n900 to buy or not to buy
 

Hi
Iv been watching the n900 for a long time now and being a n800 user I kno wat I'm letting my self in for lol,
But my problem is I'm really picky about phones not becuase I want the best just summit that will last a long time.
So I have a few questions well really things I want from a phone and miby you lot can give a honest answer or yer views please.
Music I'm a metal head ha iv used a Nokia e63 wich was Oki but nothing fancy also had a iPhone hated itunes but sound quality was good...does the n900 have good music play back will it replace my ipod shuffle?

Internet I don't own any form of computer, but I do use my phone a lot for internet mostly gmail,msn,Facebook,forums and online shopping and YouTube...how's the web browser on the n900...I'm currently using my gf HTC hero with 1.6 android locked to 3 its Oki but has alot bugs from freezing to 1 minute not reconising a utube vid than all of a sudden playing it,

Build quilty/screen, one thing I'm really put of the n900 is the slider part is it wobbly or very sturdy is the screen responsive I like the n800 but I hated the 5800

One last thing is there any or gonna be some sort of word document editor....hooking the n900 to a tv and using a keyboard sounds perfect Oki I kno its not a pc but its better than nothing

And just incase why some one ask why I'm not gona buy a pc I'm unemployed due to a serouse illness so I couldn't keep up the payments of £40 a month for broadband and plus £200 plus for a pc.....I do own a mifi pay as you go WiFi dongle and my phone sim card I get 1gb of data every month.
The n900 I'm getting as bday present from my gf and my mum and dad
Only others phone I have my eye on is a dell streak, since u can hook up a bt keyboard

I apologise for my spelling and grammer and thanks for any help or info ps I'm still using my n800 lol

Re: n900 to buy or not to buy
 

to make it short, the n900 is a great device IMHO.

but even though how many pros and cons you read or hear from other users, the answer on your question is still in you.

Re: n900 to buy or not to buy
 

I actually think the N900 would be right up your street, I use it for Music all the time, the audio quality is good. Some people complain of the occasional stutter but mine's been fine. Build quality is excellent, though there is a few people that complain of the USB port becoming loose. Personally, if I were you, I'd go into the carphone werehouse and hold it yourself, play with it a little. It's so much faster than the N800 you'll love it. Also, we have abiword and a koffice based editor also, and for a price you can get the premium documents to go from Ovi which has word and excel editing also.

Re: n900 to buy or not to buy
 

Cheers....I used to take my n800 out and about to local bmx comps to upload pics to the web but lack of keyboard it got a bit annoying, but still easer than a netbook...netbooks are bloody annoying I have large hands so the mouse on netbooks I found uncomfortable....plus I need a new phone since my old Nokia its out dated and isn't keeping a full charge so may as kill 2 birds with one stone phone and mini laptop in 1

Re: n900 to buy or not to buy
 

If you're used to the N800 you should do well with the N900. It will do what you want and more. You can use it very cheaply with a prepaid Tmobile plan in the US -- I'm not sure which plans are available elsewhere.

But mainly, you will have a lot of fun, and that's what's important.

Re: n900 to buy or not to buy
 

Make sure you follow the filing tips in this thread or you might not have a phone that lasts even a year:
http://talk.maemo.org/showthread.php...&highlight=usb

Re: n900 to buy or not to buy
 

hi fellow metal-head cyberboy109!

1. Is the sound quality good enough to replace your ipod?

I'd say yes, but part of that answer is because I find the ipod to have a horrific sound quality. I own a Zen Touch, from 2004, built by Creative. And although the sound is much better on my Creative, combining the N900 with my Sennheiser HD202, the result is reasonable enough to get through the daily travels. Don't expect too much of the N900 headphones that come with the machine, though... And if I really want to listen to music with a good sound quality, at night on the roof-terrace, laying on my back with a joint, yes, I do switch back to my Zen Touch :D

2. How's the webbrowser?

Although it can at times be a bit slow, I find browserd, the standard browser to be impressive. Things just work and they do it well.

