03-11-2022, 12:24 PM
(02-28-2022, 12:02 AM)TRS-80 Wrote: All due respect Kairei, but if you have to ask such questions, you might not be the person who needs this device in their hands the most at the present time?
I am not sure how many devices are really available, but getting them into hands of people who can help with development should (IMO) be a priority, at least for now.
Besides, unless you want to tinker / help development, you are likely not going to have a good time with current state of software.
Agreed, I'm not capable of helping with development right now, but...
(03-09-2022, 09:57 AM)Zaf9670 Wrote: ...Pine64 did remove the questionnaire that was sort of a gatekeeper for getting these development units...
...so, at this point (and based on their stock page saying they expect continued availability throughout 2022) I assumed it was the time to potentially get one. I wanted to buy one last year but it was clear I wasn't ready and Pine64 wanted them going only to specific developers. Now that people have made such tremendous progress with the software/drivers etc. it seemed I might be able to get one and learn a bit with one in my hands. And if getting stock sold to help fund future batches is of any help, I am going to be looking to buy 10-15 units for my students to help them avoid eye strain when using our software.
As an aside, I was exclusively a Microsoft developer for 20+ years. Over the last decade I've gotten increasingly interested in Linux and open source software to the point where I've moved all my web stuff over to my own cloud Linux servers and haven't touched a Windows server in almost 10 years. When I started looking for an e-ink device for my students I was extremely frustrated about requirements to use proprietary paid cloud services and I just wanted an open piece of hardware I could put my own software on. I stumbled on the PineNote and was ecstatic. Just what I was looking for! I figured it might be fun to tinker with, perhaps even leveraging my web skills by just using a device like this with a browser-based app for my students. Admittedly, yes, I'm still very much a Linux beginner on the hardware/embedded side but my hope was to find some help here to get into it.
Maybe this isn't the best place for such basic questions but when I learn something new, I like to do it with a project I'm passionate about, even if that project is complex... and stopping the ocular migraines of my students and having an amazing tech platform is all I want to do right now... so if anyone is willing to help I'd love a point in the right direction. I'm willing to put in the work but it is a bit tough to start (especially when there seems to be a very real risk I could brick a $400 device).