Here comes the Pepper Pad 3!

As expected, the Pepper folks are busting out their new Pepper Pad 3, which is supposedly "now available," though we're having a hard time spotting it up for anything but pre-order. The new unit isn't too much of a departure from its Pepper Pad Plus predecessor, but it has slimmed down a bit, and is running the new 3.0 OS, which claims enhancements such as 3x faster web browsing and enhanced video performance. There's also "faster" 802.11g WiFi and USB 2.0, and Pepper claims they've got a SDK out, so we might finally see a bit of application support. The new form factor is 0.9-inches thick, weighs 2 pounds, and the screen size has been trimmed down to 7-inches, but while we didn't have a terrible time holding this thing in one hand for snapping a few pics, it's not going to slip into your shirt pocket anytime soon. We could've done for a bit more of a refresh to the QWERTY keys, but we suppose they'll have to do, and if the purported speed increases from the new OS and the AMD LX800 processor prove true, the Pepper Pad 3 should serve its teensy little niche market well enough. And for $700, it sure oughta. Keep reading for a few more action shots.

[jnasato @ Oct 12th 2006 9:37PM]

Wow, that looks like a badass Atari Lynx.

Pretty cool, pretty cool...

[Neil @ Oct 12th 2006 9:43PM]

Man does Pepper not have any designers on staff....this thing looks really cheap (which it's not). Apart from looking like an Atari Linx, it also looks like a proof of concept prototype made only for the engineers....and not like something they want to sell to the general public.

[Chris @ Oct 12th 2006 9:46PM]

Looks like a nomad with a bigger screen, but I bet it's hella cooler.

[Jerome @ Oct 12th 2006 9:47PM]

It is UGLY!

HAHAHAHA!

[Gr1zz @ Oct 12th 2006 10:18PM]

i dident know there were banner ads on this site....oops.

[Matthew @ Oct 12th 2006 10:25PM]

Did the words "Sega Game Gear" pop into anybody else's head?

[atomicthumbs @ Oct 12th 2006 10:33PM]

No, but the words "Newton Messagepad" popped into mine.

[SOAD @ Oct 12th 2006 10:40PM]

for $700, you could buy a decent laptop!

[Hunter @ Oct 12th 2006 10:48PM]

Whatever the detractors say, this is the best UMPC I've seen yet. Would I buy it? No. But it's a good start.

[Brian Sexton @ Oct 12th 2006 10:49PM]

"jnasato" wrote:
> Wow, that looks like a badass Atari Lynx.

The Atari Lynx was a badass Atari Lynx.

[strider_mt2k @ Oct 12th 2006 10:50PM]

Seriously, my "decked out" Dell B130 blows that thing away even equipped with the bigger non-exploding battery and better WiFi!

Sorry.
I dig the thing but I'm not seeing the advantages.

[Shredsled @ Oct 12th 2006 10:50PM]

It looks like a DIY project.

[porovaara @ Oct 12th 2006 11:03PM]

Anyone got OSX for intel up on one of these suckers?

[RofK @ Oct 13th 2006 12:01AM]

It looks like a high school computer project. I would not but, own, rent, or borrow one.

[RofK @ Oct 13th 2006 12:04AM]

hell-to-the no!

[tiuk @ Oct 13th 2006 2:00AM]

I might consider it if it were like $300.

[Henry Jones @ Oct 13th 2006 2:39AM]

Dear 'I could buy a decent laptop for $700' brigade.
But It's not a laptop is it? See how it lacks a folding screen with keyboard? There are many decent things you could buy for $700 but unless your after a decent $700 UMPC, then there's not much point in adding your comparison comment.

[disgrunt @ Oct 13th 2006 4:49AM]

death to the qwerty! id died w/ the hammer style typewriter.
there certainly is no reason for it in a portable/pocket device, quite stupid to use it. a new layout needs to be designed for thumb typing and should be customized for whichever particular device. whats wrong w/ gadget makers these days, do they really think any1 is touchtyping w/ their thumbs on these things? (retorical-obviously theyre not thinking at all in terms of keys)
a full layout -yes. QWERTY - NO f'n WAY.

[theflew @ Oct 13th 2006 7:42AM]

"death to the qwerty! id died w/ the hammer style typewriter."

