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My company will never buy this

This thing is ghey. I can just hear the conversation now ...

Helpdesk Guy: "Hello Mr. New VP. Here is your Palm and Foleo"
New VP: "Gezunteit"
Helpdesk Guy: "No, it's called a Foleo. You see, it runs Linux and has an Opera browser and you can open Office documents."
New VP: "Where's my Windows laptop?"

And that will be the end of it.
 
I'm suddenly awash with nostalgia for my Duo 2300.

$1000 in 1996, light and small, worked like a champ until I foolishly wrecked it trying to convert it for use with an overhead projector...
 
i think it's kinda cool. Does everything I need for University (notes, net, email) at a less than half a macbook price and half the weight as well.

Not the best thing in the world but I could see it getting the job done.
 
fools

macrumors people are getting more and more annoying, are you guys just a bunch of freaking snobs roaming an art gallery?! why is everything relative to apple?! sure, this is the MACrumors site, but please, don't be so ridiculously snooty, just because you own something apple and follow apple, doesn't mean you know good art or design, sheesh. a bunch of ****ing wannabes.

instead of mocking on the design, why not talk about the tech specs? yes, i think it's a piece of ****, too, but i'm not airing my diletante opinions about it. who the heck says that it has anything to do with iphone?? shut the **** up! please! are you mostly 12 and under?

does anyone have anything interesting to say instead of yawn, bunch of ****ing spam, your posts! how about the intent of this device? no it's not that revolutionary, but what the **** is in the device? is it hard drive based or usb flash? how about the fact that the charger for the laptop is really a phone charger? what's the os? they're obviously targeting the business folks, this will do well anywhere where palm's already inked deals. but this could be a play to get them to step into dell and hp's territory. it's not a bad play for palm, even though they're a ****** company still, three years for this............................

i'm going to create a ****ing spam eliminator for all the post sites. i bet there will be about 5 interesting posts per article after which.

poor macrumors readership, it's gone from the interesting folks to a bunch of ****ing tards.
 
HAHAHAHA...OMG...what a land-filler!

A mega-sized Treo that requires ANOTHER Treo to access wireless data networks.

ROFLMAO!!!

Palm is clueless.
 
Reminds me of...

The Sharp Zaurus.

I had a Zaurus around 4 years ago, and loved it untiled it died. It ran linux, had instant on and was a hell of a lot more portable than this. The Zaurus line has been killed by Sharp, because it didn't have a huge following. :(

zaurus.png
 
take a chill pill gerrycurl

This is a comments thread and everyone is entitled to comment, regardless of whether their opinion has already been stated and echoed a hundred times.

freedom of speech!

PS the device indeed SUCKS. I love how palm calls it elegant and simple. It looks like the great grandpa of laptops (emaciated not thin)
 
I've already got one in my kitchen.

It has both a keyboard *and* touchscreen for input.

It's called - Audrey.

it got an eraserhead like some of the IBM computers and it has a usb port so you add a mouse or add a USB hub, to add other stuff once they figure out how the linux os works.

I really want one, it be a nice addition in the kitchen since we dont have that LG fridge and this cost less than a UMPC and comes with a keyboard unlike the Nokia tablet, Archos 604/704 wifi and the Cowon Q5(thought latter two have an HD and are full media players it all good). However, I have other expense so I guess I will get one once its $300 or less on ebay.
Problem with an Apple sub-notebook would be the same problem with the Sony sub-notebooks its price. If anything those sub-notes may go for $1500(or that what a classmate paid 3 years ago for his 10.1in Sony Viao with DVD drive and camera.
 
I honestly think this device is more about showing off their new OS for their next gen phones. That what I think people need to understand.
 
For everyone who is complaining that you can get a full blow laptop for the same price....repost:

This $500 partially functional laptop isn't used with crap components that will break on you within 1-2 years. I always find it amusing that people are toting these $500-$700 laptops and desktops as some great value. These are the same people who shop at Wally World and are amazed when their $80 TV stops working after a year of use.
Learn this: Cheap prices beget craptastic hardware.

