Disappointed with N900 - Reality Check!
 

Hi all,

I've been drooling over the N900 for at least a month now, I've seen every video on YouTube and elsewhere and read almost very review or comment that exists and I'd like to share my observations.

As of yet, I don't actually own any phone - but I have seen, held, played-with the N900 for a short period of time.

Jerky Screen Scrolling

The screen scrolling (sideways) is very jerky and causes visible tearing, at first I put this down to bad videos on YouTube - but all of them?

Is there some limitation in the graphics hardware or a software limitation or bug? who knows - but it does not look good. I would expect it to be absolutely 100% smooth, no excuses.

Here is an example of the Marketing Manager from Nokia demonstrating this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Az8VE1NtY8


Dodgy/Misleading Advertising

All of the Nokia N900 promotional videos have speeded-up multitasking and task-switching much like the way Apple did for their iPhone Ads in the UK - these got pulled by the ASA for being misleading.


Multitasking

I'm not sure this device can comfortably run two or three tasks at the same time, from what I see in all the videos it is more "Task-Switching" rather than Multitasking and even that is not very responsive. When an option is selected, there seems to be a noticeable delay of about 1/2 second before the device responds - Very slow internal storage?, Overworked CPU? I don't know.

In almost every demonstration video of Multitasking, the user has to tap the screen a few times to switch tasks, almost like the CPU goes to 100% busy for a short period of time - particularly after starting the music player and if you listen carefully the music is jittery when switching tasks.

Task-Switching is not Multitasking, having said that, the N900 seems good at Task-Switching given that most the apps demonstrated are actually doing nothing e.g. IM, web page, etc. these are all 100% idle apps waiting for input.


3G Networks

I have yet to see a demonstration video of this device working fast using 3G, it seems everyone has a bad quality 3G connection when making a video!


Software Limitations

The device has lots of potentially killer applications pre-installed - but I suspect most of them are riddled with limitations?

I say this because applications like Mail for Exchange is a major app for corporate users, but know one is shouting about it, why?

Skype integrated phone App + WebCam but no video calls? but I've read that Nokia "may" include this at a later date - well, I "may" buy it then.

What other software limitations exist? -


Slick Advertising

Nokia's advertising is very slick and cool - e.g. (http://maemo.nokia.com/) and I really I like it - but it promises something I suspect this device does not deliver.

For me the glass looks half empty, I think this device is still a few generations away from where I'd expect (like) it to be :(


Shipping Delays

Even though I have not ordered mine yet due to these delays, these delays are not nice and I'm starting to suspect there are more serious reasons why only a limited number are available - I hope I'm wrong.

Al.

Re: Disappointed with N900 - Reality Check!
 

well you are so freaky and know nothing about the device and your review is based on an old versions ! i mean common didn't u see all the updates and the new videos and some people already got it but look if u dont want to buy it dont blame it =)

Re: Disappointed with N900 - Reality Check!
 

Hello Troll welcome to the forums.


The tearing on video has been explained and several people have posted already that Youtube on the production models is flawless. Read the first impressions thread.

You obviously dont have a clue how the N900 works. Web pages are still active in the background as demonstrated by the fact that youtube videos etc still play and pages still load in the mini window - this happens real time as several videos have plainly shown.

While I agree that some multitasking videos show many apps open and not all are active - the very fact that you can have 30 apps open and they respond immediately to switching is a testimony to the N900 and the maemo OS

As for pressing multiple times to switch - watch the multitasking videos specifically pushing the limits of the n900 thread and the 30 apps video. Both show instant switching and background running tasks (music etc).

Ok not even going to bother trying to answer this one. How you managed to figure out their connection was bad I have no idea.

There is exchange support already in the OS and as for video calling this subject has been hashed out repeatedly and chances are will be addressed with a future update.

You are right Nokia should have produced all their marketing in grainy black and white with people shouting and farting. Seriously its ****ing marketing - what the hell do you think its meant to look like.

Add to that the fact that the marketing for this phone is probably some of the lowest pushed of any Nokia release I have ever seen and it all ads up to you being a clown.

Then I strongly suggest you don't bother ordering one, **** off and stop posting pointless troll threads.

Re: Disappointed with N900 - Reality Check!
 

I have not seen a single one of the issues you mentioned in any of the videos. I did not notice the audio skipping except the one video where someone opened an insanely large number of applications then tried to close some of them. Then you can expect a little skipping, as it swaps data around. But in reality, you are being a bit unrealistic if you plan to have 32 applications open at the same time and not the occasional skip.

Also how come you start by saying you have used an N900 briefly then go on to complain that in all the YouTube videos showing the N900 scrolling, it tears? Surely if you have used one you can comment first-hand if it did or not.

Anyway for me, ALL YouTube videos themselves a prone to tearing. In the one you linked specifically I can see tearing going on when they scroll the N900, but its happening to the WHOLE video, not just where the N900 screen is shown, so its clearly the video itself.

Re: Disappointed with N900 - Reality Check!
 

