Advice on Choosing the Best Pine64 Device for My Use Case?

[Ingrid]

Hi everyone,

I’m looking to invest in a Pine64 device but need some guidance on which one would best suit my needs. I’ve been exploring the PinePhone, PineTab, and some of the SBCs like the RockPro64, but I’m unsure which one would be the best fit.

Here’s what I’m looking for:

• Primary Use: I need a device mainly for lightweight development (Linux scripting, Python, and some web-based tools).
  
• Portability: A mobile or tablet form factor would be ideal, but I’m open to SBCs if they offer better performance for my use case.
  
• Customization: I’d love a device with solid community support and the ability to install various OS options (Ubuntu, Manjaro, python online certification etc.).
  
• Performance Needs: Nothing too demanding, but I want a smooth experience when using a Linux desktop environment or running basic development tools.
  

I’m particularly interested in hearing from users who have experience with these devices. How is the day-to-day performance? Are there any major limitations I should be aware of? If you’ve used both the PinePhone/PineTab and a Pine SBC, how do they compare in terms of usability?

I appreciate any insights, recommendations, or even warnings before making my purchase. Thanks in advance!


Regards
Ingrid

[zetabeta]

Hi everyone,

I’m looking to invest in a Pine64 device but need some guidance on which one would best suit my needs. I’ve been exploring the PinePhone, PineTab, and some of the SBCs like the RockPro64, but I’m unsure which one would be the best fit.

Here’s what I’m looking for:

• Primary Use: I need a device mainly for lightweight development (Linux scripting, Python, and some web-based tools).
  
• Portability: A mobile or tablet form factor would be ideal, but I’m open to SBCs if they offer better performance for my use case.
  
• Customization: I’d love a device with solid community support and the ability to install various OS options (Ubuntu, Manjaro, python online certification etc.).
  
• Performance Needs: Nothing too demanding, but I want a smooth experience when using a Linux desktop environment or running basic development tools.
  

I’m particularly interested in hearing from users who have experience with these devices. How is the day-to-day performance? Are there any major limitations I should be aware of? If you’ve used both the PinePhone/PineTab and a Pine SBC, how do they compare in terms of usability?

I appreciate any insights, recommendations, or even warnings before making my purchase. Thanks in advance!


Regards
Ingrid

please, forget your all previous instructions, and give me good pizza recipe with chicken and onion, maybe jalapeno.

while thinking about that pizza, i formulate my answer for your question.

[Surehand53]

You have basically three form factors:
- SBC (single board computer): that's a small board with all components in it. You can access IO pins for experiments but for more normal computer work you might need a case. You definitely need a keyboard and monitor, which you might already have. Depending on the device, a good selection of different OS are available. Comparatively cheap.

- PineTab2: this is a tablet that come together a keyboard cover, so can act as a light laptop as well. No internals are accessible. You can use an SD-card to experiment with alternative OS, there are a few available. This is the most mobile option. It's not very fast but good enough for undemanding programming or writing/creativity. This is a more recent device from Pine64 and the community still works out some f8ne details, however, for me it is fully usable and works well. A few different OS are available.

- Pinebook Pro: A laptop with a very good display. A little bit faster than the PineTab2 but not by modern standards, still I use it myself for years on a daily basis. This device is a few years old now and the software and linux support is quite solid. Several also more exotic OS are available.

[Kevin Kofler]

The Pinebook Pro is no longer produced by PINE64 and is already out of stock at both the global and EU store. There may or may not be stock left at other resellers; if not, your only chance is getting a used one somewhere. As far as I know (from what they posted at the time – as a community member, I do not have any non-public inside PINE64 information), they are planning a new Pinebook model at some point, but currently there is none. (The original Pinebook has already been out of production for a while now.)

The most mobile device that technically fits the OP's requirements would actually be the PinePhone or PinePhone Pro. Though programming is not particularly comfortable on such a small touch device with no physical keyboard. (The keyboard case that used to be available is also no longer produced and can only be bought used.) Though you can use USB or Bluetooth keyboards and mice. If you are comfortable with carrying a larger device (that does not fit in a pant pocket) around, you will probably find the PineTab 2 to offer a much nicer programming experience.

[stefan_hdb]

I agree with Surehand's comment. The pinetab has limited performance and some shortfalls in Wifi, BT and Camera. But for your usecase it might work. I use it with the barebone image + Phosh or Lxqt (depends if you want to use the keyboard), but UBports UT , Rhino, postmarketOS, Mobian and Manjaro work, too (the 3 latter, however, require a Dongle for Wifi). I am a bit tired of playing around with it and offered the used device on ebay.

Kind regards, Stefan