Palm Looking For Linux Developers

Handheld computer maker Palm hopes to rally Linux software developers behind its upcoming Foleo laptop computer.

The success of the 2.5-pound device -- which turns on and off instantly, touts an easy-to-use interface and promises five hours of battery life -- could depend on how programmers react to it this week at the LinuxWorld conference in San Francisco. Palm PALM plans to outline the progress it has made since the product was unveiled May 30.

Palm expects to start selling the Foleo in September for $499 after an introductory $100 rebate.

Some analysts say Foleo has the potential to become the first mainstream computer powered by the open-source Linux operating system. But the Sunnyvale, Calif.-firm needs Linux developers to write new applications to extend the capabilities of the device.

"Our hope is that Foleo is going to be one of the first (Linux) devices that's truly a mass market device," said Adam Moise, senior manager in business development at Palm.

Palm has selected Wind River Systems WIND as its preferred Linux platform provider for the Foleo. Palm will use the Wind River Platform for Consumer Devices, Linux Edition, as its open-standard Linux platform for future Foleo software releases. Wind River also will provide development tools, support and services for software makers.

LogMeIn will provide remote PC access capability to the Foleo. The company provides secure connections between remote PCs over the Web.

Some PC vendors, including Dell DELL and Lenovo, are making or plan to make Linux-based PCs. But Linux PCs have had a tough time competing with the vast capabilities of PCs running Microsoft's MSFT Windows operating system.

Palm expects the Foleo to establish a new category of personal computing products called the "mobile companion."

Positioned to complement both smart phones and full-fledged laptop PCs, the Foleo targets business users who do a lot of mobile e-mail. It syncs up with Bluetooth-enabled smart phones such as Palm's Treo. With its full-size keyboard and 10-inch screen, users can view their e-mail on a big screen with the touch of a button.

The Foleo features instant on and off capability, so there's no waiting for the computer to boot up. It can surf the Web via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi wireless technology. Its compact design fits on an airline tray table. It comes with editors for Word, Excel and PowerPoint files, and a viewer for Adobe Systems' ADBE Acrobat PDF documents.

Anyone who has tried to write a long e-mail on a Research In Motion RIMM BlackBerry, Palm Treo or other smart phone knows what an unpleasant experience it is, says Jonathan Spira, an analyst with research and consulting firm Basex.

Today mobile e-mail users either send quick messages or wait until they get back to the office to write longer messages, he says. Lugging around a notebook computer and waiting for it to boot up and then launch an e-mail application is not a good option either, Spira says.

Palm's lightweight Foleo could be an attractive option, he says. It will do most of what people use laptops for, such as office productivity applications and Web surfing. Mobile professionals could use it on short business trips or when they're just out and about, Spira says.

"It's a low-calorie version of your laptop," Spira said. "This is a big deal" for workers who struggle to keep up with their e-mail, he says.

There are small and light PCs on the market, but they take time to boot up and usually cost more than $2,000.

Foleo was designed to do 80% of the things people use every day, from the Web to office productivity software such as Word and Excel.

Ten third-party software firms have announced applications for the Foleo. They include DataViz, a provider of Microsoft Office compatibility software; Six Apart, maker of blogging software; and MotionApps, developer of software for managing personal information such calendars, contacts and tasks.