Pepper Pad 3 scores a review

Although dubbed a "mini-review," Carrypad just spat-out 1352 words on the Pepper Pad 3 for your inspection. Online over WiFi within 5-minutes of unboxing, the latest Pepper Pad did impress although not without some minor gripes. Messaging is limited to AIM and POP3/IMAP mail out of the box (no VoIP) and the device is very awkward to hold while using the stylus for navigation. However, the reviewer "loves" thumbing around on the keypad and found the scrollwheel "superb." Users can expect just under 3-hours of battery life with 2:40 tested with WiFi on, music playing, and screen at 30% -- that's more than most UMPCs, however, the Pepper Pad 3 runs the Pepper Desktop, not a Tablet version of XP. That keeps things simple for those of you just looking for portable web browsing and multimedia access in "a real home loving device." The big bonus for tinkering-types stems from the device's core Linux and x86 architecture allowing you to extend the PP3's capabilities to your heart's desire. The reviewer installed GAIM and went so far as to make that little AMD Geode LX 800 0.9 watt processor crank on Apache, SQL, and PHP server just for kicks. So as Carrypad rightly concludes, this device is capable of satisfying both the perplexed homebody and industrious hacker for about $699.

[HughJass @ Oct 20th 2006 10:50AM]

"Messaging is limited to AIM and POP3/IMAP mail out of the box (no VoIP)"

When did VoIP become a form of messaging, kids?

[Ratteler @ Oct 20th 2006 11:00AM]

At the Digital Life expo we were encouraged to "Bug" the Skype people about getting skype on the PP3.

[Henry Jones @ Oct 20th 2006 12:54PM]

"however, the Pepper Pad 3 runs the Pepper Desktop, not a Tablet version of XP." - You jest? I think you must have meant thankfully it doesn't run XP.

[Alan DeRego @ Oct 20th 2006 2:00PM]

Is there a way to get openOffice or better yet MS office onto this?
I am looking for something that will do editing or viewing of word docs.
A laptop is just to inconvenient where I would be using it.
Thanks,
Alan

[Beddoes @ Oct 20th 2006 3:04PM]

Looks a bit spacky, like something Brian Peppers would use.

[theflew @ Oct 20th 2006 3:54PM]

Abiword would probably work better on such a device, though OpenOffice could probably be installed, but run slowly given the device resources. Its running Fedora Core 4 on an x86 so just about any Linux app should run on it. Skype should be available for it just like it is for most Linux distributions.

[luinfana @ Jun 17th 2008 1:10PM]

They have these at a local hair salon, of all places...displaying the latest celebrity gossip, and I believe their beauty product catalog. Thing is, from what I saw they appeared to be running WinCE or XP Embedded, not a distro of Linux. I'd take a closer look but the things are pretty locked down in metal enclosures.