12-11-2018, 12:54 AM
I just really wanted some ARM single-board computer in a laptop casing with low power consumption (and hence a good battery life), which would run Linux and had a good portability (thin, light, compact) and reasonable price tag. Performance was not much a concern for me. I saw a lot of options (was looking for something like that for almost 10 years, since I found about OpenPandora). And finally, when I found about 11.6" Pinebook (which was roughly in beginning of this year), I instantly thought it was a type of device I was looking for. Unfortunately, at that point of time, production of 14" model was running and it was uncertain, whether there would be a new 11.6" batch.
But eventually, production was restarted and I got my 11.6" Pinebook.
While I'm a coder, I don't use it often for programming (even though it's keyboard is decent, it's not perfect for reasons mentioned by cvmiller). I usually use it for working via SSH on remote machines (it makes a really nice portable terminal for that), reading various tech docs, articles etc. via browser. And in my free time, I also use it to play some games, like NetHack, GNU Backgammon, Simon Tatham's Portable Puzzle Collection.
I'd say it's a really great device, when you know it's strengths.
But eventually, production was restarted and I got my 11.6" Pinebook.
While I'm a coder, I don't use it often for programming (even though it's keyboard is decent, it's not perfect for reasons mentioned by cvmiller). I usually use it for working via SSH on remote machines (it makes a really nice portable terminal for that), reading various tech docs, articles etc. via browser. And in my free time, I also use it to play some games, like NetHack, GNU Backgammon, Simon Tatham's Portable Puzzle Collection.
I'd say it's a really great device, when you know it's strengths.