Customer Reviews

Pepper Pad 3 Handheld Web Computer (Black)

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Pros far outweight the cons.

Device is pitched as "a/v streaming tablet" for kitchen, bedroom, living room, etc. It MORE than delivers on this promise. Email and some bluetooth support is currently lacking (only wireless mouse/keybd currently supported) but this will be fixed soon.

Skype is coming in next few months. Big win there.

Hardware feature:

1. 2-way infrared learning remote.

It's now my primary remote control. Layout are fairly editable but not where it s/be...this is easily fixable though. Unlike what other reviews stated...it is easy to incorporate support for new devices...you can download remote control config files from lirc.org.

2. Backlit keypad

Nice for being in bed at night.

3. d-pad and thumbwheel

Absolutely best way to scroll/page thru sites.

4. 2xUSB, 1xNTSC A/V out

An MMC/SD would be nice...but expandability is there already.

5. 20GB HD and 256MB RAM

As an engr geek...I would like to see more...but for a/v streaming and other tasks this is totally adequate.

6. i386 compatible

This means you can just download RedHat FC4 i386 binaries and they just work. They may not integrate with desktop perfectly...but works great nonetheless.


Software features:

1. Streams darn near EVERY video/audio format. Only esoteric realplayer sites don't work...yet. Everything else (Sirius Satellite, Shoutcast) work flawlessly.

2. Built-in email sucks...but I easily downloaded Thunderbird and it is now where I want it to be.

3. Desktop (tabbed folder) paradigm needs some development...but it is fine for intended tasks (streaming a/v).

4. Support for Java 1.5!! This only means something to geeks and those wanting to stream from sites which have applets (Sirius Satellite). As a java developer...this is just too cool. First time J2SE is on pda form factor.

This is an awesome device that I've been using daily since purchase. I have since CANCELLED my several newspaper subscriptions as I now read/stream from pad....this saves me just under $1K yearly for subscriptions.

The device is so versatile and perfectly sized...you will soon want to take it in car with you and mount it on dash with bluetooth gps, etc. With enhanced bt support coming...you'll soon be doing just that!

I had been looking for the past year for *exactly* this set of features in a handheld computer, but always came up short. This marvelous little powerhouse has everything. Wifi g, bluetooth 2.0, very usable thumb QWERTY keyboard, 20gig HD...and all this in a terrific form factor. Nice size, feels great in the hand, it's only two lbs. And it is affordable, no less.

There are several apps I would like to see (sketch/digital ink...pleasePLEASE, Office-type suite, VOIP, etc.), but I am guessing these will be developed before long.

Biggest surprise was how much I enjoy the pre-installed ebook reader. I downloaded Bob Woodward's new book, which worked like a charm, and have been enjoying reading it at home and, propped on its stand, in coffee shops all over Manhattan. Btw, expect to be interrupted when you do as it is quite the head turner. Almost as good as walking your dog for meeting new people here in NYC.

No surprise was how much I enjoy playing with it on the couch, in bed, sitting on the terrace, etc. It is so much nicer than even my three pound, 8 x 11" Tablet PC. Two lbs is soooo much nicer than three. And the scroll wheel is fabulous, too. And, oh, I almost forgot, the remote controller is excellent. You can set up any combination of video and audio equipment (TV, dvd players, Tivo) in about two minutes and, snap, it just works. And with no lag at all. Touch the pen to the screen and your Tivo chirps back instantly.

FYI, I met several of the top people from the Company at the recent Digital Life Conference. Wonderful folks who seem to love what they do. And they were *more* than helpful. Jon M must have spent close to an hour talking with my boyfriend and me. All in all, great effort, guys!

I am not surprised at all that it is backordered.

