Does a machine like this exist?

I've been thinking about buying a Pandora handheld console (http://openpandora.org/)




It seems great, except that it won't run Windows games. Granted this was deliberate by the makers of the Pandora (using a non-Windows compatible ARM chip results in a much longer battery life, apparently), but what I'd really love is a similar handheld that can run Windows games, even relatively old and underdemanding games, such as Deus Ex, Unreal Tournament 1999, and Carmageddon. Is there such a handheld, or are there any laptops/netbooks that have the two analogue sticks that the Pandora has? I have to travel a lot for work (by train, as I can't drive) and I'd love to be able to play games on say a netbook sized PC that had joypad style controls built in (you rarely get a table on a train on commuting hours, so a laptop' keyboard + external mouse is rarely an option for games playing).

 

For something like that your best bet is a Razer Edge. It's a netbook sized Windows tablet with the controls commonly found on many modern controllers. Only downside is the reviews and the price. But for older stuff it should work fine. Google search will reveal all.

 

You could build one with a Raspberry pi

 

No. The raspberry pi has the same architecture as the pandora, but less power.
While the pandora can be used to play starcraft (and a lot of older games) via qemu, the pi can't compare in this.

The pi is perfect for a home-server (what I use it for) or multimedia device though.

 

What were the pandora's specs?

 

[from the Wikipedia page at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pandora_(console)]

Pandora Classic

Texas Instruments OMAP3530 system-on-chip
ARM Cortex-A8 CPU @ 600 MHz
PowerVR SGX530 @ 110 MHz
IVA2+ audio and video processor with TMS320C64x+ DSP Core @ 430 MHz using DaVinci technology
256 MB DDR-333 SDRAM
512 MB NAND flash memory
Integrated Wi-Fi 802.11b/g
Integrated Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR (3 Mbit/s) (Class 2, +4dBm)
800×480 resolution touchscreen LCD, 4.3" widescreen, 16.7 million colors (300 cd/m2 brightness, 450:1 contrast ratio)
Dual SDHC card slots (currently supporting up to 32 GB of storage each, supports SDIO)
Gamepad controls with 2 shoulder buttons
Dual analog nubs; 15 mm diameter, concave, 2.5 mm travel from centre[27][28]
43 button QWERTY and numeric keypad
USB 2.0 high-speed port (480 Mbit/s) capable of providing standard 500 mA current to attached devices, USB On-The-Go supporting charging Pandora
Externally accessible UART for hardware hacking and debugging
Internal microphone plus ability to connect external microphone through headset[26]
Headphone output up to 150 mW/channel into 16 ohms, 99 dB SNR
TV output (composite and S-Video, both for PAL and NTSC)[26]
Brick prevention with integrated bootloader for safe code experimentation[26]
Runs the Linux kernel (2.6.x for older versions, 3.2 in the latest Super Zaxxon firmware from July 2012)[26]
4200 mAh rechargeable lithium polymer battery[29][30]
Estimated 8.5–10+ hour battery life for games, 10+ hour battery life for video and general applications, 100+ hours for music playback (with maximum power management), and 450+ hours in suspend-to-ram[31][32]
Dimensions: 140.29×83.48×29.25 mm (5.523×3.287×1.152 in) (314 ml) (5.51×3.27×1.06 in)
Mass: 320 g (0.71 lb)
Pandora Rebirth[edit source | editbeta]
Based on Pandora Classic with following changes:
Texas Instruments OMAP3530 system-on-chip
PowerVR SGX530 @110 MHz (newer revision)
512 MB DDR-333 SDRAM



Pandora 1GH

Based on Pandora Classic/Rebirth with following changes:
Texas Instruments DM3730 system-on-chip
ARM Cortex-A8 CPU @ 1 GHz
PowerVR SGX530 @ 200 MHz
IVA2.2 audio and video processor with TMS320C64x+ DSP Core @ 800 MHz using DaVinci technology
512 MB DDR-333 SDRAM @ 200 MHz



I didn't even know there were different models. None of them are x86/x64 based though, so no chance of Windows, sadly (not that I like Windows as such, it's just that all the PC games I like are Windows based).

 

The first Pandora's specs are quite similar to the Pi's

 

That's irrelevant, since the Pi isn't gonna play Windows games either.

 

A while ago I heard about this "Ocosmos – OCS1", basically it's a Windows 7 handheld device. I haven't heard much about it since then, and I wasn't able to find a webshop link neither. Maybe it's still in development I don't know, but there are plenty of hands-on video's and it looks promising.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9aAlIUhCfM0

 

I google'd for x86 handheld and this was the first result.

http://www.mini-itx.com/83372418

 

The only thing I could think of was the OQO, but apparently they went out of business.

Still, if you can snag one, it can run Windows XP, so presumably it could run older Windows games.

 

BTW the pandora can play many pentium era pc games quite well with emulation. But really, for what the OP is looking for, a second-hand razer edge (not to pay 1000$) or custom built nano-itx.

Heck maybe even a netbook with clipped controls from a usb controller!

 

I'm looking into building a Neo Geo emu box using a Raspberry Pi. I figured if the Neo Geo X runs off of Linux and Final Burn I could build something pretty aweosme with 2 Neo X sticks and Final Burn for Pi just set up to boot up into FB

 

Does that actually exist? I can't seem to find that it made it out prototype stage...

 

That'd actually be quite nice and absolutely feasible. Just build a script that's launched at startup and that runs the emu with FB. Heck, you could even make a portable!

 

I even have a template for a case decal.
I just have to get the parts then figure out how to map the interface to the sticks

 

Any cheap windows8 tablet should be able to run anything released before HL2 just fine.

There is an acer 8 inch model going for $300 I think, try that one.

 

buy yourself a Sony Vaio P wonderful little devices

 

GPIO or USB are the most practical choices...

 

I'm probably going to use a mini remote keyboard if all I'm doing with it is playing games via Final Burn.