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Palm Announces Linux-Based Companion for Treos

Article Comments  18  

May 30, 2007, 12:58 PM   by (staff)

Today Palm unveiled an email and browsing device that will compliment its Treo line of smartphones. The Foleo, which looks like a laptop, runs a Linux operating system and features instant-on and 5 hours of battery life. In addition to an email application and browser, it will include basic Word, Excel and PowerPoint editing. The Foleo has a 10-inch screen, full-size QWERTY keyboard and weighs 2.5 pounds. It includes Bluetooth and Wi-Fi for Internet access. The device will sync with both Palm- and Windows Mobile-based Treos, and Palm says that other Microsoft Windows Mobile products should work wth the Foleo with minimal extra steps. Palm also says other smartphone platforms, like BlackBerry OS, may be compatible with the Foleo. It includes a complement of ports and jacks, and will cost $500.

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jrmovie

Jun 7, 2007, 10:11 AM

Foleo could be perfect for meo!

Gotta disagree with many who are quickly saying no use for the Foleo. For me it seems a perfect solution. I have a computer at work and desktop at home.

For $500.00 and already having a smartphone I am seriously considering instead of a laptop. Why?

No cumbersome operating systems. Simple on/off mechanisms and lightweight. I realize many of you have already purchased a laptop but with those of us who have held off especially with the Vista compatibillity issues this seems like a worthwhile investment on face value.

Once it is available to test out I will follow up with my review.
jrmovie

Jun 7, 2007, 9:54 AM

Palm Foleo

Gotta disagree with many who are quickly saying no use for the Foleo. For me it seems a perfect solution. I have a computer at work and desktop at home.

For $500.00 and already having a smartphone I am seriously considering instead of a laptop. Why?

No cumbersome operating systems. Simple on/off mechanisms and lightweight. I realize many of you have already purchased a laptop but with those of us who have held off especially with the Vista compatibillity issues this seems like a worthwhile investment on face value.

Once it is available to test out I will follow up with my review.
katrina

Jun 2, 2007, 6:05 PM

So uhh...

I hate to say it, but at this price point it will be a very "niche-market" sort of thing. If it were around $300 I would consider getting one if the Linux system on it isn't on lock down (like can I compile my own kernel on it? (even if it takes 5 years on its probably dinky processor)). While you wont find a notebook quite this tiny for $500, you can get pretty close...
muchdrama

May 30, 2007, 11:38 PM

$500 bucks?

You can buy a full fledged laptop on sale for that kind of cash.

Pfft.
Well....I'm not 100% on the Foleo bandwagon...still debating....but the laptops I looked at for under 500 are not as small as this and are not well built. I have laptop but its still large, with 3 hours battery life, and I usually don't need all the ...
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...
Argonnj

May 30, 2007, 1:40 PM

End of line for Palm

How big of a flop will this product be. Just another bonehead move from a company that is stuck in the past.
Nothing more then an oversized email reader without any connectivity of its own. Sounds like something M$ would come out with.
Bigbmc26

May 30, 2007, 1:39 PM

LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What a waste of R&D! I wish someone would go ahead, buy Palm and put them outta their misery! 🤣 🤣
Their next big announcement will be a new suitcase with a phone attached so you can make calls from anywhere!
...
Am I the only one who immediately thought of Datawind's Pocket Surfer when seeing this?

http://www.datawind.com »
...
guy_gadget

May 30, 2007, 6:03 PM

Question and Comment

Would my treo 680 be able to connect to the foleo? Not sure if it will connect to the old garnet. Any one know?

Comment:

As a business student with a treo 680 I was really unimpressed with the folio, But I think it fits my needs. I like ease of use. It is too expensive though, 350-400 with rebate would get me instantly.

I have needed a full keyboard at times and wanted to view the screen a little bigger.

I am often at school or on the go and want to acess email, web pages, music, youtube, and some light microsoft document editing. The foleo is great for that in a light package that starts up instantly. Also it syncs very easily. Hopefully it will have a calender, music player, and be able to watch youtube. If it does I'm sold.
...
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japhy

May 30, 2007, 3:12 PM

Optimism for Palm

[optimistic speculation]

According to Hawkins, the Foleo won't have any connectivity apart from the phone. But I bet with very little modification, they could add a WWAN option for direct connectivity (i. That would put them in an interesting position to market the Foleo as a UMPC. Depending on the compatibility with other Linux builds, it could be almost successful. They could also go another way & add a voice module to it - when you've got a Bluetooth headset on, what does it matter whether it's paired to a phone in your pocket or a laptop in your bag or briefcase?

[/optimistic speculation]
😉

The product, as it is, is totally unimpressive. I can see a small niche of folks who are conflicted about bringing a laptop or ...
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It does have Wi-Fi for direct connectivity to the Internet.
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