Pepper 3.2 released for Pepper Pad 3

Shortly after the Pepper Pad 3 (PP3) got its last software update in December, the Linux-based Web tablet I once made a fuss about began to fall out of my favor. The occasional crashes and intermittent touchscreen responsiveness always grated on my nerves, but it was when the PP3 required a complete reboot every time I wanted to go online that I began to use it less often. A device I once picked up several times daily turned into something I looked at two or three times a week. 

That's why I didn't find out until just now that Pepper Computer released Pepper 3.2 a few days ago. Included in the software update are several new features and other enhancements (read the manifest here), but what rekindles my interest in the neglected PP3 are the wi-fi improvements: reduced disconnects, more reliable access-point connection, and automatic connection to networks with the strongest signal.

It's too soon to tell for sure, of course, but so far it looks like things between me and the PP3 can only get better from here. I think we're gonna be okay.

UPDATE (5/16/07): Looks like this post ruffled someone's feathers beyond the point of unruffling. Apparently, I should be letting people know the current status of my individual relationships with all the gadgets I have at home.

I know that some sites post about the day-to-day issues and highlights about their new toys, but I don't. A quick look through the archives makes that clear. I've never been interested in daily "Oh, I can't get something installed" followed by "Hooray, I got it working!" posts because . . . well, I'm just not interested in them. As a reader, it bores me to tears to read about the minutiae of a writer's experiences with a gadget that I have or don't have and am not ever interested in having. If I want to read a diary of John Doe and his UMPC, I'll go to his MeAndMyUMPC.com website. Since I don't like reading about that kind of stuff (unless on a dedicated site where such content is expected), I'm certainly not going to write about it. In my FAQ, I explicitly state that "I just write about what interests me." And updates on how I use (or don't use) something I haven't written about in 4 months doesn't interest me.

I also stop using all of my gadgets at some point and pick them back up again when I feel like it. For example, I haven't even turned on my Q1P in weeks (and when I did, it was just to take those comparison pics next to the Archos 704 WiFi). My PSP is dead from at least six months of inactivity. I haven't used my Creative Zen V since finishing the review. Is this something you really want to know? For me, this all falls into the "who cares?" category.

I think most people understand and assume that a person's opinions can/will change over time, especially if something starts malfunctioning. That's why when readers are interested in buying a gadget I reviewed, they usually ask me how I feel about it now since it's been months and months since the review. And just because something malfunctions during month 5 of ownership doesn't mean that all the great stuff about the product during month 1 is thrown out the window. Everything still applies.

Oh, and just to be clear, no one pays me to write reviews and except where noted otherwise, I buy all of the gadgets featured on this site myself (well, okay,  my husband buys them for me but let's not split hairs). There's a running list of my gadgets here, none of which were given to me by companies/vendors and all of which were financed by the Lee bank account.

Comments

[Bush -- not related]

YOU GO GIRL! Tell 'em like it is -- hit 'em below the belt. Gawds' Butt, we hate whiners.

I love your 'voice'. Enjoy your reviews. Delighted to see you take such a strong stand for yerself.

Damned whiners. Get to read you for free, drool in absentia on all the fine toys you get to play with and then have the cojones to complain.

Lord, I love the 'net.

When's Mr. Lee picking up your Flipstart?

[Jenn]

:)

I actually just put in a request to demo the FlipStart for a week or two. From what I've seen and read about it so far, I'm not sold on it enough to pay the crazy $2K. We'll see how/if that changes once I spend some time with it.

At the moment, I'm working on being more strategic in my dropping of hints to Mr. Lee for the Q1 Ultra, HTC Advantage, Cowon Q5, and HTC Shift.

[kcmh709]

Whoa, this is a tough site, some folks really take this stuff to heart! I really enjoyed your post, and I was glad that I'm not the only who has had functionality problems with the ppd3. I have to admit that I am technically challenged, and my ppd3 just won't act right! Do you have any other pointers for us non-techy geeks? Thanks, don't you just love gadgets?!

[midtoad]

the guy with the ruffled feathers was Mike Cane, a notorious whiner. He's still begging for a Foleo months after it was withdrawn by Palm.

And further, anyone who uses expletives in a technical blog more often than technical adjectives sure doesn't have much credibility with me.

[Jenn]

Ah yes, I'm familiar with Mike's . . . work. He's certainly one of the crankier fellows I've encountered, but that also tends to be part of his appeal. I'm curious if it's mostly just an online persona, though, as I imagine such a rain cloud would be tough to tolerate in the real world. It also can't be good for his blood pressure.