How do I know all this. Dell service tech that does warranty work for Dell here...People always ask me why their cheap [bleep] system is always failing. Being the good customer rep I smile and say "these things happen". The real reason is simple. You purchased a low end, bottom of the barrel system. Of course its going to fail. If it doesn't you are lucky. Why do they fail? simply because the manufacturer, lets say dell, has these mobo manufacturers, lets say Foxconn, bid for the cheapest components possible. Result: Motherboard that have capaciters that randomly fail. Solder joints that can't hold up long term and also fail.
Many Americans seem to miss this point: You, usually, get what you pay for. Unless a company is trying to make components cheap as heck and jack up the prices to make a VERY healthy profit.
 
Valid Problem - Wrong Approach to Solution

The underlying problem:

What is an effective User Interface for small form factor mobile devices for the functional demands of today?

Palm has addressed that by looking at existing interfaces (large screen + full sized keyboard, otherwise known as the laptop) and appending that to their Treo.

However, due to the current market environment, that is simply the wrong approach. The current market environment being that this interface already exists (everyone with a Treo most probably has a laptop); also the Foleo interface completely destroys the small form factor of the mobile device (thus changing the initial problem statement into a non-problem).

In other word, Palm has they haven't solved the problem at all, but provided a solution to a non-problem.

A complete ground-up UI design is needed to solve this interface obstacle.

Apple is on the right track, in as far as designing a new interface (multitouch) for the small form factor.

Just look at the UI solution for navigating a list of thousands of items in a small mobile device (the iPod click wheel).

When the solution is finally found, it'll be truly revolutionary.
 
In other word, Palm has they haven't solved the problem at all, but provided a solution to a non-problem.

A complete ground-up UI design is needed to solve this interface obstacle.

When the solution is finally found, it'll be truly revolutionary.

I think they did solve some of their problems. And that problem was their Palm OS was an aging software, this Linux based OS they are running is going to be their future OS of their phone. This will allow users to finally multi-task. Sad as that may sound it was working for them up until they made no real progress came out with the 700P.
 
Hmmm. It's cheap but I can't see a market for this really.

First reaction to the Foleo
I totally dont get it... :confused:

The only market I can kinda see the Foleo in, is the small mom and pop startup business...even then...:confused:

Foleo $500
+
Smart Phone $200-400
+ Voice & Data Service $60-80 mo. /$720-960 yr.

Im thinking Palm hasnt really done anything in a while, so they let marketing and R&D run freely wild on this one...?

Whatever Palm:p :rolleyes:
 
The underlying problem:

What is an effective User Interface for small form factor mobile devices for the functional demands of today?

Palm has addressed that by looking at existing interfaces (large screen + full sized keyboard, otherwise known as the laptop) and appending that to their Treo.

However, due to the current market environment, that is simply the wrong approach. The current market environment being that this interface already exists (everyone with a Treo most probably has a laptop); also the Foleo interface completely destroys the small form factor of the mobile device (thus changing the initial problem statement into a non-problem).

In other word, Palm has they haven't solved the problem at all, but provided a solution to a non-problem.

A complete ground-up UI design is needed to solve this interface obstacle.

Apple is on the right track, in as far as designing a new interface (multitouch) for the small form factor.

Just look at the UI solution for navigating a list of thousands of items in a small mobile device (the iPod click wheel).

When the solution is finally found, it'll be truly revolutionary.

I think they already found the revolutionary solution to the input problem. It's called the iPhone.

Woot.
 
And I really don't think this is all Palm has up its sleeve. . . It's just a distraction to make you think "oh, my, they've gone bonkers," then WHAM! Something awesome!
 
Not everyone wants a laptop

This thing is ghey. I can just hear the conversation now ...

Helpdesk Guy: "Hello Mr. New VP. Here is your Palm and Foleo"
New VP: "Gezunteit"
Helpdesk Guy: "No, it's called a Foleo. You see, it runs Linux and has an Opera browser and you can open Office documents."
New VP: "Where's my Windows laptop?"

And that will be the end of it.

Why would he want a Windows laptop? Is he a techno-geek? Just look at all the clamoring around these forums for a subnotebook.

If this really does all that travelling business people / sales reps need, it will sell very well.

People don't want to carry around laptops. If they did, Blackberries wouldn't sell well. Sometimes they have to read stuff on a bigger screen, and tha's why they have to lug around a laptop in addition to the smartphone / blackberry. Note that this is a 'have to' situation, not a 'want to'.

