Palm Foleo: It's hardware for Webware
I owe an apology to my lunch companions at D5. When conversation turned to the Palm Foleo, I said it was a terrible idea. Overpriced, underfeatured, and too close to the well-established laptop market.
That was before I got my hands on one. It took me only a few minutes to develop a desire to get one of these for myself. This is partly because I tried the product while my back was straining from the messenger bag carrying my Thinkpad. The Foleo is tiny and light, yet big enough to hold a full keyboard and a nice screen.
Small, light, and useful. But too expensive.
(Credit: CNET Networks)
It was also because I was in a rush, and the Foleo powered on instantly when I opened its lid (just like a Palm Pilot is instant-on).
The device does e-mail and it surfs the Web, and not much more. But most of the time, especially when I'm traveling, I don't need anything else.
Downsides: It's still too expensive. At about $500, it's over my personal tech budget for a device that does the same thing that my laptop does. And although it has Wi-Fi, you don't get full functionality unless you pair the device, via Bluetooth, to your mobile phone. This is because the Foleo's e-mail application relies on your mobile phone's e-mail client to feed it; the Wi-Fi connection is used only for Web browsing. Of course, you could use the Foleo for Web e-mail, but over a cellular connection that would be painful.
But I actually think this is great hardware for Webware. It's got problems, but it's a very slick and useful gizmo. I'd buy one if I could afford it.
See also: More Foleo pictures.
Rafe Needleman writes about start-ups, new technologies, and Web 2.0 products, as editor of CNET's Webware. E-mail Rafe. 
on webware apps like email, word processors and whatever else is out there. It's
an internet device that will be able to do all the things laptops can do using
webware. No moving parts and a small amount of solid state memory for
storage makes it a long-running, affordable, thin and light alternative to bulky
or expensive laptops. If they just had built-in connectivity, at least wifi, it would
be a great product that, using webware, could someday disrupt the laptop
market.
- Laptop for the Webware age
- by fleurya June 1, 2007 7:23 AM PDT
- This has a lot of potential to tap a niche market of people who can work solely
- Like this Reply to this comment
-
(6 Comments)on webware apps like email, word processors and whatever else is out there. It's
an internet device that will be able to do all the things laptops can do using
webware. No moving parts and a small amount of solid state memory for
storage makes it a long-running, affordable, thin and light alternative to bulky
or expensive laptops. If they just had built-in connectivity, at least wifi, it would
be a great product that, using webware, could someday disrupt the laptop
market.