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1

Gemini PDA - General Discussion / Why buy the Gemini?

« on: March 20, 2018, 09:21:46 am »

Hi all,

OP here. Just wanted to say thanks for taking the time to provide such in-depth feedback! So often I find that communities built around a new or nascent product turn out to be some of the most vocal and helpful; glad to see that's the case here.

My review will land in a few days, but I thought I'd share a brief version of my own experience with the 4G LTE build of the Gemini (running Android) here. Maybe it will spawn some additional conversation.

The Good

• Faithful recreation of Psion Series 5 keyboard
• Hardware size strikes the perfect balance between tiny laptop and oversized smartphone, ideal for airplane seat trays
• Big bright display
• Handy keyboard shortcuts
• Phone calls clear and loud, and reception seems up to speed
• Despite X25/X27 mixup, Android runs swiftly
• Satisfying mechanical action on open and close
• LEDs have promise
• Smart button allows Google Assistant access even when closed (for voice dialing and minor queries)

The Bad

• Multiple keyboard issues as also reported here: sticky spacebar, misaligned keys, prematurely fading key labels
• No keyboard backlight (a huge handicap when on a darkened plane or train – sure, touch typing is great but there's a lot of key doubling and special toggles on Gemini)
• Thin black silicone strip near hinge is loose and lifting off already
• Mini SIM slot (necessitates adapter if you use a modern nano SIM)
• Some apps don't display all available softkeys/UI elements in landscape, necessitating portrait use
• Front-facing camera delivers some pretty rough photos/video
• Speakers loud but very tinny, lacking in bass even for a mobile device
• More screen "bounce" than I expected when typing
• No way that I can find to assign LED light patterns to system events or notifications
• No guarantee of Android updates to version 8 and beyond due to SoC

Misc

• Using it as a primary smartphone is greatly helped by two things: Android Wear smartwatch (for Call ID, quick messaging, media controls) and a Bluetooth headset
• Battery life is adequate for all-day use but given its size I expected to be able to squeeze two days out of the thing, even with heavy use
• Planet's record on providing timely Android security updates is as-yet unproven

On the whole I think this is a good product for people who've wanted to see the return of a device like this, but the Gemini does suffer from a few more teething issues than I expected. It's hard to have faith in this keyboard when I never know if the spacebar or enter keys are going to stick, and it's tough to un-see that lifting strip of silicone too. Personally, I think I'd strongly consider buying a version 2 with a more consistent keyboard and tighter hardware on the whole, because this thing really does come in handy for writing where laptops fail to fit!

2

Gemini PDA - General Discussion / Why buy the Gemini?

« on: March 15, 2018, 06:56:26 pm »

Hi all,

I know that might seem an inflammatory topic from a guy with a single post history, but believe me when I say it's a genuine question!

Here's the thing: I've spent some time with the Gemini in the course of preparing a review of said device, and I can come up with many reasons why I might spend money on such a product (not the least of which is that I love unconventional gadgets). But every time I post about Gemini, I'm confronted with a lot of folks asking why they're not better off buying a keyboard like the Jorno for their smartphone instead. And to my mind, it's a very good question.

So I thought the best people to help me answer it would be the folks who've already ponied up the bucks and put their orders in for the Gemini. Why did you choose this device instead of a smartphone + accessory combo?

Thanks in advance!