Redfly, what think u?

[eclair]

Has anyone else seen this thing?

Redfly Mobile Companion for Treo 800w, Treo 750, Treo 700wx, Treo 700w - Centro & Treo Mobile Companion

Got any comments?
"REDFLY is a smartphone terminal with a large screen and full keyboard with no OS, no CPU, and no storage that lets you use your smartphone like a laptop. REDFLY links to your smartphone via a USB cable or wireless Bluetooth connection...."

"..REDFLY unleashes your smartphone making it easy to type long emails, check attachments, work with spreadsheets, make presentations, view websites, fully utilize CRM applications and connect to remote servers, desktops and applications from anywhere using your smartphone’s data connection.
Use REDFLY’s two USB ports to connect a mouse, charge your smartphone directly from REDFLY’s powerful battery, or access data on USB Flash drives.
Need an easy way to make presentations on the road without a laptop? REDFLY has you covered. Just plug a projector or large monitor into REDFLY’s VGA port and use PowerPoint Mobile to run the presentation.
Have you ever tried to look up a contact, respond to a text message, forward an email or just get work done while having a mobile phone conversation at the same time? With REDFLY, you can use both hands on its large screen and full keyboard to fully access your smartphone and get the job done while talking to someone on your smartphone...."

I personally think this is a sweet idea. Especially the presentation capability and the USB ports. Remember how some people thought the foleo was nuts? It uses our treos to even more advantage.

Lets have some commentary please.

[LotusLord]

I like the idea of it, but some won't like that it's not, at least currently, Palm OS compatible

[Pete Lorenz]

Don't know............it advertises the fact that it eliminates the need to travel with a notebook but......it's in form, a notebook.
I use a tiny (10.5" screen) Sony VAIO (full-on Windows notebook) that weighs next to nothing. It's entirely possible that I'm missing something here but, what would I get with such a device that my VAIO doesn't give me?
Good article HERE.

[LotusLord]

Significantly better battery life. That's about it lol. It has no OS, no drives, etc.

[Aubie88]

It is the only thing that would EVEN tempt me to go back to a Windows device. Like LL said, if it were Palm OS based I would have already bought it!! I would have bought a Foleo if they had put it out!

This is my reasoning. Keep in mind I work differently than many people. I travel a good bit. My Treo goes with me everywhere. It holds almost all my data. With a big enough SD card it could hold all of my job files which include pdf drawings. BUT we all know what it is like viewing pdf's on a Treo. I also get my faxes thru my email, again pdf. All my Treo needs is a bigger screen. That is where a product like the Redfly could come in. My Treo has all the computing power, data connection speed, and memory that I need when I am on the road. All I need is a bigger screen.

Again, not a solution for all, but one I could put to use tomorrow.

[eclair]

My sentiments exactly. I think the presentation aspects are good.

[LotusLord]

Maybe we'll see an update to it so it will support Palm OS.

[CentroSue]

So basically it just lets you hook up an external monitor and keyboard to a WinMobile device? Seems kind of silly. I use an EeePC that cost less and does more.

[kraski]

I know this is an old thread. But I couldn't resist.

Many of the comments here are right on. And, at the same time, some are not.

If you've been on a large corporate network for any number of years, you probably have experienced a "dumb terminal". The first ones I used were green screen, text only, consisted of a monitor, keyboard, some connections & sufficient electronics to be able to communicate with the network. That, pretty much is the idea behind the Redfly. Yes, it has a graphical interface, but it's basically a dumb terminal for your smartphone. Right now, it only supports Windows Mobile. Palm pretty much killed PalmOS. There is planned future support for other OSes.

CentroSue's comment about her Eee doing more is true. I have one of the newer ones, with a 10" inch screen & 160 gig hard drive, that is supposed to have about the same battery life as the Redfly. I don't always carry my netbook or my laptop with me, but I do keep my phone with me. And the Redfly fits nicely in the rear pocket of my photographer's vest -- it's still smaller & more portable. It might be just my imagination, but if you compare the Eee & the Redfly, the Redfly seems to be built much sturdier. If I were going to take any electronics beyond my phone on a camping or beach trip, the Redfly is likely, the Eee isn't. And "instant on" is always a plus.

An interesting testimonial. Several months ago, there was a day with multiple power outages in the area where I work, which required our outside IT consultant to get the server & the phone server back up. Because I had my Treo Pro, my Redfly & my BT headset, I was able to do some internet lookups, send some needed emails & talk to our salesmen. All without tethering or the need for a tethering data plan -- which would have been difficult or impossible on a linux netbook, more expensive on an XP netbook. And, since most of us are hourly, I didn't mind still being able to be productive while others were being sent home.

I think the silliness or the validity of the Redfly (or any other gadget) depends on the user's needs & desires (your desire can manufacture a "need" ). The Redfly has benefits for the right users. If you know your needs, the Redfly might be just the ticket. But it's not for everybody.