+- PINE64 (https://forum.pine64.org)
+-- Forum: Pinebook Pro (https://forum.pine64.org/forumdisplay.php?fid=111)
+--- Forum: General Discussion on Pinebook Pro (https://forum.pine64.org/forumdisplay.php?fid=112)
+--- Thread: Pinebook Pro Initial Impressions (/showthread.php?tid=8024)
RE: Pinebook Pro Initial Impressions - User 6582 - 10-22-2019
(10-19-2019, 01:03 PM)zaius Wrote: My Pinebook Pro arrived yesterday
It was packed extremely well. Overall, it looks great. No one would ever guess it only cost $200. The fit and finish is very good. The screen quality and video playback are excellent. Sound through the built-in speakers could be better, but headphones seem to work fine. The top case sags a bit in the middle when I press on the center of the keyboard, although the keyboard itself is surprisingly good. The touchpad seems to work fine, although there seems to be a small dead area in the top center that doesn't click. Two-finger scrolling is very quick and smooth. I've been playing back videos from a 3.0 USB stick to run down the battery, and the computer hasn't felt warm. The USB 2.0 port works fine with a mouse. Unfortunately, the WiFi is weak — my crappy smart phone (that I almost never use) gets full bars, but the PBP only shows 55%. (I don't have any hardware to test the USB-C or Bluetooth. I haven't tried the SD card slot.)
There are some software problems. Neither of the browsers included with the stock build work well. Firefox keeps crashing. Chromium won't let me change its settings, and sometimes claims I have no internet. Fixing this should be a priority. The "test speakers" function under sound settings doesn't work. The clock, Bluetooth, and CPU settings get reset every time I reboot. I've tried setting the clock to my time zone several times. Ejecting a thumb drive from USB 3.0 removes it from the desktop but reports "Error ejecting /dev/sda". Trying to open Network from the Pine menu often fails.
Is there a way to set up MATE so it has something similar to an applications folder? I find scrolling through a tiny box rather tedious.
Is there an application to manage users and groups?
Are there better descriptions of the CPU settings?
Does anyone know of a way I could test the microphone and camera?
tl;dr: So far the hardware seems fine, although the software needs work.
Yes, I'm mirroring your issues as well.
I did find a solution to setting the time by going to a command line change. I don't remember the details (I'm on another computer while the PBP gets its first recharge) , but found it easily enough by Googling "Debian 9 time zone change". If you can't find it that way I'll look tonight and get the details...
Another interesting thing I found was Firefox ESR (extended service release) 60.00 wouldn't work at all....Seems like an ESR version of Firefox that worked for PBP might be a good idea to keep from constantly needing to tweak a browser....That make sense?
Yes, my wifi seems weak compared to other computers I have....Funny, I get the same 50-something percent readings as well, regardless of distance from the wifi router.....
I have had to play around with font sizes and window sizes to get something a little bigger. A little too small for me out of the box... :-)
Still playing with the trackpad, since I find it's too sensitive. Tried a wireless mouse but it didn't work. Maybe a Bluetooth mouse? Something else?
And I'll be interested to find out what will make the mic and camera useful.....
And as Luke mentions, would Ayufan's spin make things more usable?
And the beat goes on.... :-)
RE: Pinebook Pro Initial Impressions - iamthenewone - 10-22-2019
Hi everyone, I received my PBP just yesterday and I am quite happy about that fact!
First impressions:
- Like the design and feel of the case
- Keyboard has a nice touch and feedback
- Trackpad is ok, but I need to adjust to the sensitivity of it + clicking sound is quite loud
- Display illumination was uneven at the edges caused by the frame not being processed uniformly. I had to squeeze everything around and along the edges together, looking fine now.
- Software running fine till now, including Chrome.
Here I need your help / better understanding:
- I tried to install ayufans latest release of Bionic Mate. I used Etcher to put the image on a 32gb sd card. But my PBP will boot straight into preinstalled Debian skipping the SD card. My understanding was that it should boot the SD first, right? Any ideas what I am doing wrong (I tried to the forum search already
?
