Celio's new REDFLY C7 and C8N answer questions no one is asking

What if you took the REDFLY -- you know, that Foleo-like thing for Windows Mobile phones -- and cheapened it up a bit? Maybe knock the luxurious 8.3-inch display down to a more reasonable 7 inches, lose three hours of battery life, and add $30 to the asking price, for starters? That's the indecent proposal Celio has put together with its new C7 model, trading endurance and screen size for an eight-ounce drop in the original's two-pound frame. Not what you had in mind, you say? Okay, okay, try this, then: the C8N carries over the 8.3-inch display and adds a "REDFLY Media Port" for connecting an iPod, iPhone, Zune, digicam, or pretty much anything else with a composite TV-out for viewing on the 800 x 480 screen -- but the catch is that you'll also need the $20 "REDFLY Media Cable" (sorry, but that really does belong in quotes) to complete the package on top of the cost of the C8N itself. Either way, the new models are still dumb terminals that need juice from a WinMo-based device to function -- so yeah, if your Treo 750's looking a little lonely over there in the corner, the C7 and C8N should fill the bill nicely when they hit in the first week of December for $229 and $299, respectively.

Gallery: Celio's new REDFLY C7 and C8N answer questions no one is asking

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[Joe @ Nov 18th 2008 12:02PM]

Nice spam, spammer.

[Spartan2x @ Nov 18th 2008 11:10AM]

Why the heck would they do that? They where selling the Original for $200, and now they want to drop specs and sell for more? Either they sold like hot cakes at $200 and no one noticed or they have lost their Marbles, the move really does not make any sense. The only reason you drop specs is to drop the price. I used this device for a trial period and returned it because I really did not see a use for it outside of having a external keyboard and larger screen. The nick for this device is VERY VERY small, which can usually be filed by a netbook. Sorry, but it just does not make sense.

[sgt_easton @ Nov 18th 2008 1:46PM]

Duh, it's the Apple method. Remove features, make it slightly smaller, and jack the price up.

[StalematE @ Nov 18th 2008 11:11AM]

here here for proprietary bullshit

[phil @ Nov 18th 2008 12:11PM]

Where? Where?

Oh, I see, you meant "hear, hear"

nvm

[StalematE @ Nov 18th 2008 12:28PM]

whatever, i'm still completely wasted from last night.

[Dirk @ Nov 18th 2008 11:16AM]

Did you notice "C8N" translates to "Satan"?

[whatishalo? @ Nov 18th 2008 11:24AM]

Did you notice that REDFLY translates to CRAP?

[Oli D @ Nov 18th 2008 11:25AM]

the demon netbook

[Fusion Fuzo @ Nov 18th 2008 11:22AM]

FUGLY, No thanks im happy with my eeepc and phone, no need for a gadget that dose nothing on it own

[Mark @ Nov 18th 2008 11:38AM]

I don't understand why this exists, am i missing something?

[Matthew Hilario @ Nov 18th 2008 12:48PM]

It's like Wilson coming out with a basketball that bounces AND floats on water! o wait..

[Jon Acheson @ Nov 18th 2008 11:42AM]

You could certainly pick up a used netbook in that price range, giving you far more power and just as much portability and function.

[Chris @ Nov 19th 2008 2:07PM]

Yes and no. Less portability b/c you'd be carrying around two devices... but maybe more function. However you lose convenience. You'd have to deal with not having an always internet connected laptop and you'd have to deal with synching your documents back and forth between you ultra portable notebook, home computer, and phone. To me, this seems like more of a headache then its worth.

Personally, a winmo phone with a 3+ inch screen, potent multimedia capabilities, slim design w/keyboard, and fully connected at all times (a la xperia) does the trick for me.

[Surur @ Nov 18th 2008 11:52AM]

In defense of this gadget, it gives you something most netbooks (at that size) cant - battery life.

If you wanted to compose e-mail or blog for 8 hours straight your netbook is not going to make it, but this device might. if you lose your netbook you may have valuable information on it, even if its just in your browser cache, while losing a redfly would just mean losing the device, but no information.