A friend of my has a pre-production version and I personally experienced these issues. I would guess nothing has changed on the hardware design side and from what I understand the version of software is the latest as of last week.

Re: Disappointed with N900 - Reality Check!
 

3G Networks

"Ok not even going to bother trying to answer this one. How you managed to figure out their connection was bad I have no idea."

Because most people say so in the videos.

Re: Disappointed with N900 - Reality Check!
 

I bought the N900 this weekend and it works great. No complaints at all.

Re: Disappointed with N900 - Reality Check!
 

What OS version is installed ?

Re: Disappointed with N900 - Reality Check!
 

1.2009.42-11.002

Re: Disappointed with N900 - Reality Check!
 

1.2009.42-11 for retail devices.

Don't compare the pre-production firmware with the retail firmware.

Re: Disappointed with N900 - Reality Check!
 

Please - point me at these videos. I would love to see them - I have seen a couple where they say the wifi network is very loaded because they are at conferences etc.

Oh and

http://thenokiablog.com/2009/10/15/n...3g-speed-test/

Re: Disappointed with N900 - Reality Check!
 

I've seen nearly every Youtube videos, many reviews/previews on sites, blogs, posts here and so on.

My 2 cents are:

1. It does have true multitasking and I didn't see much lag from the videos. Definitely better than any other phone it seems.

2. I don't see any noticeable tearing in this video. Am i missing something here? (I think this is retail version)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15IC-ftd5uI&1&fmt=18
See around 2:34 for some side scrolling.

I don't understand how you can be disappointed about the phone yet.
This is more of a mobile computer and not a phone. For me at least.
So expect some major changes over the next few firmware updates.
(And expect TONs of new device-enhancing apps / widgets)

Re: Disappointed with N900 - Reality Check!
 

Does anyone know what was in the changelog for the final retail firmware?

Which is retail 1.2009.42-11.002 or 1.2009.42-11

Re: Disappointed with N900 - Reality Check!
 

iPhone lover...

Seriously their are so many videos on YouTube of people running 11 heavy, yes I said it, 11 heavy cpu apps, and they all run very well, especially for having 11 task's operating. Dude seriously, you're basing your opinion off of old stuff, and considering you just made this post means, you probably saw all the new videos, but they didn't 'fit' in with your plans to write up this negative post.

Go back to your iPhone or Android as I'm sure you're a user of one of them.

Re: Disappointed with N900 - Reality Check!
 

I'm not saying any other phone is better or worse?, just highlighting my own observations:

If you look at your video at exactly 2:50 you'll see what I mean, look at the top 3rd of the screen.

Re: Disappointed with N900 - Reality Check!
 

Why is it just about every time somebody has anything negative to say about the N900, well informed or not. experienced with the N900 or not. Some one here has to tell them to F#@% Off, or some thing to that effect. I do not get it.

Re: Disappointed with N900 - Reality Check!
 

If this guy had anything in his original post that WAS well informed I might not have told him to take a flying leap at a rolling donut. But he didn't.

Re: Disappointed with N900 - Reality Check!
 

Here's a tip...

Stop drooling.
Electronic devices are susceptible to damage from moisture. A stream of drool concentrated over the screen and keypad could lead to these kinds of problems. :)

Re: Disappointed with N900 - Reality Check!
 

Hmmm. It's so hard to see. Maybe I can just see what you are talking about but dunno if that is a "problem" yet.
I'll need to see it with a better quality video or use it myself to agree or disagree with you.

Re: Disappointed with N900 - Reality Check!
 

To the thread creator,

Don't be stupid and say things until you actually have the retail version on your hands. Some of the things you said are untrue and based on old versions. Why bother!

Re: Disappointed with N900 - Reality Check!
 

It is not possible to have a conversation on this forum without everyone acting so immature?

As mentioned I don't have a phone, i or otherwise.

As for the multitasking, have you run strace and monitored what each app is doing ? because if you do, you'll notice that they are generally doing nothing, in other words they are just setting in memory 99.9% of the time.

Re: Disappointed with N900 - Reality Check!
 

I have to agree. . .

The only statement made in the OP which is true is;
Other than that however it's the same hate based bullcrap that happens when people think x phone is better than y phone.

If you don't like x or y phone then don't buy them and don't press your retarted views on others. Make an informed post with well documented information and sources. That is like me saying iPhone is absolute **** even though I have only used one for 10 minutes at best. I can't comment on iPhone or others because I don't use them, once and if I do then sure I may post my opinion after seeing all the facts. All I have seen in the OP was;

Kindly GTFO. . .

Re: Disappointed with N900 - Reality Check!
 

I'll take that one on board :)

Re: Disappointed with N900 - Reality Check!
 

YouTube Multitasking Videos

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7emvUBpEkbU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-t9Qw2sU-WE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XX20T...eature=channel

Creative Application

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xq0KpLUkCJ4

If the N900 sucks so much, then how is it able to handle this awesome creative app...

Re: Disappointed with N900 - Reality Check!
 

