Nine negative experiences with LattePanda products manufactured by DFRobot

Last Updated on April 28, 2023 by pg@petergamma.org

• Raspberry Pi´s are hardly available in Switzerland.
• Countless YouTube video demo makers talk or Raspberry Pi alternatives.
• LattePandas sold by DFRobot has the potential to be one.

But we made a lot of negative experiences with LattePanda manufactuered DFRobot

1. First negative experience: The LattePanda V1 is sold without Windows licence and can be updated with an old Ubuntu version, but this is only an emergency solution for us personally until a better solution so available:

HDMI out works with the LattePanda V1 & Ubuntu Unity with a 4.12 Patched Kernel as well as the update to Ubuntu 21.04

• Ed Humble humble offers a GITHUB project how to install an old Ubuntu version for the device and patch it.
• But to be a real Raspberry Pi alternative which can also be used as a PinePhone alternative, for instance a 5 inch screen is required with pen control and onscreen touch keyboard
• Both is not implemented in Ed Humble´s instruction

1. Second negative experience: DF Robot claims that Lubuntu is available for the LattePanda, but no users confirm that it works

Which are the latest Linux distributions for the LattePanda V1?

• We do not know of any users who confirm that it works and reports that he uses it.

1. Thirt negative experience: DF Robot offers a Ubuntu instruction, but the LattePanda Delta which is previously sold by Digitec Switzerland is not available anymore: DF Robot refused to sell it

1. Fourth negative experience: DF Robot increases the price for the successor model LattePanda 3 Delta shortly after we reviewed I by 50 USD

• If there is a correlation between our reviews and the increase in price, it is as we do the work by reviewing the device and LattePanda wants to profit from it.
• In any way, the procedure of LattePanda is completely not understandable
• Is this a procedure of somebody who wants to be successful on the long-term?
• We feel deeply hurt by the procedure of LattePanda and are strongly irritated about this manufacturer

1. Fifth negative experience: Ed Humble reports that it is possible to install also newer versions of Ubuntu on the LattePanda V1 but is it worth it:

HDMI out works with the LattePanda V1 & Ubuntu Unity with a 4.12 Patched Kernel as well as the update to Ubuntu 21.04

• Ed Humble has again a very helpful instruction available to install a Linux OS on the LattePanda V1
• Ed Humble´s instructions are helpful, but the instructions and the procedure of DFRobot how to install Linux on LattePandas has lead to irritations, confusions and frustrations about Linux and LattePandas which we reported in our journal.

-n Ed Humble says it is possible to run a newer version of Ubuntu on the LattePanda V1

• From newer version of Ubuntu we know that it also supports touch
• For a mobile device which can be a PinePhone alternative for mobile computing, for instance a 5 inch screen is required with pen control and touch screen keyboard
• But to implement this in Ed Humbles Ubuntu instruction for the LattePanda V1, does this not take a lot of time?
• is the effort worth it?
• We suppose, that the Orange Pi 5 will be available in Switzerland sooner or later:

Why is the Orange Pi 5 not available in Switzerland?

• which offers a straightforward installation of Ubuntu an Armbian.

1. Sixth negative experience: Who wants to invest then a lot of money for a LattePanda Alpha which runs Linux or a lot of time in updating Ed Humbles Ubuntu instruction for the LattePanda V1 which is a SBC which is 6 years old?

1. Seventh negative experience: Who want to invest a lot of time in an updated Ubuntu installation for the 6 years old LattePanda V1

1. Eight negative experience: The MRIS has lost a lot of time evaluating LattePanda products which turned out not to be helpful for our purpose

• at first sight, the instructions of DFRobot look as if they are helpful, but at second sight, they lead to irritation.
• It took us almost two weeks time to evalute LattePandas for our application and did not find a satisfying solution.

9. Nineth negative experience

• We reported a lot of issues about LattePanda products in our journal, but these issues seem not to be resolved.
• But instead of that LattePanda releases new products as for instance the LattePanda Sigma
• And we are asking the question does LattePanda not resolve issues in their products but only want to sell new products to short sighted buyers?