This device may do very when when attending a conference, where you may bot have much opportunity to recharge, and you need to take notes constantly.

As said before, the niche is small, but in that niche its perfect.

[Joe @ Nov 18th 2008 12:03PM]

Sorry Surur, that was meant for another comment that seems to have disappeared... I guess the system decided to stick my comment to yours instead.

[phail @ Nov 18th 2008 12:05PM]

this thing is about $200 too expensive

[sracer @ Nov 18th 2008 12:20PM]

Celio really missed the boat on this. First launching it at $500, then quickly dropping it to $400. Then the gimmick "sale" down to $199 (limited time, until 10/31 while supplies last) ... then "because demand was so high" they extended the sale until 11/17. LOL

They've taken a device that is a hard-sell under the best of circumstances and made it worse by compounded marketing mistakes. Things might improve if they drop the price to $99.

[lpppppl @ Nov 18th 2008 12:47PM]

I'd like one of those, but it's too expensive. Shrink the screen size to 2.5 inches! And possibly rid the keyboard and ports too to save costs.

[hunter @ Nov 18th 2008 3:40PM]

I'm pretty sure you're joking, but just in case.................Um, yeah. That would be the one thing that could possibly render this device even more useless. You might as well just stick with your phone.

[yibrushn @ Nov 18th 2008 1:26PM]

I would concider it for $99. I've been looking for a screen for my car to plug in the Touch Pro into for gps :) as a matter of fact for $99 this would be a great carputer. (assuming you already have a smartphone)

[GingerFox @ Nov 18th 2008 1:39PM]

i'm confused, what is it? a phone? netbook? or what? someone explain please

[GingerFox @ Nov 18th 2008 1:39PM]

i'm confused, what is it? a phone? netbook? or what? someone explain please

[phail @ Nov 18th 2008 7:51PM]

neither. it's a keyboard and screen that connects to your winmo device or ipod etc

[ajfarson @ Nov 18th 2008 2:16PM]

It sure seems like the industry quest to deliver a single device to suit all needs has been seriously diverted. Things looked promising a while back, but now it seems like the evolution of portable devices is stagnating.

I always looked forward to a full blown PC platform with cellular phone built in perhaps a built in projector for in office computing with USB and bluetooth capabilities.

I always thought that an OQO type device with a cell phone built into it would have been cool. with voice activated dialing via bluetooth and maybe a caller ID link to a watch and you would be good to go.

[Josh G @ Nov 18th 2008 5:19PM]

They have that: HTC Advantage X7510

:)

[DssTrainer @ Nov 18th 2008 2:20PM]

maybe if they made it 7" and knocked the price down TO $30

[phail @ Nov 18th 2008 7:56PM]

neither. it's a keyboard and screen that connects to your winmo device or ipod etc

[phail @ Nov 18th 2008 7:57PM]

oops

[Iain @ Dec 18th 2008 3:36PM]

The reason nobody here wants one is because it's not a gadget intended for gadget people.

Iit's supposed to be an economical work tool to help business people with a smartphone or pocket PC get more from their phone without needing a Lap top.
For 1 person to buy themselves a net-book only costs slightly more. even if you then add anti-virus subscriptions and stuff, still not much difference. but that's not who they are trying to sell them too.

For a large corporation issuing lap-tops to random people who barely understand how to use them, you have a lot more to worry about - the actual cost of the hardware becomes quite small compared to the time and resources spent supporting idiots who can't look after their kit. They need extra security measures. they have to move their data from lap tops to desk tops. they loose them, and complain that they've lost their data too.

The redfly avoids all that because it actually does nothing new.
Don't get me wrong, I have one and I like it. but if I'm using it on a train or in a café and I get a knife pointed at me, I'll hand it over without a care. All my data and info and other important stuff is hidden in my pocket. I can buy a new Redfly 10 minutes later and carry on working.

It's just a tool, a keyboard and a screen for a very small PC that your company already supports. It needs no maintainance, no updates, very little support. If it breaks you swap it out. no set-up needed.

I don't know why they added a video port, that doesn't seem to be the market they were chasing.
I'm also slightly puzzled to spot they they aren't red any more.