Palm's Foleo - savior or failure?

    I was excited to see the news that Palm was announcing a new device, particularly when it was touted to be creating a new category of mobile device. Even more alluring was the fact that Jeff Hawkins, Palm founder and Handspring founder, is behind this effort, so the promise of well thought out, functional engineering seemed strong.

    Alas, what I have seen since that announcement has not impressed me. Looks like it will run Linux, which explains this Linux Devices article. But when I look at more of the details in this PC Magazine article on Palm Foleo, it seems that despite the openness of the Palm OS, and even more openness of Linux, this will be a closed OS, losing all the existing Palm apps, and losing out on all the benefits of large numbers of developers and the apps and functionality they bring.

    At least one good thing has come from the announcement so far. The Wired Gadget blog on sub-notebooks as alternates to Palm's Foleo has enlightened me to some interesting laptops to consider when I get a new laptop. And who knows, it may not be that long before I can get a low-cost Palm Foleo on eBay. :-)

Posted at 07:28AM Jun 01, 2007 by dragonfly in Palm  |  Comments[0]