I dont need to run an strace, especially since that would be of no use in seeing what was running in the background

(Here is a tip google first - post second http://linux.die.net/man/1/strace)

Even without using a command line tool I can see the youtube video running in the mini window - I can see the pictures still scrolling in the gallery in the mini etc etc.

How do you think that happens without the system still running the process at the same time as another - Pixies?

Re: Disappointed with N900 - Reality Check!
 

I looked...over and over again, pausing, playing, stepping through. I don't see anything ridiculous. Side scroll looked just fine to me.

Re: Disappointed with N900 - Reality Check!
 

You're making the assumption that all issues have been fixed in the retail firmware, but this does not seem to be based on any evidence.

I'm highlighting things that I can backup as evidenced by most of the existing videos.

Re: Disappointed with N900 - Reality Check!
 

I have not experienced any of those listed issues with my preproduction device.

And when you say something speculative like:

Well... there goes your credibility, sorry.

Re: Disappointed with N900 - Reality Check!
 

Because it's not the N900 that is generating that image, the N900 is being used to control another computer that is generating that image.

BTW, I did not say the N900 sucks.

Re: Disappointed with N900 - Reality Check!
 

Oh here found this one. The first video the guy made, people were giving him **** because they said 'the multiple tasks he had running weren't cpu intensive', so the guy 1up'd it.

Here is your proof that the N900 can multitask using the most intensive applications on the device.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URsNH...layer_embedded

Re: Disappointed with N900 - Reality Check!
 

all the flaming............................

if there is nothing else happening here, this thread should really be closed.

here's a tip for the future: don't goto a sprocket-enthusiast forum and start a thread dissing sprockets... nothing personal to the OP, just a good rule of thumb.

Re: Disappointed with N900 - Reality Check!
 

I suppose, we'll see over the coming weeks as these features get tested by users.

So how does the Mail for Exchange work with Exchange 2010 ?,
any security issues ?, does the calendar work as expected ?

Re: Disappointed with N900 - Reality Check!
 

I'm screaming about Exchange support being crappy. Come over and read: http://www.howardforums.com/showthread.php?t=1592993

Re: Disappointed with N900 - Reality Check!
 

Ok, First of all.
YOU CANNOT ASSUME!

Do you know what assume means?
Its when you have NO FACTS to back up what you are saying.

Multitasking - Doing "nothing?"

Are you mental? Running say a webpage like eBay or google searching for something while you listen to music and text a few friends at the same time is NOT multitasking? You mean the windows have to jump up and down for you? Maybe spin in little circles or play hide-and-seek or something?
Sure, you're probably not used to the fact that the iFun is a toy and that you will never be used to a advanced headset like the N900.

Multitasking helps in MANY ways.

Example:
N900 CAN: Run music in background while you search google for directions. Bleep, text froma friend. So you minimize it and reply to your friend. Bleep, E-Mail came frm work, it says to bring in the paperwork on Friday and asks if you're coming to the Christmas Party, so you minimize texting and go answer in E-Mail your co-worker. While typing, RING, phone call from your wife telling you to pick up some groceries.
Now the AMAZING part.

Unlike the iPHONE, your e-mail that you were writing, the text you were texting, the google directions you were looking for, and and don't forget the sound of music keeping you company is running ALL in the background.
THAT, my friend, is MULTITASKING! Welcome to the NEW world.


Now it does work and run fine on 3G, so stop complaining.

Screen is VERY responsive as I see NO delay or lag.

Misleading AD?
ARE YOU KIDDING ME?
Is the iPhone REALLY that fast as it is on the video? Does it REALLY work that well? NO! It's marketing, GET OVER IT!

Software Limitation?
You HAVE been using the iPhone too long.
Linex is OPEN source, o ANYTHING and EVERYTHING will be available for this phone in the future. Video calling? It WILL be added with MMS and Portrait Internet viewing.

Asfor the generations... ahem... Nokia is GENERATIONS ahead of other companies from all of their sales and incredible phones throughout their history. This phone is a INTERNET tablet/Smartphone, not the FUN phone!


Sources?
I OWN an N900! God bless NY retail stores!

So unless you OWN one like me and have experiencd it FIRST hand, sit down and shut up!

Re: Disappointed with N900 - Reality Check!
 

Another fearful attack - Good

Re: Disappointed with N900 - Reality Check!
 

Oh good God - you again with the searching etc - The Trolls are breeding. We need a neutering program FAST,

Re: Disappointed with N900 - Reality Check!
 

No actually it's not. If you actually had read the description, you would have seen that the app was written for Maemo 5 and running on it, hence it was running on the N900.

Re: Disappointed with N900 - Reality Check!
 

Why would you want to pollute this device, which is so happy running Linux, with something nasty like connecting it to a Microsoft service. Ewww...keep my N900 away from all things M$. :p

Re: Disappointed with N900 - Reality Check!
 

Thanks for this info.

Re: Disappointed with N900 - Reality Check!
 

But but but ..... reading is hard and tells me things I don't want to hear. I WONT I WONT I WONT

*sticks fingers in ears* NANANANANANNANA I'M NOT LISTENING