Update: Chuma (chuma.org) has already got his and is starting to post some opinions:
The new Pad 3 hardware – based on the AMD Geode LX800 platform – runs circles around the old XScale architecture. It’s SERIOUSLY FASTER. I don’t know how I can stress this enough.
The $699 Pepperpad 3 is due to start shipping in 3 days time (according to amazon.com) and already there’s a teaser article out there by someone who’s been testing it out.
John Biggs of CrunchGear has had one for a week now and has broken cover to tell us that he will be publishing a full review later this week.
I’m particularly interested in this as I’ve ordered one for the Carrypad casting couch! What attracted me to it is that it has a proper consumer IR device (no other PC in this class has one), runs an x86 processor (the AMD LX800 which I found to be a great video performer on the Vega.) has a webcam and the mini-keyboard layout.
Many people will have a problem coming to terms with the Linux based Pepper platform but I’m interested to see an optimised operating system runs on the LX800. Having seen how the Vega performed, there could be some surprises.
The pricing is quite attractive at $699 although it will get a lot of pressure from Samsung Q1 price cuts before Christmas. Its success is really going to depend on the community to start supporting it and porting applications over. The platform is solid but with more applications (I’m thinking Amarok, Gaim and maybe even the Myth frontend.) its going to be even better. As with Windows XP, it lacks any sort of real Office suite the web-based Think Free office could be a nice option if the processor has enough power.
The Pepperpad 3 is built and marketed by Hanbit of South Korea under license from Pepper Computer who develop the Pepper platform.
Steve / Chippy