This weighs 2/3 of a subnotebook, and costs 1/3-1/4. It's less prone to loading rogue software, and more dependable due to no hard drive. I think IT departments are going to buy this by the forklift-full.

Note that the Windows laptop is pretty bad at receiving phone calls, so you Mr. New VP still needs to carry a phone around.
 
disappointing.

a 12" PB can be had for the same price.

i must be missin something...
 
the Pepperpad/EMATE's unholy child!!

This would be such a cool product if it had a touch-screen or stylus! I've been wanting a device for PDF annotation for years! I already have a Treo, but the screen is too small, and where did the "notes" application go? I used to draw comics, write Chem eq's... Palm should have put a touch-screen or something on this, as it is... you could get a G3 iBook for >$300 which would run circles around this thing for everything but batterylife/wt. A UMPC is only $200 more, and it runs full XP-Tablet or Vista!! Heck the Emate is INNOVATIVE compared to this.

If u want a portable linux terminal check out the PepperPAD 3 (newegg, amazon, ect.) It runs linux and has a touch screen, HDD, Wifi, TV out, FIREFOX!!! all for the same price, yet an even smaller size. Or check ebay for a discarded UMPC.

What is this other than an overpriced BT keyboard? Seriously??...Palm is moving *away* from pen input? That's what the PDA was built on!!
 
okay - I take my comment back

$500 is a lot of money

If the Foleo was around $200, then I would definitely buy one (just for the heck of it), as would many others in finding use out of it

but $500 can pave the way towards a solid laptop purchase --- this one is a dud for Palm

However --- the ability to get on the 'net instantly, with one's treo, is what truely makes this an attractive device ---- once more devices offer 3G, in addition to better modem-tethering between their BlackBerry's and Treo's, then the Foleo becomes VERY obsolete... I guess it's already approaching that doorstep as we speak....
 
Many Americans seem to miss this point: You, usually, get what you pay for. Unless a company is trying to make components cheap as heck and jack up the prices to make a VERY healthy profit.

There's a saying in Finland that translates in to "Poor people can't afford cheap things". It basically means that it's usually cheaper to pay more upfront, than it is to buy cheapest product possible, and the being forced to re-buy it when it breaks down, whereas the more expensive product would still be working fine. I try to follow that guideline whenever I make bigger purchases. When I see a computer or television or something else that is VERY cheap, my first thought is "So, what's wrong with it? Where did they cut corners?".

As to comparing Foleo to low-end laptop or maybe MacBook... Well, there are few things to consider:

- Low-end laptops are usually big and heavy. Foleo is tiny
- With a laptop you could get... what, 2-3 hours of battery-life? Foleo gives you five hours
- Low-end laptops are cheap and dinky. Foleo seems like a durable machine

Of course you could get an ultraportable laptop that does everything Foleo does and more. But those cost over $2000. You could get four Foleos for the price of one ultraportable.

But, as I said before: Psion 5MX would still be the way to go....
 
this one is a dud for Palm

In this form, I agree.

I've used a Newton MP 2000 for the last 9 years (eek!!!) - and even though most people who have seen me use it over the years comment on it's size, I've stuck with it because, for me, it works. Yup - it's bigger than the average PDA, but for me this means writing and using pen-gestures on a nice big screen which I love.

However, even though I love my MP2000 even I baulk at carrying it around when I also have to take my phone and iPod. And this Foleo thing is even bigger than my MP 2000!!

I think Palm have missed a trick here. I can see what they're trying to achieve, but their approach seems wrong. It looks like they've literally taken one of their designs from 10 years ago and decided to put it into production.

To match the hype, why didn't Palm introduce a device with *possibly* a folding keyboard and *definitely* a roll-away OLED screen? making it compact and slick/different looking when not in use but big enough and useable when needed?

The Foleo's screen doesn't appear to be touch sensitive so a flexible/roll away screen would have been killer IMHO and would have given the product some of the cutting edge coolness factor Apple is currently enjoying with iPhone.

I really hope that the Foleo is a success for Palm - but in it's current form?! Nah....

Rod.
 
