The GP2X is an open, Linux-based handheld games console manufactured by Game Park Holdings of South Korea. It has a typical handheld control layout, a good quality backlit screen, built-in stereo speakers, headphone socket, and several connectivity and expansion options. My son is completely taken with the device, and it has won me over too. At £125 (or $190), you’re not going to find a less expensive handheld device that can be expanded into a full-blown computer.
GP2X: It’s All Fun and Games
About The Author
Eugenia Loli
Ex-programmer, ex-editor in chief at OSNews.com, now a visual artist/filmmaker.
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The device is pretty cool, it has a lot of potential thats for sure. But their website is absolutely hideous. http://www.gbax.com A word of advice, dark blue links don’t read well on a dark grey background.
This little nifty device deserves a better website.
Agreed. They certainly should spend some time redesigning. Maybe I’ll drop them an email and make some suggestions. And yeah, dark blue links are bad but the dark purple visited links are even worse.
Web design issues asside, this does look like a lot of fun. I think I’m gonna research this a bit more and look into getting one along with the break out box.
This console looks to have excellent media playing abilities. You’ll need to carry your movies on SD cards though, as internal storage is somewhat limited. I’d love to see something like this with a hard drive so I wouldn’t have to worry about every meg of space. Oh well, I could live without one, and with the resulting longer battery life
It supports usb host, so you can have an external disk attached to it.
See my thoughts – http://osnews.com/permalink.php?news_id=14769&comment_id=129455
If they’ve updated the firmware to alleviate those issues then it could be a keeper
did you test this on the 1.4 or 2.0 firmware?
2.0 made a lot of stride over 1.4. all the emu’s have
had some big updates since may.
This was on 2.0 firmware, unfortunately, in June.
Will be interested to hear how other people get on with it
Gbax.com is just the website of the main uk distributor. The official website of gamepark holdings, who make the gp2x, is http://www.gp2x.com, which is not all that ugly.
That is so cool I really don’t see how I can avoid buying one. Does it have mame ported for old roms?
That is so cool I really don’t see how I can avoid buying one. Does it have mame ported for old roms?
Yes, but it’s an older version, lik3 .35-ish. Whatever games required sample support in that version need samples here too. But the unfortunate thing is that samples are not supported on the GP2x and the author has insisted (even after much protest) that they will not be added. So, if you don’t mind playing Donkey Kong without most of the sound effects, this is right up your alley.
PS – My information is about a month or so old … who knows if they’ve added samples by now.
Odd. Was any particular reason given for not adding samples?
Odd. Was any particular reason given for not adding samples?
Honestly, I don’t know. Anyway, if you have other GP2x-related questions, you might find this forum to be of use:
http://www.monroeworld.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=30
I don’t own one myself, so I’m not exactly a fountain of information on the product
Edited 2006-08-10 01:00
Can’t be any older than my roms.
does anyone know if the ebook reader can read pdfs too? i’ve been looking for a nice little device to dump a bunch of pdfs on so i can read them when i’m on the go. i’ve been waiting and waiting for an affordable e-ink device but i’m tired of waiting. if this reads pdfs i’d deffinately get it.
Here you can find some more information and videos about the GP2X:
GP2X Introduction (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C22v76vMhY0&NR)
GP2X – System overview of video, audio, and gaming http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rka-jZgL9W0)
GP2X Advert (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_NrTS_ut74&search=gp2x)
Gamepark GP2X: English Review of Gameparks Portable Entertainment Player – Image Gallery Inside (http://www.lik-sang.com/news.php?artc=3708)
GP2X From GamePark Holdings: Retro Heaven (http://bytecellar.com/archives/000076.php)