Worth buying WiMAX Edition model after N900 successor comes out?
 

I was wondering if it is worth getting the N810WE as a backup to the N900 & how well the N810WE works as an all-around device assuming one is in an area with good WiMAX coverage (I am). Also, can the device tether to any other Bluetooth-capable phone (I'm thinking BlackBerry 9700 & Nokia N95-3 in my particular case) with Internet connection & piggy off that? Finally, I did a quick eBay & Google search and was surprised that this thing is going for more than the N900 is going for!

Is the N810WE that rare or is it a very good device compared to the N900?

Re: Worth buying WiMAX Edition model after N900 successor comes out?
 

So just buy another N900?

You are talking about a previous generation device. One with a decent size cult following and a few less restrictions sure, but still a previous generation device. I would not hand over that amount of money personally.

Re: Worth buying WiMAX Edition model after N900 successor comes out?
 

Wow, WiMAX. I could be missing something, but my impression is that, when it comes to WiMAX compatibility, beggers can't be choosers. How many WiMAX devices are there besides N810WE? Seemed like a chicken & egg problem -- phone networks were hesitant to build the network w/o the devices, and device manufacturers were hesitant to make devices w/o the network. Anyway, yes, the N810WEs are indeed "that rare".

The N810, in general, is a fine device (with a larger screen & longer battery life than the N900). But, for the record, Nokia is no longer providing software updates for its OS (Maemo4/Diablo/OS2008) & stock apps.

Re: Worth buying WiMAX Edition model after N900 successor comes out?
 

Since when did it have better battery life? Plug the N900 in Offline Mode (or just disable phone) and you'll probably see much the same batt life.

How is that any different to the N900? :S

Re: Worth buying WiMAX Edition model after N900 successor comes out?
 

Yes, it is. The N810 WiMAX Edition was only available for purchase for three months at the end of 2008, and Nokia didn't let unsold inventory sit on vendor shelves to be marked down as clearance after the device was canceled. Nokia immediately recalled all the unsold stock.

It's a shame. I still want one.

Re: Worth buying WiMAX Edition model after N900 successor comes out?
 

Don't you need a WiMAX account though through a provider like Clear/Sprint?

Re: Worth buying WiMAX Edition model after N900 successor comes out?
 

I find it strange that they recalled the units. Why wouldn't they want them to sell out? Wouldn't it cost more managing that inventory or recycling/disposing of it?

Re: Worth buying WiMAX Edition model after N900 successor comes out?
 

I'm pretty sure the situation was political, and LTE was involved.

Yes.

Re: Worth buying WiMAX Edition model after N900 successor comes out?
 

Yes you do need an account with Clear.
Yes the units are as rare as a hen's tooth.

Re: Worth buying WiMAX Edition model after N900 successor comes out?
 

It was sure hard to return my test unit after I was laid off...

Re: Worth buying WiMAX Edition model after N900 successor comes out?
 

I'm not sure that I would be looking at a WiMAX solution, even Clearwire have suggested that they will be migrating to LTE in the future, although I believe that they will run both in tandem for some time.

Re: Worth buying WiMAX Edition model after N900 successor comes out?
 

Adam,

it appears to me like you haven't used an N810. I think you should be made aware that Maemo 4 and Maemo 5 are very different in not only looks, application libraries, and software availability but also in features and hardware resources. The N810 pros and cons list are completely different from the N900s.

The N810 is a very good ebook reader and web browser and communication device, but it's also a very different ebook reader and web browser and communication device compared to the N900. You'd not transfer your books and contacts and documents any much easier to this device than to a competing device. I don't see how'd you use the N810 as a backup to the N900. Truth be told, it'd be better to consider it a companion to the N900. And as that, it's not that brilliant.

Re: Worth buying WiMAX Edition model after N900 successor comes out?
 

Can it be a useful backup when used in conjunction with another device (say if N900 breaks & I temporarily need to use another phone for calling but can tether that to the N810 in the meantime)?

Right. Actually I am new to the whole Maemo/MeeGo world. The open source nature of the OS is what is luring me to it. I like the idea of the big screens that other devices have but I don't exactly want to be forced to use Android. Also, the customisability has to be nice if one knows what they're doing.

I'm coming from a bunch of BlackBerries (8100, 8320, 8310, 8900, now 9700) & a few S60 devices like the E61 & N95-3.

Re: Worth buying WiMAX Edition model after N900 successor comes out?
 

I'm not clear on what you mean with backup. Functionality or content, and what part of it. The N810 will work fine as a browser, it has the same Opera beta version that the N900 just got, and it has several of the other browsers that N900 can have. Both have pidgin and similar for IM, some ebook readers, music playback. Both has underwhelming navigation.

You can't have as many programs installed on the N810 as on the N900, it'll complain sooner. The same programs are often not available on both devices. The "same" programs are usually quite different in looks/menus/versions from the two devices. One of the things that struck me first with the N900 was that many programs I expected to be available, hadn't been ported from the N810. When they came, they were changed.

So, it's really not like having to computers with the same OS. It's more like Windows 95 vs Windows NT. Yes, in theory they're quite alike.