Ok, I'm Impressed, Just Not Convinced (Yet)
 

Seriously, I'm impressed. After nearly a month with the N900 (reviewing for Brighthand), I have to say that I'm impressed with the N900 and the Maemo 5 platform. I do stand by my initial impressions in that its not enough to move me from my N97, but Nokia's got a heck of a good start.

I don't think I would feel this way if I've not participated in this community. That aspect of the N900 and Maemo 5 has been missed in a lot of reviews. And understanding the device means to also understand the Maemo 5 community (here and beyond). Nokia is trying to swing the ship hard, and I sympathize.

I do think that from a hardware perspective that the N900 is on point. And I mean not just for right now, it should be fine for the next year - easily. The software is a sticky point, and its here where Nokia and this community need to come to some target and push like crazy towards it.

If its a mobile computer, then push the edge of innovation. Use gestures, AR, TV-Out, NFC, services, etc. to literally change computing. But, I think that with Maemo that Nokia/this community needs to get rid of a lot of the legacy thoughts. I don't mean run towards the Apple or Google paradigms, but to figure out strengths, and allow the platform and devices to evangelize that ability. Moving past that means moving past computing norms and while smoothing out the issues with the norms.

When that happens, convincing people that the N900 and other Maemo devices are computing idealized will be easy. Impressing folks comes naturally to Nokia and many folks within Maemo.

*@qole: you were partly right here, I feel similar, just not yet moved.

Re: Ok, I'm Impressed, Just Not Convinced (Yet)
 

You are missing the point here of using a Linux based device.

They don't want to give you everything, instead they gave you an open source device and told YOU to do anything you want with it. As a matter of fact I am seeing much more useful apps for the N900 already than for the S60v5 now.


If you are like me and have absolutely no idea what programming is then just enjoy the innovations others are offering.

I think this is a great device because for the first time truly we are given EVERYTHING we want literally.

Re: Ok, I'm Impressed, Just Not Convinced (Yet)
 

Eh, apps... if those were the paneca of the computing puzzle then we'd not be conversing on the web ;)

The N900 isn't the point, Maemo 5 is. And its one of those things where the device and platform are enabled by your imagination. Its very similar to the old PalmOS - just with better plumbing.

That being said, when you spend enough time with the device - both with a programmers and a non-programmers mindset (I'd refer you to my background but hey, assumptions are the truth of forum life) - then you start to see items which are indeed impressive. One's experiences with mobile device will be the driver after that...

...for me personally, I'm looking for just a little bit more. Hence my participation here and elsewhere. It doesn't give everything, but it does present imaginations' possibilities.

Re: Ok, I'm Impressed, Just Not Convinced (Yet)
 

ARJWright, what are the applications/features/anythings that you use in the N97, and you miss it in the N900?

I'm interested in anything from speed, user experience, some specific apps, etc. It's great you use both, so I think you can give a really two way user perspective.

I am thinking to get a new device after my Palm Treo 680 (the hardware started to give in now, really falling apart), and hesitate between a Symbian device and the N900.
The Symbian is the boring, not very intutitive OS for me, but it is mature, gaps are filled, works smooth. Maemo would be de risky, but higher potential.

I think I have the money to buy both, however I don't have time+energy to transfer all my data and tailor the device for my needs twice, so it would be my next platform for the coming 5+ years. I used Psions for ~10 years, then Palm for ~5 years. The switch from Psion to Palm was quite energy and time consuming, to convert all the data, find the new apps for my taste, and just tailor the device to my own needs.

Thanks!

Re: Ok, I'm Impressed, Just Not Convinced (Yet)
 

The N900 is a funny device. It's the 4th ineration of some lon term research that Nokia ha been going since 2001 or so. The first 3 iterations where the Internet Tablets. A size up from the PDA's of 10 years ago. Large screens, decent computing capacity and storage. Each new version of the hardware and of Maemo OS/UI showed great improvements. Nokia was surprised by how well the N770, N800 and N810 sold. And I'm guessing that Nokia was also impressed by how well using open source software and working with the open source community worked as well.

The N900 is the latest iteration of the Internet Tablet series. Nokia liked what was happening so much they actually skipped a step in their 5 stop long term goals. We can see this from these Maemo generation build code names: Diablo -> (Elephantra) -> Fremantle.