You must be new to technology, because without a physical keyboard your stuck with slow methods of input. I'm typing this on a Pepper Pad 2 now, using thumbs and nice lighted split keyboard it comes with. Most people don't like Microsofts UMPC' because the lack of keyboards and Windows implemention.

[disgrunt @ Oct 15th 2006 1:25PM]

"You must be new to technology, because without a physical keyboard your stuck with slow methods of input."
uh no- i didnt say death to the keyboard i said death to qwerty. i clearly stated that a full keyboard is good. now heres a history lesson for you. qwerty is a ordering of characters and was designed for typewriters back in 1868. in order to keep the keys from running into each other the keys were purpously put in the most nonsensical way posible to keep typists from ever hitting 2 or more keys near each other on the keyboard. it should have been killed off w/ the advent of the computer. but in order to get people to use one in its early days the keyboard was kept in the qwerty layout so as not to alienate touchtypists(if you dont know that- people like writers/secretaries learned to type fast w/out looking at their hands). otherwise the wordprocessor would have been a dead app and few people would be interested in changing to computers from typewriters. now once the computer became dominant in society that excuse no longer is valid. so here we are 30 yrs later and still the qwerty is on most keyboards. phones and pda's n such are a whole new ball game they could have designed a whole new layout for those. theres absolutly no reason to have the keys layed out for touchtypists when your using your thumbs to type. now maybe i should have said all this before so as to avoid people who cant figure things out for them selves and need every little thing explained to them. so next time before you go saying that someone doesnt know anything about technology, you better look at yourself first.

[Oddmanout @ Oct 13th 2006 8:24AM]

"my "decked out" Dell B130 blows that thing away even equipped with the bigger non-exploding battery and better WiFi!"

Yes...and a Cray makes your laptop's CPU seem about as fast as a sundial. Which would you rather carry around in a messanger bag?

Kidding...:P

But I would guess the advantages (if there are any) are that it is smaller and lighter than *most* laptops. It is purpose built as a web and media device and thus is pretty simple to use. And it's Linux based so security updates are few and far between. It can arguably be called more durable as it has less moving parts than a laptop (yes...I'm mainly talking about the screen's big ole hing...).

Being a long time poster on Engadget, and thus a tech enthusiast by default, you pretty well certainly know how to use and maintain the equipment you need to do what you want to do, which probably means these selling points don't matter much to you (particularly since you LOSE some power, utility, and usability to gain those advantages).

Whether or not they matter to other people (specifically, enough people to keep Pepperpad in business) is a another matter...

[Mrfreezie @ Oct 13th 2006 8:25AM]

That's is the smallest keyboard I have ever seen.

I'm not buying it, that's for sure..

[Peanut @ Oct 13th 2006 9:17AM]

excuse me... Can it play Doom?

[utmonster @ Oct 13th 2006 11:18AM]

Yes, it may be pricey for what's offered, but that is completely beside the point. All the techies here tend to overlook or misunderstand other potential markets. This is a great device for 'soccer moms', 'cooking fanatics', 'basic home support browsing and 'browser-supported TV watchers' who don't want a laptop hogging counter space or lap space and who don't want to worry about having crash-issues, start up lags, a few water/beer/cooking splashes affect their machine.

[Kenundrum @ Oct 13th 2006 11:23AM]

Find it on ECost in their bargain countdown...
http://www.ecost.com/ecost/shop/detail~DPNo~4763956.asp

[me @ Oct 13th 2006 12:38PM]

I got my hands on one of these yesterday at DigitalLife and it was easy to use and connectivity wouldn't be a problem. Speaking to the CEO of the company yesterday, the SDK (and linux operating system) will let you do anything with it.

[Drewmangroup @ Oct 13th 2006 12:51PM]

Looks like a Lynx

[mathew @ Oct 13th 2006 1:53PM]

If they got rid of the stupid thumboards and let you plug in any USB keyboard (or use a Bluetooth folding keyboard) I'd be sorely tempted. Especially if they made it a bit smaller.

[me @ Oct 13th 2006 2:43PM]

You can plug in a USB keyboard, there are 2 USB ports on the device. Also, it has bluetooth so whichever works for you.

[Alden Ackerman @ Oct 23rd 2006 4:54PM]

I want one of those SO badly.

[pixthree @ Jan 9th 2007 1:59PM]

You can get at Target for under $500 now.