No, this is not something you put on your morning eggs. What exactly is the Pepper Pad (http://www.pepper.com/products/pepper_pad.html)?

The Pepper Pad's new invisible, simplified operating system is based on MontaVista Linux and Java, which are both enhanced and optimized for the Intel XScale processor. The Pepper Pad also utilizes Intel's new 2700G companion chip for speedy 2D/3D multimedia handling. The system features 256 MB of SDRAM, 32 MB of flash memory, and a 20-gigabyte hard drive. It has a rechargeable lithium polymer battery with power management, plus an AC power supply. The Pepper Pad turns on instantly and charges quickly.

Plus the Pepper Pad 2 has an 8.4-inch color touchscreen and 802.11b+g Wi-Fi. Doesn't that sound like a great solution for reading e-books? I think so too. If you cannot wait and want to be one of the first to have it for January 2005 deliever, you can pre-order it (https://store.pepper.com/pepper_pad/index.html/PREORDER) now (for a heavy price tag of USD 800).

An "invisible" operating system. Thats one I've never heard before.

An "invisible" operating system. Thats one I've never heard before.I was wondering if I was missing something there... Glad to see I'm not the only one baffled.

I don't know anything about Pepper, and it's hard to tell from the web site, but it sounds like they don't "show" the OS to the user. It's aimed at people with broadband service who can go wireless. They will be using mp3s and video, taking notes, saving addresses, browsing the web or sending emails from a portable device. As such, they don't need to ever know the OS is there, just the Pepper platform shows.

Of course, that's just fluff to us tech addicts. We will more likely dive into the linux OS and try to add all kinds of linux and java programs so we can get "real" functionality on it!!!

I don't know anything about Pepper, and it's hard to tell from the web site, but it sounds like they don't "show" the OS to the user. It's aimed at people with broadband service who can go wireless. They will be using mp3s and video, taking notes, saving addresses, browsing the web or sending emails from a portable device. As such, they don't need to ever know the OS is there, just the Pepper platform shows.

Of course, that's just fluff to us tech addicts. We will more likely dive into the linux OS and try to add all kinds of linux and java programs so we can get "real" functionality on it!!!

Talking with Pepper, Linux users will be able to install other applications, so it makes this device a lot more useful.

The very fact that Pepper runs Linux makes it one of the most promising e-book readers out there! As long as they don't use proprietary code for implementing DRM a la Sony Librie.

The very fact that Pepper runs Linux makes it one of the most promising e-book readers out there! As long as they don't use proprietary code for implementing DRM a la Sony Librie.Don't be so sure that because it runs on Linux, that you'll get source, or that it will be "free" (or "Free"), or that it will be under some OSS-approved license.

Lots of proprietary pieces of software run on Linux, and the number is increasing every day. Oracle and VMware are two that immediately come to mine. There are dozens of others as well.

You're right, that is what I am afraid of as well :( So let's pray!