So what as have now is a very polished Internet Tablet with a very smooth and elegant touchscreen user interface (aka desktop). (Side note: I hardly every use the stylus). And yet the first version of phone functionality. The phone aspects of the N900 function fairly well, but they are very immature in terms of features. The cause of this is because it's a totally new operating system for a Nokia phone.

Nokia has a LOT of code they've developed for Symbian. Even if a new version of Symbian comes out and they create a new phone to use it. They have a lot of legacy Symbian code to use as a starting point. They don't have that legacy code to use for the N900. So the N900 really isn't the smart phone for the masses. The N900 is a milestone and devleopment platform for the Maemo 6 phone which will be designed for the masses. And at the same time the N900 is THE device I've (and a lot of other people) been waiting for over a decade,

Re: Ok, I'm Impressed, Just Not Convinced (Yet)
 

sljonson - when do you think Maemo 6 devices will be on the shelves?
What do you think I gain if I switch to Maemo now, instead of waiting for Maemo 6? What can be the tradeoff?

Thanks!

Re: Ok, I'm Impressed, Just Not Convinced (Yet)
 

I seem to recall from the Nokia show that next Maemo device would be release in the second half of 2010. At a guess I think Oct 2010 would be the earliest.

As to what you would gain, I really don't know. I haven't been involved with Maemo to the extent that other have been. But I'll take a Scientific Wild Assinine Guess at it. All of your personal information (contacts, call history, perferences, etc) are stored in the same manner as they would be on a desktop PC. Upgrading to a new Linux version on a PC is generally seamless. Backup my data, boot up with the new version and run the installer, reboot and it's done. When moving to a new PC, it's simple as well. Install Linux, copy over my home directory to the new system, login and I'm done.

Similarly, moving from a N900 to Maemo 6 device should be fairly seamless. Create a Backup on the N900 (This will get all of your personal information), backup the rest of the information from the MyDocs partition, copy the N900 Backup files to the Maemo 6 device, Restore from the N900 Backup file, then let the Maemo 6 device restore your applications from the Backup. restore all of the MyDocs information, take out the SIM card and microSD card and put them in the Maemo 6 device. And you should be good to go with the new phone.

As I previously said, the above is all pure speculation. I know the N900 is right for me. But I think the question you should ask yourself "Is the N900 the device for me NOW?". You will have to put up with it for nearly a year. It is an immature smartphone and we don't have any idea how fair Nokia is going to develop the N900's feature. If you do get a N900, I don't think you'll be wasting your time in regards to getting your information on it, configuring it to your tastes, etc.

Re: Ok, I'm Impressed, Just Not Convinced (Yet)
 

Data conversion from one platform to another sucks!!! The N900 isn't immune, but I'd expect that something better than PC/Ovi Suite that treats the N900 like the *computer* that it is would come along to aid moving from another mobile is a more responsive manner - where the device is the host and the older device connects directly to it.

The UI just doesn't feel as cohesive for my needs at this point. Its close, but still requires too much attention for the device to remain valuable. I get just a little bit more context-awareness from my N97 than from the N900. I expect that to change in the coming year though.

I moved from the 680 to an N75/N800 combo. Having both platforms (Symbian and Maemo) for the same amount of time as personal/professional devices has taught me a lot about how I'd like to live with mobile. Both are coming to the same apex, just from different perspectives. The N97 and Symbian better fits me right now.

Apps don't matter to me. I really get by with a solid web browser and my mobile web server. Anything else that I use is more because others don't share the same perspective and their content is locked in one silo or another.

Re: Ok, I'm Impressed, Just Not Convinced (Yet)
 

Yea data conversion does suck. But it's a fact of life, and it's a part of what I do for a living (Systems Adminstrator). And I've had a LOT of mobile devices (and services) in the past. Data sync'ing between different types of devices and software is hit or miss. Even with standardized data exchange formats (i.e. vcard) can be hit or miss.

