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Pepper Pad 2 Linux Web Pad
`Sean writes "Pepper Computer debuted their $800 Pepper Pad 2 at DEMOmobile 2004 this week. Specs include a 624 MHz XScale processor, 8.4" 800x600 TFT touchscreen, 802.11b+g, and 20 GB HDD running MontaVista Linux CEE. Out of the box the Pepper Pad 2 loads the Pepper Keeper as its GUI, but a full-blown Linux distribution with Java 2 JRE and X-Window System is sitting under the covers just waiting be customized. I personally can't wait to get a hold of one of these to turn into an OBD-II and telemetry workstation for the rally car."
This would make a great portable media player with a bit of hacking.. Hmmm I sooo want one.
Oh it also has IR... hmm.. so u can use it as a TV remote !!
fifteen jugglers, five believers
I realize it is a lot cheaper, but I amnto sure it is worth it. Does the XScale processor pack the necessary punch? I know I have one (albeit a probably inferior one) in my Toshiba e740, which has many of the qualities this thing brags about. Also, is this an actual touch screen? If so, this is unfortunate Having used Tablets before, I really enjoyed the special pens, and would think this would make a great picture. Also, that thumb keyboard looks quite lacking, and considering they are not bragging about their handwriting recognition, it probably also leaves something to be desired. At this point, I think I could get a lot more functionality out of a laptop or one of those tablets-that-runs-your-pc-iver-wifi things than I necesarily would this.
I've wanted this for months now. A "laptop" that instead of advertising the newest P4 processor for Barbecues (R) gives you low power, ARM (XScale) computing at the right price. Of course, It has to run linux. Good one!
...a Dawson's Creek Pepper Keeper Future S2000?
"People" using "unnecessary" quotes should be "shot".
Is the battery life mentioned anywhere? If it is I missed it.
According to the photos page it just has USB 1.1 and only one USB port.
Jonathan B.
1. Yea but does it run Linux?
2. Imagine a beowulf cluster of Pepper Pads!
3. In Soviet Russia the screen touches you!
4.
4a. Design a superior piece of hardware
4b. Include a superior OS
4c. ???
4d. Profit!
5. Netcraft confirms, Pepper Pad is dead!
6. If it doesn't run [KDE/Gnome/desktop of choice] then it sucks!
There, I think that about covers it!
bash: rtfm: command not found
I was thinking the USB port would be used for A Mouse or a Keyboard. Especially for someone who though this would be great for editing docs on the go.
Of course the other half of me thought immediately, i could use it for a game controller and slap mame or another emulator on this bad boy... 600+ MGhz should be plenty enough to run a SNES emu.
I mean it has built in wireless networking and anyone who would buy this would fork over $50 for a wireless AP right? File Transfer problems solved.
"If I were bound by all laws everywhere I'm sure I would have committed a capital crime somewhere."
You thought you snuck one past the editors huh?
Look folks, of course `Sean wants one of these for his rally car...he's in on the damn thing!
Check out these pics.
good job /. editors for plugging this thing for Sean Hamor.
News for nerds. Shills that matter.
but I worry about the psychological impact of making computers look less like computers. People have been taught for the past few years that they have to keep their computers up to date with security patches, that they should have a firewall and a virus scanner... but this doesn't look like what people recognize as a "computer". It isn't even advertised as a computer; it's called a "web pad".
Combining the innate cluelessness of most of the people who will buy these, the fact that these don't "look like computers", the fact that these are wireless-only as far as networking is concerned, and the lack of apparent infrastructure for distributing security patches... I have to wonder how well these machines will fare once they reach the real (insecure) world.
Tarsnap: Online backups for the truly paranoid
But where's the market? You can buy a decent PC for $300, the keyboard looks too unsuitable to be used professionally and it's too big to used as a PDA. So it is an overpriced, oversized PDA, with a clunky interface. Who really has any utility for that?
Hmm this might have been neat a year or so ago, but I'm a little underwhelmed with it. Just a couple of months ago I bought a Toshiba M-200 TabletPC. Granted, it's over twice the price of this guy ($2,000...) but lemme share with you the specs:
..etc. etc. etc...
... well... it's hard to really get excited now that I have this M200 machine.
-Centrino 1.5 ghz processor.
-1400 by 1050 resolution screen
-512 meg of RAM
-40 gig HD
-It doesn't use the touch screen, rather the Wacom digitizer for the stylus. This means pressure sensitivity, but it means you can ONLY use the stylus for input.
-NVidia Go5200 card.
-3-4 hour battery life. (I've reached a little over 3 with it.)
-It works in both slate mode, and it can unfold like a laptop with a kb.
I do like some of the things they're doing with this machine, but
"Derp de derp."
Or possibly even buy a small TV...
Or is that a little too far out?
There is already a bunch of Tablet PCs pre-installed with Linux available, there are also installation reports for other Tablet PCs.