Pinebook first impressions

[Pagliacci]

Just received the Pinebook.

First impressions and thoughts.

At first all seemed well.

The battery was 95% charged upon delivery so that was an improvement on many people's experience (flat due to not shutting down properly after testing).

Then I spotted a stuck LCD panel pixel - just a single pixel off to the upper left screen permanently green. Poor QA. Should never have left the factory in that condition.

More concerning is quite serious keyboard faults. For some reason I can't fathom, the '-' (minus) key (between '0' (zero) and '+' (plus) produces multiple key presses on a single quick touch, and then sticks causing repeat characters until I hit another key. Disabling the key repeat in the Mate operating system helps, but why the fault?

I've checked the seating of the ribbon cable. It is fine. I've even lifted off the key cap. No difference with the key cap off and no change when I pop it back on either.

Additionally, I later found that the combination left Shift and 'm' does not produce a capital 'M'. It doesn't produce any key press. The right Shift combined with 'm' correctly produces 'M'.

I can't work out how, if or whether this could be a physical hardware problem or a software scan problem.

Finally, there is no video output to the mini HDMI port on the left hand side on the Pinebook. Should this work yet or do I need to wait for a driver update?

I also have a Rock64, 4GB RAM with 64GB eMMC, which I am very impressed with. I even managed to flash the eMMC without faffing about with a console cable. Just used a jumper cable (actually a GPIO wire from my several Raspberry Pi models!), waited for a few seconds so both eMMC and microSD card were visible to the system, booted off the SD and then wrote an image to /dev/mmcblk0 (the eMMC)

On the whole I am quite disappointed with the Pinebook and regret buying it.  I am pleasantly surprised with the Rock64 which seems to hold much promise. I'm glad I didn't suffer the dreadful experiences with the original Pine64. But I feel I've been stung with the Pinebook. Should have just stuck with the order for the Rock. Oh well!

Any advice and comments would be welcome.

[Pagliacci]

Just received the Pinebook.
<snip>   edited out duplicate content--   MarkHaysHarris777

Well I'm very disappointed that nobody, especially the moderator @MarkHaysHarris777, has bothered to comment on the serious keyboard issues at least.

[MarkHaysHarris777]

Just received the Pinebook.

<snip>

Well I'm very disappointed that nobody, especially the moderator @MarkHaysHarris777, has bothered to comment on the serious keyboard issues at least.

 --  you have got to be kidding, right ?

I am the one who is driving getting the Pinebook keyboard module(s) replaced on the 14" Pinebook, 

Please read this entire thread :

... particularly posts #4, #9, #10, #11, and #12.


Thanks.



PS:   We have two individuals who will be testing the new Pinebook with updated keyboard on this week.  TLLim has indicated that the vendor is willing to replace the keyboard modules if we insist.  The new Pinebooks ( with updated keyboard modules ) will be shipping next batch, presuming that the two individuals selected to test give it their blessing.

Please check out the rest of the forum, and feel free to discuss anything that concerns you live on the irc chat;  see address below;  I live there most days ( and nights ).

[Pagliacci]

Just received the Pinebook.

<snip>

Well I'm very disappointed that nobody, especially the moderator @MarkHaysHarris777, has bothered to comment on the serious keyboard issues at least.

 --  you have got to be kidding, right ?

I am the one who is driving getting the Pinebook keyboard module(s) replaced on the 14" Pinebook, 

Please read this entire thread :

... particularly posts #4, #9, #10, #11, and #12.


Thanks.



PS:   We have two individuals who will be testing the new Pinebook with updated keyboard on this week.  TLLim has indicated that the vendor is willing to replace the keyboard modules if we insist.  The new Pinebooks ( with updated keyboard modules ) will be shipping next batch, presuming that the two individuals selected to test give it their blessing.

Please check out the rest of the forum, and feel free to discuss anything that concerns you live on the irc chat;  see address below;  I live there most days ( and nights ).

