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View Full Version : What open-source handheld should I consider getting?



Tupin
05-02-2010, 01:48 AM
Okay, after seeing some Youtube videos and reading some articles, I realized how cool these things are. There seem to be three main ones, two of which are in similar categories (Dingoo A320 and GP2X Wiz) and one that is like a mini-PC (Pandora)

Anyone have any experience on one of these systems that allows you to make a recommendation of one over another? All these systems either come with Linux standard or allow Linux to be installed, so that levels the field in that regard, I guess.

What's the deal with the Pandora anyway? It looks cool, but it seems like it's not out yet and won't be for a while.

ScourDX
05-02-2010, 03:15 AM
Maybe this video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-33IdcH3Wb8&feature=related) will help?

OldSchoolGamer
05-02-2010, 03:53 PM
Just my 2 cents. First I have the WIZ and the Dingoo. Probably nobody needs both but I am a sucker for gadgets. OK for the price I personally have no interest in the Pandora I mean sure it has that cool factor but at the point you are losing the portability and at the price point you might as well get a mini notebook or Netbook. Between the Wiz and Dingoo. Well, Wiz is more $$$
but better build quality overall. The Dingoo is surprisingly capable and cheaper, many people bitch about the cheap chinese build quality but come on, for what you pay you get a lot. Admittedly you do not want to drop you Dingoo or stick it in your pocket with your keys but if you are the type that handles such gadgets carefully you should have no problems. If you compare what has been released so far the Dingoo actually seems to be getting a slight edge in support perhaps due to it's affordability? You MUST check out the file archive that seems to host most of the software for all theses platforms:
http://dl.openhandhelds.org/
You can compare support and see what is best for YOU. If you are dead set on getting only one I say Dingoo if you want the best deal but if the cheaper build quality puts you off or you tend to be a little rough with your handhelds then get the WIZ. IMHO since the Pandora is not out (will it ever really be?) I do not consider it part of the equation, again if I want something that big and $$$$ I would just get a Netbook/Mini laptop, I mean you could always hack or run something open source on it if you did some research I am sure.

Richter Belmount
05-02-2010, 04:44 PM
Game.com

Tupin
05-02-2010, 07:39 PM
Apparently the Dingoo successor is coming out soon, the A330:
http://www.ubergizmo.com/15/archives/2010/04/dingoo_a330_mini_game_king.html

kedawa
05-03-2010, 01:23 AM
Hopefully they improved the dpad and worked out that button glitch that plagued the A320's default emulators.

Tupin
05-03-2010, 08:13 AM
They fixed the button thing months ago with an update, it was completely a software issue. They've been shipping out new A320's with this update since November.