| PepperPad pleases pair of publishers |
Dec. 07, 2006
 Pepper Computing's Linux-powered, x86-compatible PepperPad 3 continues to rack up rave reviews. CarryPad.com publisher Steve Paine calls the device a "hackable gem of a mobile PC," while Pocketables.net publisher Jenn K. Lee devotes nearly 3,000 words to "delightful stuff" about the product.
Paine earlier published an enthusiastic mini-review based on a pre-production unit, predicting that the device would appeal to both computing neophytes and Linux hackers. The PepperPad 3 began shipping in early October, and currently appears to have a street price of about $650.
For her part, Lee plans to follow up her initial 3,000-word "delightful stuff" review with a second page devoted to "decent stuff," and a third page about "disappointing stuff." The last section may run short, though, if the present review is any indication.
Both reviewers praise the usability of the PepperPad's unique form-factor, which features a split, backlit, thumb keyboard with scroll wheel, straddling a 7-inch WVGA (800 x 480) LCD touchscreen display.
Lee reports typing about 40wpm on the keyboard, after only a few weeks. And, she says the screen seems "enormous" compared to those on other handhelds, writing, "No matter how you spin it, 4.3 inches simply can't compare with 7 inches. Now that I've been exposed to it, I think 7 inches strikes the perfect balance between productivity and mobility."
Paine's in-depth PepperPad 3 review features excellent photos of the printed circuit boards inside, as well as thoughtful reviews of software components in the "PepperKeeper" desktop suite. Paine suggests that users may wish to use Google Life online applications, instead. And, he is hopeful that the PepperPad 3's open, Linux-based firmware and Linux-friendly x86-compatible architecture will result in community-sourced distributions for the device. Such distributions might feature modern software packages such as Firefox 2.0, LinuxBIOS, and Amarok, he suggests.
Overall, though, both reviewers are obviously pleased as punch with their devices. The reviews can be found here (CarryPad.com) and here (Pocketables.net).
Meanwhile, a less glowing review of an earlier PepperPad model can be found here.
Additionally, lots of technical details about the new PepperPad 3 are available in our complete Device Profile:
Device Profile: Pepper Pad 3 web tablet
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