Are you going to get the "870"??
 

Are ya? (Sorry about this, I am trying to do a poll)

It depends. If it is truly as ugly as the photos (retro silver??? come on!) then I may wait. Also, I can't tell from the photos how heavy it is. If it is more than a few ounces heavier, with all the other things I carry, it will bog me down too much. Other than those two things, I will get it.

I guess it all depends on how much better the device really is. For what I do with it, the speed and specs are plenty. I don't try to have severeal browser windows open or run more than 3 or so apps at any given time. So if the difference in specs are not significant enough, I don't forsee upgrading. That said, I might if the processor has been increased sufficiently, and there are capabilities with the new model that the 770 can't compete with. For instance, better media support. Although from what I've seen on the 'net they will continue to run the same OS, so i don't know that the device will have anything significantly different, besides just amped up components.

I'm not sure. Actually I don't need most of the new features (webcam? what for?). Of course, if it's faster and/or has more memory, it would be nice, but I'm quite content with what the 770 offers now.

The real no-no with the "870" is its design: too big, too silver, too retro, too many moving parts (cam, stand), and no metal slide-on cover. Also, it seems the buttons I use most (the ones on top) are smaller and harder to use because they're not separate any longer.

Good point - I am hopeful that those blurry photos were just a mock-up of an early prototype and the real one will be different.

ttoally agree with all of this - and the current design, look and slide on cover are all great.

Did you even have to ASK?

I suppose you are right - though it is a fun survey nonetheless. I will be looking for a few cold/wet people parked in front of CompUSA whne it is released in the US.

My guess, base dupon your Blog - is a European release in March/April, with a US release in August. Whatdya think? :p

I answered No, because I can't think of any hardware features the "870" could add that would benefit me, except possibly a powered USB port.

I do, however, invite with welcome arms any software updates that might trickle down for the 770, though. On that note, however, I am actually hoping that the 870 doesn't get a processor or memory upgrade, because if it does, that could severely hamper any shared application development between the 770 and 870, since newer applications may render the 770 too obsolete for acceptable UI interaction.

A usable Google-integrated PIM, however - that's an upgrade I would love and use, and I shouldn't have to buy new hardware in order to get it (if I do need it, then I won't bother).

What is a 870? Any links?

>What is a 870? Any links?

The "870" is a rumour about the next version of the 770, based on documents found at the FCC about a device Nokia had tested for compliance. The specs indicated that it could be the next model. But when it's arriving, how the final version will look like, what it's going to be called nobody knows at this stage. The documents called it "Internet Tablet: RX-34". (RX-34 is obviously an internal designation, so what the retail version is to be called is anyones guess. 870 is one guess.)

No, not unless it has a faster cpu. I'm troubled that the 870 is being designed for reporters rather then users.

Remember how people on the internet began calling Snakes on a Plane "Snakes on a Plane"? We should start referring to it by something to see if they'll adopt the name.

I'm schilling my pennies on "ZOMFG W3B BR1CK". Now I can post pics to my myspace account from that web cam so everyone can see how angsty I am when I'm on the move. ZOMFG!!1!!

'69-Chevvy-BBQ-grill would be more like it...

Awe, you guys aren't seeing the bigger picture with the introduction of the web cam. Imagine being able to use the camera as another navigation function. I think we can come up with some open source algorithm to detect movement with the camera and use that data to navigate menus, control 3d objects, show realistic perspectives of virtual environments, etc.

You all will look back on these posts and wonder what the heck you were thinking at the time.

The addition of a camera and extra memory slot just gives us more freedom to create even more great uses for the platform. Just wait and see for yourselves. It'll be great.

I agree with DC about the camera. I, for example, plan on writing a scanner that uses multiple passes of the 'web-cam' to piece together a complete scan for faxing, etc.

While I certainly have my 'wish list', I am often amazed that the 770 does so much. I haev a laptop and a desktop which I haven't turned on for several weeks.

I DO want to remind Nokia though that until I can print and use USB normally I can't fully replace my other computers.

Also, we don't mention it much but the 770 simply cannot keep accurate time (my clock is currently over 1/2 hour off) and thus cannot be used for an alarm clock or a schedule reminder. I hope that Nokia will realize that the clock problem really needs to be fixed.

Recently someone complained on the maemo mailing lists that updating the system clock with ntpdate did not survive a reboot. A developer replied with a magic command line to sync the hardware clock with the system clock. Maybe that is the problem you're seeing ? I haven't tried yet but it seems to work (although my own drift is more like 30 seconds than 30 minutes :-)

Strange that the clock drifts so much.. PC clocks are suffering from the original PC design I believe, the PC came without a battery so the first thing that happened when you booted (from floppy..) was that you were asked for the current time. So no need to design for an accurate clock, right? And besides, the actual DOS counter couldn't count accurately to 24 hours. So it drifted.
On the other hand, the clocks in both of my old (well, old design by now) Palm Tungsten T3's are very accurate.. strange that the 770 should have a problem. On the other hand, the T3's clock can be synchronized with my BlueTooth GPS time (very accurate!), that should be easy to get working on a 770 as well I should think.

Definitely. More than one in fact.

I am amazed by those comments every time I see them. The new device's design and construction is far supperior to the 770's overall. Yes, there are some quirks which I find disappointing (the buttons, as you mentioned) but the retro design is VERY slick to me... and in fact to most people I've asked. It's much more professional-looking.

Bingo. Sure wish I knew what the holdup was...

:) So you see those comments often if you say youre surprised "every time" you see them.

Sure, to a certain degree its a matter of taste. But there are other factors as well, and they are not as subjective. When I look around and see the gadgets people carry with them (mobile phones, laptops, music players...), the typical thing is that the kids from a low income, low education background prefer white/shiny silver design, whereas in a professional white-collar environment black or dark grey is predominant. In my office, I never see suit-and-tie people with shiny silver PDAs or mobile phones. They're all grey or black with brushed metal.

