Press Releases

The Pepper Pad™ Is Named CES Innovations 2006 Honoree

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

LEXINGTON, MA, November 15, 2005 – Pepper Computer, Inc., announced today that its groundbreaking Pepper Pad has been selected as an Innovations 2006 Design and Engineering Showcase honoree by the Consumer Electronics Association, producer of the annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES).

From the tens of thousands of products offered by the thousands of CES exhibitors, the Innovations honorees are selected on the basis of user value, aesthetics, contributions to the quality of life, and innovative design and qualities. The competition is judged by a panel of independent industrial designers, independent engineers and members of the trade press.

The Pepper Pad is the first portable wireless device that gives consumers instant Internet and digital media while also controlling other in-home devices. The Pepper Pad's tightly integrated hardware, software and services make it hassle-free and convenient to use and own. It provides, in a lightweight, splash-resistant, ruggedized package: Mozilla-based Web browsing, AOL instant messaging, and e-mail; collecting, organizing and sharing videos, music and photos; and TV and stereo remote control. The Pepper Pad is available to customers in the U.S. through Amazon.com and BestBuy.com at $849.99 (MSRP). European and Canadian customers can order Pepper Pads at Pepper.com.

An earlier version of the Pad won an Innovations award in 2004. "CES is where the latest consumer electronics products from manufacturers across the world are introduced," said Len Kawell, CEO of Pepper. "For Pepper to be honored again in the Innovations competition is confirmation that we are recognized as a leader in consumer technology."

"The Pepper Pad was designed to make broadband life simple for all of us, whether we're around the house or away from home " said Kawell. "As we all become more and more dependent on broadband access, we want instant high-fidelity access everywhere. The Pepper Pad offers the desired instant access to broadband and digital media with the simplicity and low maintenance of a TV set."

The Pepper Pad is a 2.3-pound, Wi-Fi-enabled device, with a large, high-resolution screen, 20-gigabyte hard disk, built-in speakers and a thumb keypad, providing a powerful, versatile platform for a much wider range of online and off-line activities than any other portable device. Its 8.4-inch display is ideal for viewing full-width Web pages and watching full-screen videos. The Pepper Pad can store hours of music and videos, plus thousands of photos. And, with three forms of wireless communication – Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and infrared (IR) – the Pad can access and control a wide range of devices around the home, from Wi-Fi access points, to keyboards and mice, to TVs, set-top boxes, music systems, home theaters and media servers. It's an ideal way for consumers to have Internet and media access plus wireless remote control in every room of their home.

The Pepper Pad can be used anywhere, with or without Wi-Fi. Consumers can take advantage of home networks and public wireless hotspots for access to online services, or offline, they can play digital media they've saved on the Pad's built-in hard disk. The Pepper Pad is fully functional and ready to use right out of the box. It offers a far richer viewing experience than small-screen PDAs or mobile phones, but much less maintenance than complex laptops, making it attractive for both computer novices and experienced computer users alike. The Pad includes a rechargeable lithium polymer battery with advanced power management.

The Pepper Pad has an SVGA TFT LCD screen with an 800 X 600 resolution and resistive touch screen. The system is based on a 624-MHz Intel PXA270 application processor, Intel 2700G media processor and 256 MB of SDRAM. The Wi-Fi is complemented by Bluetooth, IR, SD/MMC card slot and a USB port. It also features built-in stereo speakers and microphone, jacks for headphones, external microphone and external video display, plus a direction-pad and scroll wheel for navigation. It has two options for easy and reliable text entry: a built-in lighted thumb-style QWERTY keypad or a separate (optional) keyboard connected wirelessly by Bluetooth or wired via USB.

About Pepper Computer:

For additional Pepper press information contact:

Mark Metzger
Metzger Communications
781-648-2564
mmetzger@shore.net

Pepper and Pepper Pad are trademarks of Pepper Computer, Inc. Other brand names or product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.