Not so dumb afterall
February 22nd, 2008
You've probably seen the lustworthy pictures of HP's rumoured Eee-like UMPC. This system, if true, seems to fix a lot of what is wrong with the Eee, namely the cramped, rattletrap keyboard. The 2133 has a keyboard that is 95% of full size, with a display that measures 8.9". The processor will be a low-cost, low-power Via chip. According to Cnet's Crave blog, sources at HP say the 2133 will have much better battery life than any previous UMPC and will be priced very competitively. One HP staff said, "You won't even need to consider this purchase. You'll buy it like a handphone without a thought".
Hmmm… Very tempting. So Foleo-like. Let's hope HP decides that the system needs to be functionally mobile in addition to physically mobile. No Windows Vista! Or at least offer a version with a lightweight OS that can be up and running in a couple of seconds.
Oh, and you have to read this article by Erica Ogg over at Cnet, titled "Palm Foleo: Not such a dumb concept afterall." It is ironic that Palm was first to this new market, and yet is reaping none of the benefits. It's also puzzling how so many Foleo-critics now love the Eee and Eee-inspired laptops.
I still have hope that once Palm OS II is finished, we will indeed see a Foleo-like device from Palm. The way the market has changed, they'd be silly not to. (I'll probably have to find a new blog name, though. I can't imagine they'd use the Foleo name again.)
February 22nd, 2008 at 1:42 am
If the 2133 runs cool and FAST (no desktop OS), I’ll probably have to get one. The Eee was just too small for me.
Unless a Foleo comes out soon.
February 25th, 2008 at 6:16 am
With Diamondville coming out soon, the “Netbook” market is going to explode. The HP is just one of many low-cost, tiny notebooks that you’ll see in the next few months. The Eee has changed the game, and Foleo dropped out before the first inning.
March 2nd, 2008 at 8:27 am
It is indeed ironic. Palm introduced — or is it more accurate to say made popular? — this product category. But now, we will all have to wait for maybe more than a year to get a Palm-powered Foleo-like device.
April 2nd, 2008 at 1:01 am
Bad news… Vista on the 2133.
http://www.laptoplogic.com/news/detail.php?id=4677
We need a FOleo-like OS that can be installed on these new mini-notes.