What I'm saying is that it's one thing that you and I disagree on the design of the new device. We're just two people whose taste is mostly irrelevant. But: There are some design principles that obviously carry a message, like: black, unobtrusive is serious adult stuff; shiny, flashy is cheap kids' stuff.

Besides: I still don't see how the lack of the slide-on cover will be accepted by 770-buyers. I remember how the clever design (its multi-functional: protection and power-saver) was praised when the 770 hit the market. Would you put your 770 into your pocket without the cover to protect the screen? I'd never. Too scared it would get scratched. What is the alternative on the 870? A condom?

I'm partially in agreement with benny1967 on this one. Nokia should have left the color black. Maybe they'll have that option this time around, who knows. Of course the color of the new tablet alone won't deter me from getting one, but just as with the 770 I'm sure there will be some factors in the design that will irk many people.

As to the screen protection issue, I think we still have to see how the soft case looks and works to even begin the comparison. If the 770 never came with a hard case to begin with and only had the flimsy cloth "bag" to protect it, I would probably be fine with that. As it stands, I only use the bag to carry memory cards and headphones on long trips anywhere. Otherwise it's useless.

Alert: for those who haven't seen it, CompUSA currently has a $100 USD rebate on the 770.

Oh, and just wait until you guys have the newer tablet in your hands. The concerns about appearance will vanish. ;) It's not quite what you all seem to think.

As for the case issue, I picked up a nice PDA case from CompUSA.com for about $7 that works nicely on the-- oops, nevermind. :rolleyes:

For me, I'm not worried about appearance. I'm concerned that the webcam integration will be problematic and for some reason they have messed with the top buttons.

I have a silvery Toshiba PDA and it reflects the sun when using it outside. I like the black.

I'm concerned about the protection aspect to the screen - at the moment the reversable metal sleeve is a great design imho and as someone said above, just makes the unit perfect for popping into your pocket etc.

keeping my mind open about the silver retro look although agree that"business" use tends to go for something less flash and that may be an indication of where the marketing for the new tab will be heading...

A webcam will rule it out for any sort of real business use - a lot of companies forbid cameras of any kind on their premises. :(

Ironically, Nokia is one of them!

I just saw that - wow, if I didn't already have one in the works as it were I would rush out and pick one up! :p

This will probably mean that the 870 is coming close.

After using the Samsung i730 (slider PDA) and an XV6700...I love the 770 even more. Because I love the 770 so much, I want to be a part of the "I was one of the people who had them"...

I remember when Lynx came out (hand held Atari system)...I wanted it so bad, everyone said it was so cool....but they stopped production on it...I always said, if there is something like that, that I like....I'll buy it, just so I'm not one of the ones left out wondering how cool it was.

Ahh, so now we know what this new tablet is called... :p

@sdrman: "oops, nevermind" is a very strange name for a product.

LOL sdr and benny.

Don't sweat reflection, guys. Not an issue.

The design it's important, to me, the first week, later I want a system that I can use every day like 770 but with more power, more web support and skype.

Wow, thanks for the tip. I have had the same problem with ntpdate.
Using mighty powers of google i've found the "magic command":
/mnt/initfs/usr/bin/retutime --rtc-from-system

Well, I think It's just going to depend on price for me. I'll also have to see what the specs are. I mean; my 770 is just fine right now. I use it a lot, and I've gotten used to its quirks. If it dies on me and I can't get it repaired, I might upgrade. But with some of the new products on the market, I might decide to go for something else. The webcam, for me, is actually a selling point. It's probably because I'm 17, but I can really see use for that feature; especially using it for IM. But other than that, I'm content with my 770, and really see no need to upgrade right now.

Yeah, I expect my kids will go nuts over the webcam feature. ;)

The most limiting aspect of my current use of the 770 is the number of pdf pages that run over the memory limit and will not view. The "whatever" box needs to solve that or it clearly is a no go.

I had hoped that a large MMC Mobile card and all of the mem settings on full would end that, but they have not.

More than likely, I will not get the successor to the 770...

Don't get me wrong - I love the 770 and still use it for certain things - but there are just too many limitations on supported video files, outdated Flash support, processor speed, and only 2GB of storage. The 870 (or whatever it ends up being called) will more than likely have just incremental changes, not revolutionary changes.

I went ahead and bought a Sony UX280p...I know it's not in the same class, it's 5 times the price, etc etc...but there are no limitations on it, I can run any program, any video file, any web site. Plus it has more standard Bluetooth functionality and of course the thumbboard. Higher rez screen, dual cameras, built-in WWAN. But it does have its drawbacks also...larger and heavier, much worse battery life, and the higher price.

The 770 was *by far* the best handheld I have ever owned (and I have owned dozens of them over the past ten years), until the UX. It just suffers from the same limitations of Windows Mobile, and Palm before that...nothing can beat a full computer, not yet anyways. Maybe in a few more years at the rate things are changing...

Most of the limitations you cite are software based, not hardware. Granted, Nokia needs to step up a bit more in that department, but then, there IS an open source community... ;)

I certainly am willing to pre-order when they come available. I have considered the 770 for a while (to bridge the wait), but despite how good it is, and as a learning platform just as good as an 870 should be, it is just dated hardware.... and if I am spending new money on something I would like to spend it on the later version because I know that I will be using it for several years.

Yeah, that's true...it just takes forever for open source solutions to happen, especially on a niche product like the 770. The thing has been out over a year now, so if there are still incompatibilities, they more than likely will not be addressed...

I still can't wait to see what the 870 offers, because the 770 was (is) revolutionary for a handheld...