Park this fridge in your living room. It does much more than keep food cold.

We'll admit that Samsung's HomePAD Internet Refrigerator with Internet access (and more) is a tad excessive in a surfing-the-Web-on-the-toilet kind of way. At $8,000, we'll even admit that it's rather expensive too. But nobody can deny the cool factor of having the most high tech fridge this side of Digital Digs.

It's just a cool fridge

First and foremost, the HomePAD is a fridge, albeit a very high tech one. On the freezer door, there are lights -- lots of lights -- and buttons. Among other things, the lights and buttons tell you the exact temperature inside the fridge and freezer (both are adjustable), whether you've selected crushed or cubed ice, and when it's time to change the water filter.

There's even a child lock in case the kids want to do something crazy, like change the temperature.

Our favorite feature is the drawer inside the fridge, which can have its temperature set independently. It's great for thawing steaks, or using a feature called Power Cool, which can chill beverages in a hurry.

Wireless Web tablet

The HomePAD includes a 10.4-inch LCD display that sits on the fridge's right door. It's essentially a Web tablet and offers a pile of functions.
  • Photo album
  • Television
  • Internet/Web access
  • Timer/alarm
  • Home datebook
  • Message board


The HomePAD includes an integrated digital camera for capturing those cherished moments in the kitchen. The camera has a movie mode, so you can leave video memos to family members. And forget about posting the kids' drawings on the fridge. Take a picture instead and display their artwork prominently -- and digitally -- with the HomePAD.

Even better, the HomePAD is wireless and can be carried around the kitchen. Surfing the Web or watching television isn't very comfortable if you have to stand and look at the fridge door. The ability to move the HomePAD to the kitchen counter or table makes it much more convenient.

More importantly, you can adjust the fridge temperature wirelessly. How cool is that, in a useless kind of way?

First impressions

In all seriousness, the Samsung HomePAD Internet Refrigerator is the most high-tech fridge we've ever seen. Do we think it's cool? Absolutely. Is it a must have? Probably not, unless you're building the ultimate connected home or you happen to be an employee of TechTV Labs who can actually afford something like this (not a chance).

Ultimately, it's a refrigerator that costs $8,000. Only the financial elite need apply. For our Digital Digs contest, however, it's perfect.

Company: Samsung

Price: $8,000
Available: Now