BANDIT Handheld Computer Packs a ColorForth Machine and Chording Keyboard Into Your Pocket

BANDIT is a fully functional computer that sits comfortably in both hands and is ready to go the moment you power it on. The keys are split across each side with a color display sitting in the middle, and rather than typing one character at a time, the whole thing runs on a chording system where pressing multiple keys simultaneously produces complete letters or commands. Every possible combination the keyboard can produce is mapped to a single clean number within the system, keeping things elegantly simple under the hood.

Pick it up, flip it open, and you are straight into it with no waiting for anything to load or update. The four inch color display is touch sensitive and can be divided into multiple regions handling different functions simultaneously. If you need more screen real estate, plugging in an HDMI cable will push the same output to a larger monitor or television without any extra setup required.

Power comes from a 700 megahertz Allwinner processor, which is backed up by 32 megabytes of RAM. Storage options include a microSD card or shared folders via the built-in wireless connectivity. Two regular battery cells are sufficient to keep everything running for several hours away from the power source. If you have a project in mind that requires additional input, 35 convenient pins provide direct access to external circuits or sensors through easy connectors.

The beauty of BANDIT is that it does not require a regular operating system to function. ColourForth runs the entire show, creating, compiling, and executing code in a single fluid motion. Built-in editors cover source text, pixel graphics, tile layouts, music patterns, assembly, and live debugging, and the greatest part is that your work is never lost because the system remains awake and resumes precisely where it left off.

On the performance side, the display handles over three thousand sprites at sixty frames per second without breaking a sweat, and the audio engine generates six channels of FM sound on the fly with full support for high resolution digital samples. It sounds complicated, but the learning curve is more forgiving than you might expect. Chording takes a little getting used to, though once it clicks you can move surprisingly fast, and the system is deep enough to build fully fledged games or tools if you want to go that far.

Wireless connectivity lets you link up with phones, laptops, or other BANDIT units and move files between them without any fuss. Preorders are open right now at $170 with a handful of casing colors to choose from, and units will ship as soon as the team finishes their final inspection. Every BANDIT arrives fully assembled and tested, keyboard switches, screen, and wireless module included, so you can get straight to it out of the box.
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