The Palm Foleo

Some of you may have seen late last night or early this morning information about the Palm Foleo.Now it's "officially" official. And no, the Palm Foleo is not a plane, train or portable waffle maker. It's a smartphone companion that has a large screen and full-size keyboard (which makes email and working with documents much easier), Wi-Fi, and an on/off button that actually does just that...instant on, instant off (i.e. no boot up).

More details can be found here:

http://socialnews.palm.com/release.aspx?hid=11

http://investor.palm.com/pressdetail.cfm?ReleaseID=246403

Check back for more info on the Palm Foleo during the coming weeks.

Paul Loeffler - Palm, Inc.

Comments

[GM]

I was waiting for a TX size PDA with full keyboard just like great Sony UX50 + cell radio. I can´t see future for this device.
Sorry palm but I am very frustated.

[AndAl]

This is not Mobile. It´s tooo big. I expect a single device to carry in my pocket. Imagine having a laptop + Palm Foleo + smartphone. What a hell are you thinking Palm? If the Treo small screen is a problem why are you so relutant to give us a Treo with TX screen size? I am starting to think about getting a HTC device with Windows Mobile. They have TX screen size and full keyboard.

[Marc]

When I heard Hawkins speaking about the consequences of mobile computing evolution I thought it was a TX size device with TX screen + Cell radio + GPS (maybe a sliding keyboard).
When I saw the size of Foleo and its lack of features I couldn´t believe!!!!!
I need a mobile device to carry with me easily on my pocket, not this enourmous thing. I need a TX with Cell radio e GPS!!!!!

[waldo15]

A Treo companion? Well, definitely the idea is somewhat novel but I fail to see the full potential and usefulness of the Foleo. Nowadays Laptops meet and exceed the goals you guys want to achieve with two devices. And for the price tag even: one needs to spend 900 (Foleo+Treo) to get the full-blown experience right? For that price I can get a very decent laptop that can do all you guys market and beyond. The instant on is not a huge dealbreaker, after all there is sleep mode and hibernation available in my laptop.

I applaud the effort to break new ground, don't get me wrong. But most of us, long time Palm users, would see more value and groundbreaking technology if you guys take the Treo to a whole new level, one were you integrate innovation and technology just like it did back in the 600 days. Whenever that happens we will all agree that Palm is back for business...

[Tam]

I agree with tk421 about a TX2 with cell radio and I would add also GPS.
Palm Foleo is not for me!
The IPhone is coming and we still don´t have a palm smartphone with the decent TX screen.

[AJ0230]

If I understand this concept its to stay linked or paired with its PDA counterpart at all times... Its to do this via BlueTooth?

If my Treo cant even stay paired to a simple BT earpiece than how can we expect that a PDA will stay paired?

Palm has a horrible track record in the Blue Tooth department and it seems that you guys are hanging your hats on this constant pairing.

Good luck with that.

On the bright side tho its VERY positive to see Palm introduce its new OS.

Congrats on the new Linux kernel.

[Matt]

This reminds me of my favorite gadget of all time -- my LG Phenom Ultra. It was another small, lightweight instant-on QWERTY device that ran Windows CE. It was great and I've always hoped for another. Depending on how the software interacts with standard Window's apps, this could be it.

A laptop is fine, but nothing beats not having to boot up.

I already have a laptop that I have to carry around for work.
I would consider this product only if I already had a reliable phone to begin with.
The instability of the Bluetooth on this darn 700p is enough to make me scream.
I will NOT shell out another 500 bucks for any palm product until the one I have starts working the way it should have when I bought it.
As a tech nut, I am always first in line when the next best thing comes out.
The 700p however has forever poisoned Palm products in my mind.
While I can't honestly say I will never buy a palm product, or even a foleo, I definitely will not buy any new product without letting other people take the plunge first and then monitoring the chat rooms for feedback.

Where is that MR update?
In my opinion the foleo would have had a MUCH better reception if it had been introduced AFTER the MR update.---700p user's minds are way too occupied with this to be in the mood to think about shelling out money on any other palm product.

wachie

[Spinteews]

uh... I can see how it will work... yet I dunno... I think Palm should of focused more on a new Treo or something... sigh, too expensive, and its another thing you have to carry with you...

