If you've met me at a conference you may have noticed that instead of a laptop I was using a handeld which looks like a laptop scaled down to nintendo DS size, the OpenPandora.

I've used it as my main computing device while travelling for a few years, even for work (as a programmer)so happily that when EvilDragon

YouTube: DragonBox Pyra FOSDEM 2014 (SANQUAmag)

that he was working on a successor device I started saving money for it even before I knew many details about the specs, other that they would have been way better than the Pandora ones (which is getting painful to use a browser on, because of its 256MB RAM).



Now this successor device is almost ready, they have opened the preorders, and they have already reached the absolute minimum number of orders for mass production and are almost there for a more reasonable number of 1000 devices, so if you want a chance to get one of the first batch devices now it's time to visit their store.

A few highlights, from my point of view, include:

* It will run Debian with just a custom kernel/bootloader (and a few configuration only packages): most of the kernel mods are being submitted upstream, so maybe one day there won't even be a need for this kernel (but e.g. with Pandora upstream didn't accept the custom way they managed the keyboard; on the Pyra the keyboard is managed in a more standard way, but there may be other similar issues).

* It has been designed with modularity in mind: the CPU board is socketed on the main board and in the future upgrades may require just replacing the CPU board. I haven't read the details on the actual licensing, but it seems that the hardware design will be open enough that 3rd party boards may also be a possibility.

* just like on Pandora: real keyboard. hardware analog volume wheel. Huge user-replaceable battery (I don't think that there are any independent reviews of the pyra battery yet, but the one on the Pandora is still able to go through a day of FOSDEM — i.e. alternating often between on with wifi and suspendend — and only go down to 50% or so charge). Stylus (and 3d-printed quill) friendly touchscreen. Long term support from the producer.

* The 4G version has been designed in such a way that the GSM modem can be actually turned off (just like on the Neo900)

There are of course a few bad parts:

* PowerVR. The good news is that there is a risk that no 3d drivers will be available at all, and this means that the Pyra has been tested and considered good enough with just (FOSS) software acceleration.

* The price: yes, it is expensive. I'm happy I've saved money in advance for it, otherwise I wouldn't have been able to afford it. Some of it is a problem of small production, some is actual product quality. If you consider that it can take the place of both a laptop (and small ones are getting quite expensive, now that netbooks have disappeared) and a smartphone (I don't do lots of voice calls) it will start going down from "oh so **** high" to "high, but not unreasonably so"

Disclaimer: I have preordered one, so I am interested in the success of the project because it will mean better software and better support for the device.

Edit: forgot the link to the press kit the image comes from, which also includes more infos on specs etc. (and typos, twice)