With all of that I've honed my data keeping to a fine art. I have one master copy in my desktop PC in the application Evolution. Evolution is my master copy, and it's never updated from any other source. Ever since I started doing that. It's been a lot easier to maintain my data (mainly my Contact which what I'm most interested in)

Re: Ok, I'm Impressed, Just Not Convinced (Yet)
 

Very interesting aspects, thanks.
There's another aspect for me, which is using my device 1-3h per day for talking on the phone as a project manager. So I expect from the phone side has to be good reception, good voice quality, no freezes, and moderate level polished user interface. This is during worktime.
Then when work ends, in my freetime, and when travelling, I think, if I have the N900, I would use it for a lot of things I don't do now, but I would enjoy exploring, connecting with VNC to my home PCs, lot of web browsing (anything that I need to open up my laptop to order pizza, internet banking, buying movie tickets, look up movie stats on imdb, light photo editing, managing databases in Excel, etc.).
I don't know how would this interfere with my down to earth style calling needs during work hours.
If my device becomes unusuable, or messed up, that is not acceptable. What is installed and runs, it should work error free. This is where my Treo 680 fails -poor voice quality, no receptions in weak areas (where my Nokia 1600 barebones phone has 1-2 bars), occasional freezes in "on the air" situations.

@sljonson
What is Evolution? Can you give a website?

Re: Ok, I'm Impressed, Just Not Convinced (Yet)
 

use an iphone. then an android phone. then maemo 5.

as usable platforms, the competition is years ahead. if i were a developer, this thing would be awesome. every day use for me though, terrible.

try and import your contacts into ovi contacts.. i dare ya!

Re: Ok, I'm Impressed, Just Not Convinced (Yet)
 

@Hapkes - your use sounds very similar to how I was using my N800 (before I got the N97). I'm not doing project management, but process management and so I can see where you mobile needs to be more contextually aware - and adjust accordingly. That's really my main beef with mobile devices - those released in the last six months or so - smart mobility is more than just features, but an intelligent awareness of the user's context so that the best uses come to the surfact. The N900 has the groundwork for it, its just not exploited much at this point.

Re: Ok, I'm Impressed, Just Not Convinced (Yet)
 

The N900 platform leap reminds me of N95's leap in the hardware department. Both phones (mobile computers) started a new decade in the mobile industry.

Re: Ok, I'm Impressed, Just Not Convinced (Yet)
 

Coming from a power user/developer perspective, the hardware package (screen/cpu/storage/networking/keyboard) is spot on, it's pretty much the sweet spot on the market at the moment.

As for the software, the question is the target audience.

If it's targeted for developers, it's very good. (documentation, tools need a lot of polishing tough)

If it's targeted for power users, I think it will be there in a few months (some bugs need ironed out and we still need some basic apps, but nothing ondoable in a few months)

If it's targeted for the average enduser, forget it. It's lightyears behind the ipod/android from a usability perspective, and let's not even talk about the app. suport (c'mon, no OVI store at launch?)

The question is Nokia's strategy. If they intend Maemo in the long run to be the os for the smartphone/N/E series phones (and completely replace symbian), then the N900 is a very good first step to attract developers. Of course they still have to push very hard to create/move the existing partner ecosystem to this os.

If not, then the N900/Maemo will remain a niche product, without pro apps, without usability. Ofc. the hackers won't care, but even the powerusers will move after a while.

Re: Ok, I'm Impressed, Just Not Convinced (Yet)
 

The premise and perspective will rage on.

If you want mainly smartphone function and the expected phone centrics, the N900 is probably not the best option ATM.

If you want a netbook in your pocket with kick a55 media performance and some phone function, the N900 is definitely the best option.

I use the G1 as my phone due to my signal issue in some 2G areas with the N900, but I do use Shopsavvy, Shazaam, Voice search, Navigator and MMS pictures a lot. My family and friends mainly do not have anything but MMS on their devices.

N900 is my pocket netbook & media player now.

Re: Ok, I'm Impressed, Just Not Convinced (Yet)
 

i AM convinced, but i'm certainly not impressed :(
nokia is really being an a**hole by not delivering units to resellers.

Re: Ok, I'm Impressed, Just Not Convinced (Yet)
 

AH!
This post explains exactly what I mean when I say that I'm impressed but not convinced: http://gigaom.com/2010/01/03/objectified-design/

The design of the device has yet to move past that point of "getting out of the way" and therefore, that friction that the N900/Maemo 5 has causes me to *see* it more than I *see* features on my N97.

