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I think I'd need to see a little something more than just a Linux tablet that can do PalmOS by emulation.
The phone connectivity is not really a draw for me because I won't pay for both a phone and a Palm device phone, and this one is likely not portable enough or convenient enough to be my main phone.
Linux is not a draw for me because I want Windows compatibility.
Streaming content is not a draw because I can do that with my Treo already, or a UMPC with wifi.
A lightweight secure and remote terminal is attractive, but you can do that in other ways on a UMPC as well.
A note taking device is interesting, but only if the digitizer is exceptional in comparison to UMPCs, and if the collection method is better than OneNote.
Other than that, I might just see another immature device (i.e. likely to have bugs and limitations) that doesn't show me anything special over UMPCs except for the PalmOS emulation, which is the OS my smartphone runs anyway. I am with Mike Mace... show me what problem it solves, and where is the zen?
Or at least show me something that gives me the advantage over a UMPC, besides Linux and stuff I can do anyway (like streaming media).
But Hawkins is not stupid. Either he is aiming for the novice user in a new way, or he's got something up his sleeve that we want. I'm sure he is smart enough to put himself in the customers' shoes and ask why we would buy this new line of devices over a UMPC or smartphone. If he doesn't have a good answer to that, expect Palm stock to drop along with our estimation of him as a hero/genius that can do no wrong.
P.S. I should add the following... there seems to be plenty of room for a novel new form factor that might make all the difference if, say, he manages to get a useful keyboard in a small form factor. Or if it just looks and handles great. They did get that ex-Apple designer, after all. And there might be room for a less powerful device on Linux with PalmOS emulation that has a side-show like screen (or dual use screen), which can be a low price point.
But I have a feeling that phone carrier connectivity is part of it because he talks about "always connected." That means he either has a way for the carrier to make big revenues in a new and creative way such as local ads or hooks, or he expects us to pay for hefty carrier plans. Either way, he had better do it in a way that is appealing to the user, not imposing or expensive.
It's a tall order to come up with something good, but if anyone can do it, it's Hawkins. Maybe it's a killer app that will make us not notice how much we are paying the phone company because we love it so much? I don't know, but I can't wait to hear why we will want this thing!
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