I've had my pepper pad a little over a month now. Some of the other reviewers I read had issues with the software being unstable. I have not had any of those problems. I've downloaded 2 software updates so far and they have worked perfectly. The unit's wireless Ethernet connects without a hitch both at home and at my work's wireless routers. It took about 10 minutes to have the unit learn my 15 year old televisions remote.
Pepper pads pluses:
1. Nice usable screen for web surfing.
2. Good software applications for watching Utube, listening to internet radio, operating several IR remotes, reading e-books and surfing the Web.
3. Well designed unit which will sit nicely on your lap or coffee table. It's easy to hold. The unit feels solid.
4. The split illuminated keyboard is much more useful than using an on screen keyboard. I have plugged in a USB key board and it worked perfectly.
5. Comes out of sleep mode pretty fast. I have crashed it a couple of times but it has always recovered "gracefully" meaning that I did not have to re-boot the unit several times.
Minuses:
1. While the HAT switch and scroller work fine, they feel cheap.
2. Battery will last about 2 hours of continuous use. It should be replaceable.
3. The pepper applications that come with the unit have very small icons. The stylus is a little awkward to use. If they could make the icons a little bigger you could just use your fingers.
4. In the TV guide application, I have to tap the "down arrow" several times to get the unit to load the next page.
5. The games that come with the unit are pretty lame.

If you're looking for a simple to use web pad that can operate your AV gear and allow you to surf the web from your couch the pepper pad's a great product. It does require some fiddling around with to work for you, but it's not complicated. I think the pepper applications are pretty stable overall, but they could use some more "usability" in the design of the on-screen controls. If Pepper can make a decent video conferencing application, that would be useful.

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.

Pros:
- comes with Firefox / Java / Flashplayer / mplayer, so you can visit any site and watch all kinds of media
- High-speed USB 2.0 ports
- Extremely responsive scrollwheel
- Fast wifi and bluetooth
- Universal remote and software
- TV out to stream youtube to the big screen
- Much more convenient to carry around the house than a laptop

Cons:
- No wired ethernet. However the Startech USB2100S USB/ethernet adapter works great.
- No vga or dvi for hooking up a monitor (unless your monitor has composite input)

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.

It was great to take a weekend trip - through airports - without my laptop. With my Pepper Pad I had sufficient email and internet access to give me peace of mind and to organize some last minute sight-seeing via the internet.

I appreciate the ease of wireless access, the lightweight and sturdy case, the longer (than PP2) battery life. Cool machine - I'm going to travel with it more and more.

There's so much that it can do - I should say "that it can help me do" ... I'll have to spend some time learning about its many features.

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...

I bought my family a Pepper Pad 3 for the holidays and we all love it! The little kids use it for games and browsing the Web for Lego stuff and Wikipedia. The bigger kids use it for MySpace, Facebook, shopping and movie info. We also use it for recipes, eBooks, news and sports stats. It also seems pretty rugged, it has even fallen off my husband's nightstand and it still works fine. The remote control is working but does not control everything yet.

The recent Pepper Update downloaded without a problem and I downloaded some new free games without a hitch. The Wi-Fi works great. All the included apps are easy to use and you cannot see any bits of Linux. The Pad is simple for everyone to use and does not require any of my time for maintenance like updating antivirus software. We also all love the keypads. For families who want easy Web access when they are at home or vacation the Pad is the best. Plus the Pad came ready to use; we were up on the Internet in about 3 minutes after opening the box.

I've had my Pepper Pad 3 for three weeks now and am loving it...

I use it every morning to read the paper, and in fact I've cancelled my daily paper subscriptions because I prefer to read the news on my pad (a change that nearly covers the cost of the pad). The scroll wheel makes it super easy to read even extended articles, and I can follow up on any article.

In the kitchen, it's become my main recipe book. With the web on hand in 3 seconds, I'm never short of ideas and advice. The splash-resistant design seems to work well. I've not been so careful to keep it out of harms way and still. Even after I've spilled water on it, dropped it from the counter, bumped and what not, the pad still works great.

My favorite use of the pad so far, though, is to play Go (a game somewhat similar to chess). I can lay down on the couch and tap the screen to play against players around the world. It's by far the best device for playing on-line board games that I've found.

Yes, there are some bugs, but I've found that the software recovers gracefully and for what I'm doing, it's not caused any real problems. I wouldn't use the pad as my work pc, but then again, I wouldn't use my work pc on the kitchen counter top.

I'd highly recommend the Pepper Pad 3 (plus a home wifi network) for anyone who wants the web everywhere without having computers all over the house.