Palm Could Be Working on a webOS-Based Netbook

Palm is going release an inexpensive laptop running its new webOS, if an unconfirmed report from an industry analyst is correct.

The webOS is going to debut soon on the Palm Pre, a smartphone being released by Sprint. But Trip Chowdhry from Global Equities Research says Palm is also working on a netbook that will run this same operating system.

The Foleo II?
Any mention of a netbook from this company will immediately remind many people of the Palm Foleo, a laptop-like device that was announced in 2007 and later canceled without being released. The Foleo would have been a "mobile companion" -- a Linux-based computer that was designed to work in partnership with a smartphone.

When the Foleo was canceled, Palm CEO Ed Colligan said, "When we do Foleo II it will be based on our new platform, and we think it will deliver on the promise of this new category."

Chowdhry seems to be describing exactly what Colligan promised: a Foleo-like netbook running Palm's platform, the webOS.

Details Still Sketchy
This device is supposedly being designed by three developers from Apple iPod team.

The original Foleo was canceled because it would have based on a version of Linux, forcing Palm to support another operating system. The upcoming one will apparently use the webOS, the operating system which will be Palm's primary focus going forward.

Netbooks are intended primarily to access the Internet, which is also the main focus of the webOS. It will come with a highly-capable web browser and email software, and will also be able to wirelessly synchronize a wide variety of data with online services like Google, Facebook, and Microsoft Exchange.

By using a smartphone OS that can run on net very demanding hardware, Palm's netbook will supposedly offer up to 10 hours of battery life on a single charge.

It will supposedly sell for $400, but Chowdhry could not say when it will be released.

Source: Barron's