Hands on with the Redfly Mobile Companion for Windows Mobile

Palm first came up with the idea of a limited-functionality laptop-like companion for use with a smartphone, but widespread criticism led it to pull the flawed Foleo just weeks before its launch. If you're still hankering after an ultraportable that does nothing more than provide a larger screen and keyboard for your handheld's applications though, don't despair -- the Celio Corp Redfly may hit the spot.

Essentially a Foleo for Windows Mobile, the Redfly weighs just under a kilo and has an 8in, 800 x 480 screen, ¾-size keyboard and touchpad. The device has no usuer-accessible memory and serves no purpose by itself -- it merely provides a large-screen view on the applications already installed on your Windows Mobile smartphone and only models from HTC, Palm and Samsung are supported at the moment.

With a claimed eight hour battery life (longer than the Foleo's five hours), the Redfly would be a promising alternative to a laptop, were it not for three inescapable facts.

First, most people carry a smartphone in their pocket because they don't want to carry a laptop of any kind around with them, and they're happy to sacrifice some usability for the sake of increased portability.

Second, if you're going to carry a laptop-size device around, why not just carry a laptop? Most might be bigger and heavier than the Redfly, but the whole experience will be much more satisfying, particularly online -- Pocket Internet Explorer is a weak web browser, no matter how big the screen that's displaying it.

Slated to go on sale in the US in March, the final nail in the Redlfy's coffin is the price. Like the Foleo, it'll cost $500. That's A LOT, particularly when you consider that the vastly more versatile Asus Eee PC costs $100 less. That amount won't buy you a Windows ultra-portable, of course, but it'll still get you a larger laptop that'll work without a Windows Mobile smartphone.

There's no news on UK availability yet, but we'll keep you posted.  

[ Redfly via Smartphone Thoughts ]