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."

hacking?

[commodoresloat]

It kind of already is a portable media player. The Pepper Keeper software looks like it will do most things you would need, and since there's a full linux system underneath, you can just install whatever players are missing.

Re:Low Cost Linux SBCs?

[Anonymous Coward]

Check out Gumstix [gumstix.com] SBC's. They seem to cater to individual hobbyists, and the prices look right.

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[account_deleted]

Comment removed based on user account deletion

Re:I've wanted this

[Spellbinder]

i got my Intel 2200 B/G working on a vaio tr2
with this [sourceforge.net]

I'm a little underwhelmed

[NanoGator]

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:

-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. ..etc. etc. etc...

I do like some of the things they're doing with this machine, but ... well... it's hard to really get excited now that I have this M200 machine.

The iPod has:

[StarKruzr]

No keyboard.

No color screen.

A proprietary O/S (yes, it can run Linux - poorly)

No bluetooth.

No ability to run real applications.

No touchscreen.

No WiFi.

This is easily worth two iPods.

Re:Is this up to the standards of Windows Tablets?

[jaxdahl]

If you're looking for a tablet of some sort that you can draw on directly for photoshop and such, check out Wacom's Cintiq line -- basically an LCD monitor with a pen touchscreen. They start at $1500 and up for 15" monitors. A PC is required, though, to use them. LCD Tablets [wacom.com]

Not the Only Tablet PC Pre-Equipped with Linux

[wehe]

There is already a bunch of Tablet PCs pre-installed with Linux [tuxmobil.org] available, there are also installation reports for other Tablet PCs.

Re:Low Cost Linux SBCs?

[Anonymous Coward]

Check out Soekris Engineering [soekris.com].

Think "Big Zaurus" not "tablet PC"

[Spoing]

This doesn't have PC processors or other hardware. It does have 32MB flash built in to go along with the 256MB RAM and 20GB hard drive.

That 32MB flash should be usable to boot the machine nearly instantly; no need to suspend/hibernate to save battery life.

I wonder what the Opie and OpenZaurus [openzaurus.org] folks think about the Pepper Pad 2?

Compared to a Zaurus, this is a good upgrade.

From a Pepper employee

[Anonymous Coward]

I'm a Pepper employee, and I assure you that we know what we're doing (and why we're using Linux). Since you no doubt did your homework before posting, you're aware that we're running MontaVista Linux, which is a commercial Linux distro produced for embedded devices. The source is available. We handle our patches appropriately.

If you don't like that we're using Linux, I encourage you to contact us with a better alternative for the problem we're trying to solve.

As you also know, the software is Java. It will run not only on the Mac and Windows, but on your Linux system at home as well. You just need to install a JVM. It should even run on FreeBSD, if you feel like running Java there. The fact that we don't have a Linux installer means that we don't have a Linux installer. Nothing more. I can't say whether that will change - perhaps enough market demand would make it worth our while (so ask us directly, in an official channel).

Re:Battery?

[Demon of the fall]

Is the battery life mentioned anywhere? If it is I missed it.

Couldn't find any exact info other than the following in the press release [pepper.com]:
"It has a rechargeable lithium polymer battery with power management providing support for a day's worth of activities"