, DS has 0 etc
@Mithrildor
Well let me explain:
-The rounded edges and corners.
-The centred hinge with fixed bars on either side.
-The prominent rim when the device is open.
-The matte black finish.
-The power light and mic located on the bars to the side of the hinge.
All the remind me of the various DS designs
it's too expensive and already outdated before it is shipped.
@Xylias Too little too late: it's 2010.
@Sarcasme
It's sort of like a handheld people in 1996 would think we would be using now, as if the touchscreen movement or heck, even the Palm Pilot never happened. I had an HP pre-pocket PC and it had a lot of similarities with this one's style.
Well at least if we ever find a guy frozen since 1996 we will have a handheld system that he'll not get overly freaked out about!
@htd
OMAP3 isnt outdated. The Pandora isnt outdated either. And its less expensive than most smartphones out with similar specs. Sure its more expensive than a NDS but you get way more
@htd agreed, it looks rather chunky too.
Honestly the design does sort of remind one of a DS. Setting that aside, I'm kinda glad that I didn't pay much attention to this until now, because I haven't had a chance to grow cynical about it; it looks pretty sweet! I never cared about the DS enough to buy one, but I could definitely get onboard with this.
@Xylias
It is about the same size as the original NDS (i.e., the NDS "Phat"), which had a similar slate-gray option (at least in Japan, and maybe elsewhere as well).
Regarding the overall design, the Pandora is clearly designed around the gaming controls and the ergonomics of handheld gaming. All of the keys are easily accessible while holding the device. IMO, the design is the only one that makes sense for this type of device.
A lot of people act as if the most important thing about a gadget is that it looks nice in a photograph, and not that it can be easily used for hours at a time. I think that's a mistake.
@htd Already outdated maybe, but so is the Nintendo DS family we are still buying. The difference is that this little device is based on open source software, and the options are unlimited (emulation, demos etc).
@Mithrildor "Sure its more expensive than a NDS but you get way more"
You're talking to the crowd that even though PSP is what, 10 times more powerful than DS with a larger higher res screen, upgradeable firmware, vastly higher quality games, etc, couldn't realize it's worth more.
@htd : Outdated by what?
@Extinction
That is possibly because the PSP is not 10 times more powerful, the screen is slow (very bad motion blur) and too reflective (can't use it at all outside), not really upgradeable apart from the proprietary memory stick, firmware is mostly updated to stop you doing things that sony don't want and the Games are not vastly superior in the slightest. But... You know.... Don't let the truth stand in the way of slating other handhelds.
Oh and I forgot to mention that the PSP, while looking lovely, is an ergonomic disaster.
@htd your small brain and ignorance speaks volumes.
@htd its definitely expensive, but there are still no devices with game controls and anywhere near that much power
Don't like the design.
@Ezye1313 They can't afford to make it look good, but I'm sure it's designed well.
This isn't a device made by sony or apple you know.
@Ezye1313
I dont get why ppl downranked you.
You just gave your opinion.
+1 for you for being honest
@kiyu727 Look around you, he has posted this 3 times.
@Ezye1313
If you don't like the design, you blew it.
@Ezye1313
I don't like you.
@lolwut Hey numbnuts it's the comment system! It wasn't showing up in the comments thats why it was posted 3 times......... Look around yourself before popping off your cock sucker next time. K? Thx
@DougieBear That's good i don't like you either dick head.
@Ezye1313
Then we agree.. you are a dick head.
Wow!! Great comeback Peter Puffer.
Don't lke the design.
@Ezye1313
Ugh@The comment system.
@Ezye1313 Yeah, engadgets way of doing comments really stinks.
I agree with you.
Don't like the design.
@Ezye1313
How do you feel about the design?
in your face vaporware haters! lol
@Trevsweb
Sure, it looks like it's happening now, but for those who paid $300 years ago, only to be told over and over that shipment was only a couple months away... well, that's a helluva lot like vaporware to them.
@Vance
Not for me. This is cause of the fact that the team always informed us what was happening and we exactly knew why the delays were there. Sure some quit but alot stayed.
@Vance I rode the Gizmondo ride i know about waiting and failure/vaporware. This is not one of those times. I paid early 2009 im still 100% stoaked/hyped i may be getting my pandora soon. Pandora has a market, its not shooting above it weight and it does what people want to do with it. Its perfect!
Great title
Looks hideous. And cheap. Like a prop from '80s sci-fi.
@SlappySquirrel
Remember they don't have the financial resources to hire a team of Industrial Designers, so it's a nice design in the terms of their possibilities,
want want want
@jimmy1
I, do not want. It's 2 years, too little, too late. Enjoy the open sources games while I spend my 1/4 of its price buying a PSP with games that don't suck.
@TareG
mmmm so you like playing on even older tech with your creaking old psp that infact does have crappy games
Don't like the design.
Don't like the design.
Don't like the design.
Fallout much?
Look, this has been going on so long I've forgotten what the point of this thing is, is it some kind of multiplatform handheld emulator? Le sigh
@Spaldinggreat
The point of this console is being the ultimate console for the Gp32 community. This happened because the consoles GPH made after the gp32 were considered bad and that GPH didnt listen to the community. OpenPandora ltd was formed to make this ultimate console for the community.
This console is both an UMPC, gaminghandheld (homebrew, indie game, emulators and ports of opensourced programs), PDA, media viewer etc. Just everything you can do with a PC only then portable. It runs a full desktop.
@Mithrildor My N900 does everything this fat linux box can.
except have gaming controls