The Linux-based Palm Foleo has a 10-inch LCD screen and a compact but full-sized keyboard. It is “instant on” and has a battery life of five hours, which apparently is quite good for this type of device. The Foleo comes with the Opera web browser (including Flash support), Adobe’s Acrobat Reader, and built-in application viewers to read Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files.

The Foleo features two types of Internet connectivity. If wireless Internet access (WiFi) is available, the Foleo can connect and use it transparently. If WiFi isn’t available, the Foleo’s built-in Bluetooth capabilities can connect to the Internet using a Palm Treo smartphone. The Foleo does not have a built-in modem, so if there is no available WiFi connection and you don’t have a Palm Treo smartphone, you’re out of luck!

The main purpose of the Palm Treo appears to be e-mail management. You press a single button to use Bluetooth to sync the Foleo’s e-mail client with the e-mail in your Treo, then you take advantage of the Foleo’s larger screen and keyboard to read, reply, delete, or whatever else you need to do to manage your inbox. Then, with one more press of the sync button, your Treo’s inbox is up-to-date.

The Palm Foleo isn’t for me — I don’t own a Palm Treo smartphone, and the Foleo doesn’t make much sense without one — but it’s one of those devices I’d like to see in person. Palm helped to invent and define palmtop computing. I look forward to seeing what they do for “mobile companions” as well.

Tags: Palm Foleo, Smartphone