I was referring to the specific serious keyboard faults in my own post. Namely the constantly repeating "-" key and the non functioning Shift m combination (left Shift). Which nobody bothered to even comment on. Is this just another aspect of the Pinebook 14" keyboard woes or another new aspect?

Is it likely that Pinebook 14" owners will have a replacement keyboard sent to them?

I repeat that I regret purchasing the Pinebook (it clearly wasn't ready to be shipped - not tested nearly enough) but the Rock64 board seems promising

[MarkHaysHarris777]

Just received the Pinebook.

<snip>

I was referring to the specific serious keyboard faults in my own post. Namely the constantly repeating "-" key and the non functioning Shift m combination (left Shift). Which nobody bothered to even comment on. Is this just another aspect of the Pinebook 14" keyboard woes or another new aspect?

Is it likely that Pinebook 14" owners will have a replacement keyboard sent to them?

I repeat that I regret purchasing the Pinebook (it clearly wasn't ready to be shipped - not tested nearly enough) but the Rock64 board seems promising

Ok.  The reason nobody is commenting on them is they are unique to your unit.

... for instance,  on my Pinebook the two Alt keys ( yes both of them ) are dead.  Nobody else is having this problem (seriously).  I have proven that the dead keys are not cabling, matrix, or the module itself;  both modules have the same problem-- so its a defect in the 8051 or in my specific version of the 8051 scan code firmware.

There might be a solder ball on the board, but, its not the fpc connector either !

My point is that many people are experiencing varying problems with the Pinebook keyboards, and we are working hard to resolve them.  But, please don't accuse any of us, especially me, of not caring nor commenting.  That's all I've done with respect to this keyboard issue since my Pinebook arrived.

As I stated before, the vendor is willing to replace the modules if we insist;  I think we should insist !  We're working in that direction, and the negotiations are looking promising ;  my module replacement went well;  I documented it thoroughly if you read the thread.

[MarkHaysHarris777]

I would like to recommend that you open a support ticket with Pine , and have the Pinebook replaced under warranty;  you might want to wait and see if they will replace it with the model with the better keyboard.

[Pagliacci]

I would like to recommend that you open a support ticket with Pine , and have the Pinebook replaced under warranty;  you might want to wait and see if they will replace it with the model with the better keyboard.

Thanks for the suggestion. I had already done so. But Pine have not bothered to respond to the Support Ticket. Not even an acknowledgement of receipt.

[debaser]

I like the Pinebook, and I have come to accept the keyboard shortcomings and with a bit of use have gotten used to it. I have a spacebar issue as well. I put in a ticket a week ago and this is the response I got.....meh..

The current Pinebook space bar may not register keystroke if press lightly on both end of space bar.

... support team

[Pagliacci]

I like the Pinebook, and I have come to accept the keyboard shortcomings and with a bit of use have gotten used to it. I have a spacebar issue as well. I put in a ticket a week ago and this is the response I got.....meh..

The current Pinebook space bar may not register keystroke if press lightly on both end of space bar.

... support team

Thanks @debaser.

The Support Ticket I raised was regarding the specific faults on my Pinebook keyboard, rather than the other more general "light touch" failures to register keystrokes.

As I said, Pine didn't bother responding to the Ticket, not even an acknowledgement.

[Pagliacci]

I like the Pinebook, and I have come to accept the keyboard shortcomings and with a bit of use have gotten used to it. I have a spacebar issue as well. I put in a ticket a week ago and this is the response I got.....meh..

The current Pinebook space bar may not register keystroke if press lightly on both end of space bar.

... support team

Thanks @debaser.

The Support Ticket I raised was regarding the specific faults on my Pinebook keyboard, rather than the other more general "light touch" failures to register keystrokes.

As I said, Pine didn't bother responding to the Ticket, not even an acknowledgement.

@MarkHaysHarris I am having difficulty getting any response from Pine on attempts to get my keyboard replaced. Can you help in any way by talking directly to the team?