[5] The client did not send and retrieve mail over the Wi-Fi connection, instead transmitting via synchronization with the companion smartphone.

[7] Soon after the device was canceled, a branch of subnotebooks called netbooks, similar to the Foleo in size and functionality, reached the market.

[11] On August 7, 2007, Palm announced[12] that it had chosen Wind River Systems to help it customize the standard Linux kernel to make it more suitable for this device.

The device used a custom-built widget framework called HxUI, which is based on the LiTE toolbox over the DirectFB graphics subsystem.

Leslie Fiering, a vice president of research group Gartner stated that Palm has "created a device that's not quite pocketable, but it's not quite full function, either".

Palm continued to tout the device as an alternative to carrying a standard laptop when traveling, as it was cheaper, smaller, lighter, and sturdier, with a longer battery life and the ability to access the internet through a smartphone when not in range of a Wi-Fi network.