RE: Pinebook Pro Initial Impressions - zaius - 10-22-2019
(10-22-2019, 03:19 PM)iamthenewone Wrote: - I tried to install ayufans latest release of Bionic Mate. I used Etcher to put the image on a 32gb sd card. But my PBP will boot straight into preinstalled Debian skipping the SD card. My understanding was that it should boot the SD first, right?
Yes, I'm typing on it now
The thing with the SD card is that it needs to get pushed in until it locks. So boot the preinstalled Debian, then insert the SD card such that it stays visible on the desktop after you remove your finger from the slot. Then shutdown, and it should load Bionic Mate when you start it again.
RE: Pinebook Pro Initial Impressions - iamthenewone - 10-23-2019
(10-22-2019, 04:54 PM)zaius Wrote:(10-22-2019, 03:19 PM)iamthenewone Wrote: - I tried to install ayufans latest release of Bionic Mate. I used Etcher to put the image on a 32gb sd card. But my PBP will boot straight into preinstalled Debian skipping the SD card. My understanding was that it should boot the SD first, right?
Yes, I'm typing on it now
The thing with the SD card is that it needs to get pushed in until it locks. So boot the preinstalled Debian, then insert the SD card such that it stays visible on the desktop after you remove your finger from the slot. Then shutdown, and it should load Bionic Mate when you start it again.
Ok, that's good. :-D I double-checked, the SD card is recognized and visible on the desktop. I guess this behavior maybe related to the card itself, will try today with a new one.
RE: Pinebook Pro Initial Impressions - zaius - 10-23-2019
There are lots of bogus cards out there. Fortunately, there is a great application to check them called F3. I just checked Synaptic and there is a package for Bionic, so there is probably one for Debian. I run it on Macports on every card I buy.
RE: Pinebook Pro Initial Impressions - User 6582 - 10-23-2019
(10-23-2019, 06:10 AM)zaius Wrote: There are lots of bogus cards out there. Fortunately, there is a great application to check them called F3. I just checked Synaptic and there is a package for Bionic, so there is probably one for Debian. I run it on Macports on every card I buy.
Thank You!!
Just installed on my Linux machine.....
Will try on the PBP when I fire it up...:-)
RE: Pinebook Pro Initial Impressions - iamthenewone - 10-23-2019
(10-23-2019, 12:08 AM)iamthenewone Wrote:Tried with a new SD card, everything working well now.(10-22-2019, 04:54 PM)zaius Wrote:(10-22-2019, 03:19 PM)iamthenewone Wrote: - I tried to install ayufans latest release of Bionic Mate. I used Etcher to put the image on a 32gb sd card. But my PBP will boot straight into preinstalled Debian skipping the SD card. My understanding was that it should boot the SD first, right?
Yes, I'm typing on it now
The thing with the SD card is that it needs to get pushed in until it locks. So boot the preinstalled Debian, then insert the SD card such that it stays visible on the desktop after you remove your finger from the slot. Then shutdown, and it should load Bionic Mate when you start it again.
Ok, that's good. :-D I double-checked, the SD card is recognized and visible on the desktop. I guess this behavior maybe related to the card itself, will try today with a new one.
RE: Pinebook Pro Initial Impressions - Luke - 10-23-2019
Hi all, the NVMe adapter issue has been identified and resolved. If you already have an adaptor then you'll be getting the bits and pieces necessary to make it work properly. Thanks for testing and letting us get to the bottom of this issue!
[edit] until you receive the necessary stuff for the fix, please do not use it in the Pinebook Pro chassis.
RE: Pinebook Pro Initial Impressions - Wizzard - 10-24-2019
So we will get another package with some stuff?
RE: Pinebook Pro Initial Impressions - dumetrulo - 10-24-2019
(10-23-2019, 05:57 PM)Luke Wrote: Hi all, the NVMe adapter issue has been identified and resolved. If you already have an adaptor then you'll be getting the bits and pieces necessary to make it work properly. Thanks for testing and letting us get to the bottom of this issue!
Does this mean that by the time the second batch is being shipped, anyone who ordered the NVME adapter will receive a modified one? Or the 'bits and pieces' plus instructions?