Palm Foleo: The Handheld PC Reborn (with Linux inside this time)

Palm announced (but did not release) its Palm Foleo mobile companion today. It has a 10 inch LCD screen, full-size keyboard, 5 hours battery life, email and other applications, and no hard drive. I got so excited about it, I bought it!!! Uh, well, actually that device in the photo above (device on a desk next to a Casio Palm-size PC)) does meet the Foleo description. But, it is a Compaq Aero 8000 that I bought in 1999 while attending the Microsoft Windows CE Developers Conference in Denver. And, the similarly spec-ed Jornada 820 (with an 8 inch LCD) is from 1998. It is also a Windows CE Handheld PC. Yes, neither one had WiFi or Bluetooth. But, nothing back then did. The Handheld PCs were great. How great? I fired up the HP Jornada 820 last year and used it to write most of Windows for the Intel Mac published by O’Reilly Media. I was very disappointed when the Handheld PCs faded away. And, since the Microsoft UMPCs are nowhere near the $500 level they were aimed at, I am saving my nickels and dimes to by a Palm Foleo when it is released. It will be great to have a Handheld PC again (even if it does not run Windows CE).

3 thoughts on “Palm Foleo: The Handheld PC Reborn (with Linux inside this time)

  1. ecalzo

    I like this devices.I know Asus eee machine but the price will be high.I am trying to buy a jornada 820e or a hp720 or a nec mobilepro 790.I cannot decide between full screen or half screen.It is better i choose the 820e or maybe the nec 790 like handheld?Whan can you promote?I need to write around and i want to try linux on that machine.Thanks guys

  2. Steve

    I too am rather interested in a Palm Foleo to replace my aging Compaq Aero 8000. I always liked the Aero, however, I did find Windows CE to be a bit buggy particularly when trying to use it with my Linksys router. DHCP would not work and it required some unusual tricks to allow file sharing over the network. Also, you cannot upgrade to a newer version of Windows CE. I hope that is not the case with the Foleo.

    The main thing the Foleo needs right now is more applications, which I hope will be developed over time. Maybe even have Firefox ported!

  3. Alan

    I still use my HP 728; what people want is a updated HP 728 or Psion 5mx that runs either umpc or windows mobile 6. What is missing is a pocket size computer with a touch type keyboard. The old HP 820 never was a hit as it was too large but there is a market for the pocket size clamshells if they had a more mainstream OS. I will not nor ever buy anything with a thumb keyboard so I am holding out hopping for something to buy. Price is not an issue but rather what it must have is a touch type keyboard and it must fit into a jacket pocket.

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