This is right up there with those keyboards they already make and nobody carries 'cause theyre too big. They want me to buy a 500 screen for my 300 phone? Why cant someone just put the damn phone in the laptop already? I would love the Sony Vaio UX IF it could accept calls.... whats the problem here? Seriously. I would kill for a big phone with an 8in screen and slide out keyboard running a real, uncrippled OS, no joke. Sony already has the ATT card in it, I dont understand, I really don't.


So when you are at the grocery store, you will bring your Vaio with you to accept calls? And when you are at the amusement park, you want the phone-Vaio with you?

Foleo at first glance seems "boring"... but Palm has a good idea here.
iPhone is too big for a phone and the screen is too small for real use.

So allow people to carry whatever bluetooth phone they want (ie razor) which they can fit anywhere for phone purposes. When they travel, they bring Foleo.

As far as the "not a real laptop" issue... let's be real. 95% of what people use their laptop for is 1) internet 2) email 3) MS Word 4) calender/contacts 5) excel 6) powerpoint 7) pdf 8) pictures
This will approach 99% as all apps start becoming web-based.

So for 1/4 the price of a subnotebook, this might be a very useable device.

It may be substance over style with no multitouch, no touchscreen, no "neat-o" feature.... but business users may love this thing. (By the way, I am not sure why people make such a big deal over multitouch. Resizing photos looks cool, but once the coolness wears off......)
 
It'll sell, just not very well. It has an extraordinarily small market IMO. I simply can't see many people not getting what they want from either a smartphone/blackberry or a small "proper" laptop.

Bizarre.
 
As one who has written more than 15K words on the Psion, I concur.

Okay, I get you. You got me when you mentioned 15,000 words, total, on a Psion. 15,000 words is no more than two weeks worth of work for me. Then I use iTunes and iPhoto, because I can, but if those things weren't available on my MacBook, I'd use CDs and film.

I've mistaken myself as a potential customer for this device because it has a keyboard. But it's not meant for me because the nature of my work is intensive revisitation of long to very long documents of straight text. I'm not at all the the market for this product. Rather this is for people who do a little here, a little there, but a tricked-out mobile phone is too unwieldy to efficiently do those thing. This is for the corporate worker often out of the office, often required to edit contracts, return e-mail, update spreadsheets, or the like, while out of the office. These tiny PCs are $1,200; this Palm Foleo is $500 -- the tiny PCs do more but the users don't *need* more. My MacBook is better for what I do, but what I do is nothing like what, say, a regional sales manager does. My original work can be slow and ponderous some days, a lot of chin-in-hand behavior; every day, his work is a quick recalculation here, a fast contract modification here, snappy answer to this e-mail, change this meeting appointment, e-mail everyone to let them know the meeting has changed, on the Web look up for his wife the phone number of the hotel where he'll stay tomorrow night in Cleveland, etc.

Taking that into consideration, I rescind my previous naysaying about the Foleo. It will appeal to a certain heavily mobile company worker. This is the same thing I said about the iPhone, although I believe it will sell more into the consumer market, too, at least at first -- even at those prices -- because of the panache Apple has in the gadget-centric younger demographic. Being an iPod and Apple TV owner, and a Mac user since the 1980s, I have it into my head that every gadget or new technology that comes out must have a very broad reach into the consumer market. That's of course a false perception. Each market has its own needs and uses. If you gave me a typewriter, I'd put on my desk and use it, at least for some things, a lot more than typing envelopes; but must of you would laugh and hand a typewriter right back.
 
Okay, I get you. You got me when you mentioned 15,000 words, total, on a Psion. 15,000 words is no more than two weeks worth of work for me. Then I use iTunes and iPhoto, because I can, but if those things weren't available on my MacBook, I'd use CDs and film.

Well, the thing is that the Psion fits in your pocket, MacBook does not. MacBook is also a lot more expensive and it has a lot less battery-life.

The point is to have a device that can be carried with you _all_the_time_. Laptop is not that. Psion Revo or Psion 5MX is. And they had full keyboards. The original poster wrote 15000 word on his. I wrote half of my thesis on my Revo. Keyboard on the 5MX was similar to one found in laptops (not those dinky PDA-keyboards), and you could touch-type on it.

Seriously: Updated 5MX with more flash and RAM; faster CPU, WiFi and color-screen would be perfectly competetive today.
 
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