Pinebook Pro Initial Impressions

[Syg]

I've had my PBP ANSI for one week.

After firmware update the keyboard mapped to ANSI in the log-in screen but once logged in to Debian Mate it reverted to ISO layout.

Since I really disliked Debian Mate I decided to replace it with Manjaro KDE Plasma ARM first and see if the keyboard mapping problem persisted. It did not, keyboard is fine in Manjaro.

In general I'd say that the Manjaro Plasma experience is much more polished and fully functioning than the OOTB Debian Mate. That is a subjective impression; I don't have details to back up that assertion.

The most troublesome issue I'm having now is that the KDE Plasma setting "Disable trackpad when typing" doesn't work. So if I'm not really concentrating when typing my palm will touch the trackpad and the cursor will jump. If I have a mouse, I use the "Disable trackpad" setting which solves that problem.

I was unable to insert a microSD card with my fingers. I needed a credit card to help it insert far enough to catch. Credit card also needed to eject. No big deal for me.

Wifi works. Bluetooth works. Speakers work. The microSD drive works.

I have always hated trackpads. The PBP trackpad is better than the Lenovo Thinkpad T460 I have at work and it is also better than the 6-year old System 76 Gallago Pro I have at home. I guess that isn't saying much but... I'm most happy when using the PBP in conjunction with a mouse like I would for any other laptop I've ever had. I've had no problem with the 2.4Gh wireless mouse connection.

Thank you Pine64 for the great work!