Palm Foleo – a whole new computing category is born
Just over a year ago, on the tenth anniversary of the groundbreaking Palm Pilot, we speculated: what next for Palm? Could one of those new Windows-pow
Just over a year ago, on the tenth anniversary of the groundbreaking Palm Pilot, we speculated: what next for Palm? Could one of those new Windows-powered ‘Origami’ thingummies be on the cards?We didn’t think we’d have to wait quite this long to find out, but 14 long months later we finally have the answer. Palm isn’t bringing out a Windows-powered UMPC (which, with hindsight, is just as well, really) it’s bringing out something entirely new – the Linux-based Foleo.So what is it? Well, with a 10in screen and ultra-slim profile, it’s as portable as a UMPC, but with a full-size keyboard its far closer to a conventional laptop. It hooks up to the internet via a mobile phone or Wi-Fi and is good for email, web browsing, and editing Word and Excel files. If you’re packing a Treo it’ll also sync email and contacts wirelessly over Bluetooth.Palm sees it as the device you use when you don’t want to cart a laptop but do want a large screen and keyboard. It also has the benefits of a PDA, with a laptop-bashing five-hour battery life and instant power-on and off.We’ll reserve further judgement ’til Palm lets us know the hardware specs, and whether we’ll be able to watch MP4 films on the train – otherwise we fear this one will be for business trips only.
Palm Foleo Price: £TBA ($500 in US) On sale: Summer 2007 Contact: PalmRelated stories: Buy Treo, get TomTom free Parrot hands-free wings its way to your motor Palm celebrates 10th birthday
Dan Grabham
Editor-in-Chief