Palm meets Linux

Over a year ago, I had heard that the Palm folks had plans to ditch their OS, and to integrate some type of mobile Linux into their portable machines. As their handhelds haven't been updated in a while, I was fully expecting some type of Linux based T/X to appear on the scene. However, today they announced the Foleo, a smartphone companion.

Details are sketchy, but just from the appearance, it looks like a subnotebook with a 10 inch screen. The idea is that users can read and respond to emails from their smartphones while away from the office. The Foleo can also access the internet via WiFi directly. It claims that it can handle email attachments, and play PowerPoint presentations making it well suited for business use. It has no hard drive, and uses Compact Flash cards for the system memory; the processor is a mystery but I wouldn't expect a dual core speed demon here. Setting one back for $499, at least it's not ridiculously overpriced for a 1st gen product. One advantage is that it is always on, with no boot time (Palm handhelds are like that until they crash...).

Hold on a second though. Even a youngster like me remembers that this has been tried before. Last year it was Intel's push for the Origami ultra portable computers, and that fizzled more than an Alka-Seltzer tab, which the engineers probably needed when they saw the sales figures. A few years before that it was the Windows CE OS to be used in both handheld and purpose built flash based notebook like devices. Neither device took off, and I don't expect the Foleo to fly too far either.

It's simply too hard to compete with a full fledged notebook at that price. Even for under $500 today, there are some no frills notebooks that will offer all of the flexibility that a real computer will supply. Then there is no concern of if it will be able to use an attachment, or be compatible- issues that will come with the Foleo. It's hard to beat the flexibility of a real notebook, and this Foleo reportedly can't even play flash video, like that from YouTube.

Palm needs to get back to what it does best- making a really good handheld. If it can't easily fit into my pocket, and I need to carry it in a separate bag, than I'd rather just bring my notebook along for the trip. Sure, one day the notebook may evolve, dumping its hard drive for flash memory, and becoming lighter and more reliable. As the Foleo is being positioned as a smartphone accessory, and most users have regular cell phones and not smartphones, I think they went for a niche that is just too narrow.

--Jonas