Pandora: I am possibly here to "eat crow"

[LazerTag]

Yesterday I made this comment

I'm waiting myself to see how Pandora pans out, I almost bought one originally and am still interested but I've also decided to wait to see what really happens. Anyway I get this in my e-mail just last night from the Pandora team with a major update about it being released. I'm actually impressed it seems this close but still hanging back so as not to get burned. That's just me, I don't have $300+ bucks to throw away if this doesn't come to fruition or if something goes awry.

Hello everyone, Craig here,

This is the last OpenPandora newsletter before we start shipping Pandora consoles to customers.

Yes, we have finally, after a lot of serious tweaking, decided the Pandora is ready to roll.

You will have already seen all the videos, the emulators, the various game ports, firefox, they are on the website if you have not.

Just before we get going, how about one more? The Pandora running a Dreamcast emulator:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gYfwtj7Mok&feature=youtube_gdata

Right, now, this email is about what happens next.

Well the Pandora is being made in Dallas, Texas, USA. We decided not to go down the usual 'Made in China' route.
It might cost a little more but we believe the level of service you will get from us will be far greater due to this.

For those of you who still want a Pandora from the first batch there is a small number (about 100) still available to
preorder, on a first come first served basis, at $330 each, if you want one email: [email protected].
These are limited to one per customer.

We are also able to offer a very limited number of consoles to web stores (less than 150), again on a first come basis.

There won't be another batch until 2010.

So, between now and then, what's going to happen?

Currently we have 105 test mass production Pandoras, as well as numerous full pre-production Pandora consoles.
A lot of these are with developers who are working on software, you will have seen a lot of it in the videos we have posted on youtube.

In October the factory will start to populate 4000 Pandora PCBs, this will be a slow process at first
which will become substantially faster after the initial 800.
As the PCBs are completed, they are tested then put in to cases, boxed up and shipped out to you.

After we ship the first 4000 units , and before the second batch, we will then be concentrating on software
development, looking after the current customers and, well, trying to make the Pandora the best open hand held ever made.

Also consider that there is still nothing like the Pandora on the market; digital dpad, dual analogue nubs, qwerty keyboard,
800*480 touch screen, over 10 hours of battery life and lots more, we think you will really like it.

So, you can finally sit back, be happy and join the fun on the forums at http://gp32x.com/board or our fancy new
website http://openpandora.org

Thanks,

Craig and the OpenPandora team.

PS if you got this email more than once I'm really sorry, new website teething problems!

Anyway I have no doubt if Pandora takes off form this first run and is the machine they claim it is it's going to be something to be sure.

 

[revl8er]

Looks interesting, if all goes well I just might buy one.