Re: Ok, I'm Impressed, Just Not Convinced (Yet)
 

It probably depends extremely on what your needs and interests are. My wife has a N97 and I find it terrible - absolutely impossible to use, some handicapped Frankenstein IMHO (I come from a N82). The N900 OTOH makes me happy each moment I hold it in my hands, because it literally vibrates with it enormous potential.
Maemo will catch up very fast - just watch this place and feel the acceleration going on since devices began to roll out a few weeks ago. Now let Nokia add a firmware update or two (and fix that shameful Ovi Maps app), then we will really get going :-)

And yes: classic 3G calls are not (yet?) it's strength :-)

Re: Ok, I'm Impressed, Just Not Convinced (Yet)
 

I'll chime in here, too. I used the N900 for about a month as my primary device, until my N97 came in, after which I *never* put my SIM card back in the N900.

Most of it is things that will be fixed in future firmware updates. Lack of portrait mode, lack of one-handed-usability, MMS, etc.

However, there are some apps/features that I absolutely use every single day on my N97 that simply don't exist on the N900:

1. Mobbler - not only for streaming Last.FM, but the sleep timer and alarm functions have become indispensable for me.

2. Twitter - Gravity on S60v5 simply trumps *anything* on Maemo, including Mauku and even Witter. Don't get me wrong, Witter is awesome, but for someone who manages several twitter accounts, it's completely lacking in smoothness.

3. Navigation - believe it or not, I use Ovi Maps several times/week for voice-guided navigation. I also use Waze quite a bit, neither of which are available for Maemo quite yet.

4. The App Manager is a MESS. There's no organization, nothing to show me which repository an app is from, no way to mass-install apps, no way to see what apps have been added recently, or which are the most popular, or anything like that. Its also frustrating to be dumped to the top of the list after installing an app, particularly if you had browsed to the end already.

It's not that Maemo isn't impressive. I've been around since the N800 (which I still have) and really enjoy it, but the current implementation of Maemo 5 simply isn't a 'solution' for me - it requires too many sacrifices for my usage. It's really frustrating to use, whereas Symbian, though less 'shiny', seems a bit more well thought-out to me.

It's also really stupid, IMO, that the N900 will be the only Maemo 5 device, with Maemo 6 coming later this year, and breaking compatibility. Thus far, since the N800 initially launched, we've lost compatibility what, 3-4 times? Of course, I realize it's relatively trivial to update your app, but it's still gotta be frustrating (and discouraging) for developers to have to constantly retool just to keep up.

Re: Ok, I'm Impressed, Just Not Convinced (Yet)
 

Why do that? I imported my contacts from an E71 to the N95 using the Bluetooth "share contacts" function. It took about 15 minutes including the time to figure out how to start the process. People with multiple contacts and email addresses came across quite nicely. I am not a heavy user of contacts on my personal mobile, so there may be some contact attributes that have problems--but all my bases were covered.

Maybe I'll try the Ovi service for a backup method later...

Re: Ok, I'm Impressed, Just Not Convinced (Yet)
 

Here's something that impressed and convinced me tonite:

http://www.bonnier.com/en/content/di...-mag-prototype

When I said in my initial post that Maemo should "allow the platform and devices to evangelize that ability. Moving past that means moving past computing norms and while smoothing out the issues with the norms." This is what I am talking about. Note how the UX responds not just to the feature-set (wake on touch, multitouch, gestures, acclerometer, constant connectivity, etc.) but how it uses that and simplifies the actions so much that the device responds to the user and not the other way around.

Its this kind of focus that I see as the disconnect between Maemo and Symbian right now. Being an open source movement cannot help that part, this is where Nokia has to take the reins in vision and basically setting the bar at a point where developers aren't just making "just another ebook reader" but redefining the experience based on the needs of the user then on the capability of the platform.

Because, if all that a fan can do is first tout a spec sheet, then the device really doesn't do more than stroke the ego - that is, impress you. To convince, means that you display relevance not just for yourself, but for the other party all the more.