[maceyr (of Palmdiscovery.net)]

Looks good but, and it's a big but, I do fail to understand what's the "big deal" about this special innovative device that was in development for 3 years. Of course, I'd need more info and the specs, and I do hope that it can be more than just a bigger Treo with full keyboard and screen.

I was hoping that it was at least a touchscreen so that it can be somewhat of a tablet PC replacement. What is a Palm device that doesn't have a touchscreen? Or am I missing something here? It's nice that it's got Wi-Fi. And again, I hope that it will support at least 802.11g if not n. Please, don't tell me that it's 802.11b with WEP. I was thinking more of a Wi-max support. And built-in GPS and maybe even satellite radio support.

I am still very much a happy Treo owner but I am starting to really consider getting an HTC Advantage or at least a Win Mobile device with keypads to complement my aging Treo and do all the things that my Treo can't do.

It's a nice start and I hope that Palm has a bit of time to add more features. But from what I see so far, I am still looking to a Win Mobile device.

[Jim]

After checking every day for the 900 MR I was not in the mood for anything else. This may be a good idea but until I see a decent TREO not interested in anything Palm.

[Garman]

1) It is a good concept I grant you but the execution is seems to come from a company that's been hanging around Microsoft too long. A first look has me say this is a laptop from 1992. The Vadem Clio, TC 1100, Psion Series 7 or even the Palm V have designs that seem to be aware of design. And for all the rumors of getting an Apple person on board this must be for a device yet to come because there is no evidence of it here. Ever heard of this thing called a tablet PC. Expect body hacks very soon. I would rather have something from motion computing with a wireless or wired keyboard for most flexibility.

2) Anything major to say about the Palm OS since Palm OS 6 about 3 years. I know about Linux but some info at this moment would have given you the "but wait there's more." moment and give some assurance which you seem to be promoting.

3) How many times on this blog or on Palm Addict do you have to hear a new improved TX to address this. You say you follow the voice of the community and yet now acknowledgment of this user demand. A larger screen size and a few updates to an already existing product is not a tall order considering the work that went into Foleo.

4) Some businesses pay attention to a certain kind of corporate karma or spiritual practice. They do this through charity or making environmental decisions and giving back to the customer. I find it very out of place to have this announcement come before your 700p update to very customers you are presenting this to. I do not care if you keep your promise (week of the 28) but if it is not possible for you to clear the slate before your launch (which should be within your power) there really is something rotten in Denmark and you need to bring in the Feng Shui people.

With all your faults I love you still but let's keep it real especially because of this love.

[Blykes]

Doesn't matter how cool it looks. After the fiasco that is the Treo 700P, I would be a "fooleo" to even think about getting one.

[Jonathan Barchi]

1. The link above sometimes fails as 404... I'm guessing this is due to server overload since the linked page is so media-heavy. Perhaps link to a more descriptive error?

This device fills a niche, and a linux-based palmtop is an attractive idea. One thing I wonder... will it be able to use my treo as a bluetooth modem (or better, given the treo's slow BT 1.2, as a cord-tethered modem)? If so, will I have to pay my carrier's exorbitant data tethering rates (barring PDAnet)?

[tigs]

I don't know or care if the Foleo will be successful. But either way, it's not for me. I've been a long time Palm user (III, IIIxe, Vx, T, T3, C) who has no desire for a smartphone - or a smartphone companion, for that matter. What I do want is a more powerful, more capacious pda in the spirit of a Lifedrive II (keep the build quality, trade the HD for flash, and, if you can, figure a way to sync it with itunes ;)

[Bob]

As a long time Palm user (T to T|3 to Treo 650), I was hoping your 'amazing announcement' was the Lifedrive merged with the Treo merged with a slide-out keyboard.

This was not it. In fact, I can't see a real use for this at all. We already have UMPCs that can do far more than this 'smartphone companion' can do, and we have smartphones that are FAR better than the Treo line already on the market.

What people need now are combination devices that can do everything, not a separate product that requires the use of a nearby cellphone for some of its features. And that price? Why?

This product is DOA, Palm. And with that, so is the company in my eyes. Time to switch to the real winners in the smartphone category now - WM6 with a good slide-out keyboard. That is a true convergence device. This is anything but.

[awesom0]

Sorry Palm. I just don't get it. I thought my laptop was my smartphone companion.

[Dan]

Wow, Palm as a company is veering off into the sunset and no one is following or sad that they're going.

[FG in NH]

Paul, what a flippn' joke. I don't need another piece of techo junk to carry. I bought a Treo to stop carrying a phone and a PDA along with my laptop...so now Palm wants me to spent another $500 bucks to do what I should have been able to do with my Treo from Day1? I don't need a psuedo-laptop. What I need is a slimmer, faster, innovative smartphone that doesn't reset 5 times a day, doesn't miss calls, built-in BT that works, WiFi and voice dialing over BT. Instead of Palm designing that they reinvented the Newton. At this rate Palm will be belly up in 2 years. BTW....instead of wasting time on things I don't need, where is my 700p MR? Yeah...thats what I thought......I'm officially counting the days until Verizon has the Blackberry Curve.....or maybe Palm should partner with Helio and rebadge their SmartPhones....that might keep Palm around for a few more years....

[Rico]

Ironically, maybe Palm's presenting the Foleo as a "mobile companion" to avoid alienating loyal customers, while slowly providing an alternative to mainstream computing:

http://www.fool45.com/blogging/what-is-the-palm-foleo/

[Stew]

I guess that I am one of those guys that doesn't get it. I have a Treo 650 and a laptop. I need my laptop to do my work; store my files; etc... What is the promise of the Foleo that would make me stop carrying my laptop and spend $500 (or $600) for this?
Is this targeted at the hangout in Starbucks crowd who might be able to type long emails and browse?
Is this supposed to tap into the Linux world (and gosh - why not bundle OpenOffice, a robust VPN client, and enough cache memory and position this as a real thin, mobile client for corporate use?).
$550 can buy me today an entry level Dell laptop; I don't see myself being swayed by a few pounds, bluetooth, and instant on to get the Foleo. What am I missing here?

[Another John]

Congrats Palm. You re-invented Windows CE.

[T.P. Reitzel]

As the owner of the LifeDrive, I'm looking for a replacement with more capability. Personally, I could care less about "phone" connectivity. Either use AI (speech, visual) to overcome the dimensional limitations imposed by a keyboard, or modularize the PDA into a portable computer. I don't really care too much if I have to carry TWO devices for the system to work flexibly, but no more. The schizophrenic identity of the Foleo has most of us confused. Why not design a SMALL CPU with the standard array of I/O ports, wireless connectivity, flash storage, 3"x5" display, etc. that serves as a base for attaching wireless devices such as IR keyboards, headphones, etc? LET THE USER DECIDE HOW HE WANTS TO CONFIGURE THE CPU...For this PDA user, the Foleo has flopped. If at first you don't succeed, try, then try again...

[Steve G.]

Why not increase the ability of the Treo (EVDO Rev A, Wifi, Linux-based OS) and create software which will work with existing laptops - like KeyLink, etc.?

Even better - put a small projector in the Treo so you could project the screen in a higher resoution onto a wall (or a binder stood on end). And whatever happened to the holographic keyboards which are projected onto the desktop? Granted you'd need to work on battery life - but technology is out there for that too.

C'mon folks, stick some really cool functionality into the device which "fits in your pocket" but market it as the device which makes your world "fit into the Palm of your hand".

Lets get some vision!

Concentrate on putting out a device in the very near future current users can feel works and/or upgrade to (Wifi, decent camera, BT stereo - if you refuse to ever go with a 1/8" audio, etc. - there is no shortage of user-originated suggestions on this blog). Then plan big to put out the next generation with the really cool technology.

Palm - you need to make an internal cultural shift. Business as usual is not working for your user base. Get some brass and come out with a PRODUCT, not a product add-on.

[Henry Ferlauto]

I have followed Palm through its ups and downs over the years. I am do not know what to say on this one.

Who is the target customer? As far as I can tell it is someone with a desktop computer (only) and a smartphone of some flavor and they want a laptop, but mainly just for e-mail and web surfing. What market research lead to the conclusion that this was void that needed to be filled.

The limited function laptop has already been tried before. Has anyone at Palm ever seen a Sharp TriPad / Vadem Clio? This is basically an evolution of that device except the convertible tablet functionality was left out and they've added the syncing abilities.

Palm - You please just put WiFi and some serious storage in a Treo, and /or add a cell radio to a Life Drive? That's all everyone's been asking for the past three years now. Is it that hard?

And John - If that's not the most obvious shill from the Palm Marketing Department, I don't know what is.