Last Updated on May 7, 2023 by pg@petergamma.org
We reported before about negative experiences with LattePanda products in our journal.
For instance in one shop we see that one piece of a certain LattePanda model is availabe
- and what happens if this piece is sold out?
- Do costumers have to buy the SBC at the next shop for a higher price?
We have found the product in a second shop who offers stock numbers
- but which costumer wants to buy is product again and again at other shops?
The LattePanda V1 with 2 GB RAM
- seems to be relatively stable as far as the prize is concerned and is available in several shops.
LattePanda V1 with 2 GB Ram and Linux?
- If someone is looking for a LattePanda V1 with 2 GB with Linux, there is a problem.
- For a LattePanda V1 with 2 GB of RAM Lubuntu would be a good choice because Lubuntu saves resources.
- LattePanda has an instruction for Lubuntu in the documentation, but the code for it is not published, and we do not know of users who report to use it.
Also a reviewer who wanted to install Fedora on the LattePanda V1 gave it up, and installed Ubuntu server instead on the device.
Developer Ed Humble contradicts Lattepanda
- In his documentation Ed Humble says, he did only get an old version of Ubuntu to work on the LattePanda V1, but no other flavor, for instance Lubuntu did not work for him
- to get everything working he used a patched old kernel.
Ed Humble offers an instruction for the LattePanda V1, but only for the 4 GB version
We found one shop which offers the LattePanda V1 with 4 GB
- But what happens if someone buys this LattePanda with 4 GB?
- Is it then sold out, as with the example of the Raspberry Pi 4 in one shop we observed recently, where only one piece was available, and then it was sold out again?
- And then costumers have to find another shop where the device is offered at a higher price, calculated by a marketing software, to find out how much we are ready to pay for this model?
- We found another LattePanda V1 with 4 GB on eBay
- but the seller indicates, that he has sold more pieces that his stock contains.
- it is a seller which has a stock indications which are not reliable.
We have evaluated LattePanda products for around three weeks
- after our evaluation we came to the conclusion, that the LattePanda Delta has solved the problems with Linux the LattePanda V1 had.
- LattePanda offers a straightforward installation instruction for the LattePanda Delta in the documentation.
- There are demo videos available which show Linux on the LattePanda Delta.
- We have published this previously in our journal
- But after our reviews, DFRobot increased the prize for the LattePanda Delta for 50 USD.
We will not review certain single board computers anymore with instable prize politics, since we do not want to risk that our reviews causes an increase in price for those.
- The LattePanda Delta was pulled from the market in one shop.
- Then it was offered in two other shops at a higher price.
After we have complained about this the LattePanda Delta was offered again in two other shop
- in one shop where it was pulled from the market, the device was offered again after our comlaint.
- the shop offers a good service.
- but the prize in that shop was increased to almost the prize of the LattePanda Alpha
- altough LattePanda previously claimed that the LattePanda Delta is sold out, suddenly 5 pieces where available for the prize which is almost as high as the LattePanda alpha.
This increase in prize is not understandable
- was the LattePanda Delta not advertises as a low cost product which less power than the LattePanda Alpha with reduced price?
We complained again in our journal
- Then LattePanda offered the LattePanda Delta for 100 USD less.
- but was only for a short time.
- The reduced LattePanda Delta is sold out out again, and offered again at the prize which is almost as high as the LattePanda alpha.
Other manufacturers indicate clearly how big the stock is.
- but LattePanda gives contradictory information.
Other manufacturer have a stable price politics
- Some shops offer a price trends over weeks and month which show that these products are in stock and the prize is stable.
- But LattePanda offers neither a stable price politics nor a stock numbers on which costumers can trust.
How to resolve this issue?
- The LattePanda V1 with 2 GB RAM seems to be relvatively stable as far as the prize is concerned as well as the availability in several shops, as well the stock numbers which are indicated.
- It is therefore eventually worth to try to test if Ed Humbles instruction for the 4 GB version of the LattePanda V1 also works for the 2 GB version, of if it can be modified for the 2 GB version.
- According to Ed Humble, his incstruction shown above can eventually be updated to newer Ubuntu versions. Ed Humbles brother tested it, see in the comments below Ed Humbles YouTube video.
- The LattePanda V1 with 2 GB RAM running Ubuntu could be an interesting Raspberry Pi alternative which is available, but only as long as DFRobot does no stock market speculation with the device and only as long as stocks, prices and availability is stable, and it lacks still the proof that Ubuntu runs on the 2 GB version.
What is your opinion about this topic. Leave it in the comments below: