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Pepper Pad 3 Handheld Web Computer (Black)
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| List Price: | $699.99 |
| Price: | $645.00 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details |
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com
Product Description
Pepper Pad 3 is an innovative handheld web computer that brings instant entertainment to your fingertips. Its lightweight and compact design offers function and portability virtually everywhere you go.The integrated software allows users to browse the Web, email and instant message, download and stream music, videos, movies and photos - right out of the box. Unlike other portable devices, Pepper's 7" screen allows you to view full-width Web pages and watch full-screen videos. You will also be surprised that you can download and read eBooks, play pre-loaded games, and control your entire home theater system with one simple remote control application.
Product Details
- Amazon Sales Rank: #31088 in Consumer Electronics
- Color: Black
- Brand: Pepper
- Model: HPAB20256
- Released on: 2006-09-30
- Dimensions: 5.90" h x .90" w x 11.40" l, 4.65 pounds
- CPU: AMD Sempron 500 MHz
- Memory: 256MB DRAM
- Hard Disk: 20GB
- Processors: 1
- Display size: 7
Features
- Surf, shop, do research, plan a vacation, check the weather and more
- Seven inch color display with touch screen for beautiful photos, videos and Web pages
- Bluetooth 2.0 device support for use with a full-size keyboard and/or mouse
- 20 GB disk drive, that's hundreds of photos and videos you can store
- Rechargeable lithium batteries plus smart power management
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com Product Description
The sleek Pepper Pad 3 includes all the award-winning features of the original Pepper Pad plus three times faster Web browsing, enhanced video performance, faster Wi-Fi and USB connectivity, longer battery life and a built-in video camera. All this in a smaller, less expensive design that makes it even easier to carry and use, at home or on the go.
 The Pepper Pad 3 boasts an easy-to-use Linux-based operating system that makes browsing the Internet and other tasks simple. View larger (white version shown). |
 The device contains a wide range of applications for entertainment and communication. See all applications. |
 The QWERTY keyboard and scroll wheel make navigation and text entry a breeze. The screen can also be controlled via an included stylus. View larger (white version shown). |
Right out of the box you can instantly, easily, and wirelessly access the Internet and your home network to enjoy the richness of the Web and personal communications including e-mail and IM. Because the Pepper Pad has both built-in Wi-Fi and a hard drive, you can stream and download your favorite music, videos and photos and take them around the house or wherever you travel. The Pepper Pad 3 offers a far richer viewing experience than small-screen PDAs or mobile phones and much less maintenance than a complex laptop.
When it comes to deciding what to do when you've got a Pepper Pad 3 in your hands, the options are just about limitless. With the integrated Web browser you can surf, shop, do research, plan a vacation, check the weather, check TV listings, and more. Or download, store, organize, and play your digital music library on the device's stereo speakers, or just tune into internet radio. While you're doing that, feel free to edit, store, and share photos, or watch and share videos. And of course, you can email and IM to stay in touch. IM is further enhanced by the integrated VGA video camera, which is great for video chats.
The Pepper Pad 3 sports a 7-inch color display with touch screen for beautiful photos, videos and Web pages. A stylus is included, so you can control the Pepper Pad 3 with ease. The full QWERTY keypad, which is arrayed on either side of the device, enables fast and easy typing. You can also use the integrated direction pad and scroll wheel to navigate Web pages and other applications. The outer casing features a rugged and splash-resistant design for those occasional mishaps, while a 20 GB hard drive inside is big enough to store hundreds of photos and videos. Lastly, rechargeable lithium batteries and smart power management technologies give you long battery life, while the embedded AMD LX800 processor and optimized Linux-based operating system offer zippy performance.
Another great feature of the Pepper Pad 3 is its instant-on capability. It's always ready to go--no more booting up whenever you sit down to use it. Connectivity is a breeze, too. The device supports 802.11b/g Wi-Fi for instant-on Internet access and it supports the WEP and WPA wireless security protocols. And speaking of security, the Pepper Pad 3 is designed to be virus and spyware resistant. Plus, Bluetooth 2.0 device support means you can use it with a full-size keyboard and/or mouse. USB 2.0 connectivity makes it a snap to connect the Pepper Pad 3 to your PC for data transfer, while infrared capabilities let you easily control and access any number of TVs, set-top boxes, CD players, and other A/V devices. The Pepper Pad 3 also comes with some other great connectivity options, including a headphone jack, component video out, and a microphone-in port.
What's in the Box
Pepper Pad 3, neoprene sleeve, getting started manual, and AC power adapter.
Customer Reviews
A $650 paperweight that runs on Linux
I had some high hopes for this product. To say that I'm disappointed is an understatement. My main goal was to have a quick booting web device that could allow me to read TV listings and possibly control my A/V equipment. I also wanted The ability to read PDFs and Word documents.
When I tried to load up a MS-Word document, I got an error message that there were no usable local apps installed and that I'd have to use an online reader if I want to read MS-Word files. The software that comes installed for light word processing only handles plain text and rich text files.
Which leads me to the WiFi. I was going through hell trying to get the PP3 to see my access point and even when it could see the AP, it had problems getting an IP address. Eventually I connected OK, but as soon as I put the PP3 into sleep mode and turn it on again, I ran into the same connection problem all over again. I notified Pepper of my troubles and even sent them my log files. Apparently there is a problem with the PepperLinux wireless driver. Pepper Support's "solution" to my issue is to wait for their next OS update. In the meantime if I want to connect reliably to my router is a gamble, sometimes I connect...most times I don't.
When my PepperPad does connect, it seems to load web pages at a decent speed. Most websites seem to load correctly. But the browser is a little slow with websites that use alot of java programming and XML.
The PepperPad also has a version of AOL & MSN instant messaging, so you can IM people from your couch or bathroom. For some reason the IM sound effects on my PP3 are not working, I've checked the settings and volume and have notified Pepper support of the issue. So far my requests for support have gone un-answered.
The Bluetooth feature is very, very limited. Only keyboards & mice are supported at this time. You cannot perform file transfers or connect to your PC or cell phone.
The PP3 probably should have left out the built-in camera, the resolution isn't too good and the lens is way too close to the user. The camera is also fixed and cannot be adjusted or focused. In order to get my face in the frame, I have to hold the PP3 completely at arms length. I'm guessing that they added the camera for future video conferencing use, as it stands now the camera would be very inconvenient to use.
The IR remote control app that is included does allow for IR learning and macros. But unfortunately the macros cannot be scheduled to run at specific times. Also this is not a very handy device to replace your remote control due to the slow wake from suspend times. Assuming that the PP3 is in suspend mode, the idea of waiting 10 seconds before you can use your remote is a tremendous pain. In addition the layout of the buttons on the PepperPad cannot be edited and personal A/V icons are non-existent.
The PepperPad is able to sync wirelessly to your PC and files can be transferred back and forth. But the sync feature is only capable of doing full directory cloning. There is no incremental or differential synching. If you're copying over files, the software will re-copy existing files over again. If you have lots of files then this will be a unnecessarily long process. And if you have existing files on the PepperPad which don't exist on the Desktop during a sync, your existing PepperPad files will be overwritten!
One of the few things that the PepperPad 3 can do well is to play video and music files. Most of the major codecs like WMV, DivX, MP3 and WAV are supported and the playback quality is good.
Overall the PepperPad 3 isn't nearly as nice as I thought it would be. The Pepper Company's lack of technical support only adds insult to injury. If I had a functional & dependable WiFi I could overlook the PepperPad's shortcomings. But WiFi is the heart of this device. Without it the PepperPad is just a nice looking paperweight. It looks like the company tried to do many things instead of concentrating on a few important features. The included software is badly written and the apps offer mediocre features and performance. Unless you are very into Linux I don't recommend this device. Without a knowledge of the Linux OS and commands you won't be able to install apps on your own or do power user configurations.
PepperPad 3, A first rate UMPC
After a fair amount of research, I purchased my PepperPad 3 with the expectation of expanding its capabilities through additional Linux programs and a modest RAM upgrade (512MB). It hasn't disappointed. This is a well constucted, durable and versatile machine. Either use it as the kiosk software intended, or upgrade it to be a handheld machine with desktop machine capabilities. The only downsides? A tendency to run on the hot side, and the tendency of the rubberized impact bumpers on the side to peel marginally. All in all, an excellent machine for the price... and no virus susceptability of the UMPCs that run the so called leading desktop software...
PP3 ROCKS!
After doing exhaustive research, I reluctantly ordered the PP3. I do not regret the decision. I started out looking for a PDA on steroids, but decided on this UMPC instead. Let's face it: any PDA that can do what the PP3 can do (and none can) is NOT going to fit in your pocket anyway. I already have a PDA that fits nicely in my pocket and does everything I need a PDA to do. Having a PDA that won't fit (comfortably) into my pocket defeats the purpose of having a PDA.
What I really needed was a UMPC, something that I could use at the hotel, airport, cafe, etc. to tend to those essential business functions when my laptop is just too bulky and inconvenient. The PP3 is the perfect solution, because it can perform all those essential functions PLUS a whole lot more. So, not only can I review and edit faxes, spreadsheets, and Word documents via email, but the 7" screen is perfect for surfing the web (and writing this review) without eyestrain (a 4" screen can't compete). The thumbpad was the clincher, though; without that -- despite it's powerful computing features, upgradeable RAM (up to 1GB), speedy page loads, and very respectable battery life (up to 3 hours) -- it just wouldn't have been truly as portable as I needed it to be. The thumbpad means that I can use it while walking, standing, lying down, or sitting in conditions under which a laptop (even a subnotebook) would be too unwieldy.
Drawbacks? It won't fit in your pocket, but neither will anything else with a screen you can look at for more than 10 minutes straight without going blind. Besides, it's small enough that it will probably fit easily into any other bag that you're already carrying (book bag, attache, etc). If you need/want to get it its own carrier, though, a military surplus map case with shoulder strap does the trick nicely. The map case is slim, low profile, and rugged enough to satisfy those reluctant to move beyond a composite, does-everything-but-nothing-terribly-well, doesn't-really-fit-in-my-pocket-but-I'm-too-insecure-to-carry-a-"manbag" PDA/phone/web device.
BTW, I have a compact wireless keyboard that's about the same size as the PP3 and also fits nicely in the map case, which is good to have along when I have the opportunity or the need (environment permitting).
Entertainment? Yeah, it can do that too. It makes an excellent webradio, which you can even set on the bathroom mantle while you shower or use poolside (it's splash-proof!). And it plays videos from Youtube and Stage6 beautifully, better than my laptop even -- which may have something to do with the Linux OS (sorry, Bill).
Recommendation? Buy now, before Pepper realizes they've been marketing this gem all wrong, and decide to re-price it accordingly. This is the rare purchase that has far exceeded my expectations.