3. The slider quality, how is it?

Good. Never had a problem with it.

4. Responsiveness of the screen, you ask?

I don't know the other devices you've owned but have had a go with Iphones and Ipods from friends. Compared to those I have always been happy with my touch screen.

5. Document editing?

Leafpad is a sweet lightweight text editor that carries nothing fancy like spelling and such, but works well. Personally I never use spell checks anyway. I don't think it will support any Microsoft products though. Expect txt and rtf at max.

6. The N900 can be hooked up with a bluetooth mouse and keyboard, if that's what you're looking for. Personally I simply forward my X with SSH to my laptop to avoid typing on the small keyboard of the N900. But when I am on the road, I am happy every single time I use that keyboard, just because I have all this connectivity in my pocket.

Re: n900 to buy or not to buy
 

For what you describe, it sounds like the N900 will be your new best friend; there a few cons, that I'll cover in a sec, but for your requirements:

Music:
It is a fantastic device for music, with the onboard 32GB of storage, and the option to expand with an SD card upto 32GB, you wont be short of anything to listen to, with extra codecs you can play most audio files out there, including Flac.
I don't own an iPod but I'm pretty sure they can't play anything other than MP3/AAC.

The default music play is somewhat lacking in features, it does that job though, but there a better replacements out there, made by people from this community

Music playback can sometimes stutter, the only time I have noticed it is when browsing the web: you'll get a split second stutter every now and again, nothing too bad though.

Internet/Web:
The default browser is fast, easy to use and navigate and allows for pretty much a full blown web experience (including Flash 9).
But, you can replace it with others such as Opera.
I've used it the N900 make purchases with ease, and I'm always on forums.

YouTube works alright: it can be a bit fiddly to access the controls (I've only used the desktop version and not the mobile, so can't comment on that side); apart from that I have no issues with YouTube or other similar sites.
However, the N900 only supports Flash 9 right now, so sites which force you to use Flash 10 won't work.
(You can use a 'version faker' but I can't verify for it's effectiveness.)

Facebook and other IM services integrate perfectly, from what I've noticed at least.
You can chat to your online right within the SMS inbox, and all your online contacts are integrated with your normal phone contacts (pretty cool).

Some see the e-mail as the bullet in the head for the phone, I haven't noticed any serious issues though.
I only use gMail and Mail for Exchange, but it has been working ok for me.
When going online I can occasionally get a 'failed to update: invalid address' error but syncing manually and all is well.

Screen & build quality
Not much to say about it, but I love it.
Responsive, bright, vivid, sharp colours, great for watching movies on (if you can handle watching on a small screen).
Some will complain the it is not capacitive like the iPhone, others will see that as a relief (I personally do).

The build quality I'd say it good, no wobbly slider to my knowledge, though when sliding the keyboard in an out in it seems slightly at an angle, but when it's fully open it's perfectly fine.

Document editing:
There's many office programs for the N900, I don't know how productive you can be with a small screen and keyboard, but it's allowed me to do the odd bit of uni work when I'm on the train or lying in bed and can't be bothered to get my netbook out.

You can, with a bit of work and hacking, get external bluetooth keyboards to work.
As it's not an official feature from Nokia, instead work from the community it's not perfect (I have a few punctuation keys that I can't use, but then again I haven't really looked into it).

Other:
There aren't a ton of applications available for the phone, but all the main ones are there (mostly made by the fine developers in this community).

Ovi store lacks in badly in comparison to other other app stores out there, it's been no use to me, but has to others.
The mapping software is bogstandard: no great features, no turn-by-turn voice navigation (yet, at least), but for a bit of extra cash you can use 3rd party software.

Support from Nokia is questionable: you'll see many people and many posts that are unhappy, but for others it's not an issue.

Anyway, In all, it's an expensive device but has a lot but does lack in some minor (and a few major) features.

If you can get your hands on one to play around with few a few hours/days then definitely do it.
Often, you can find them for sale quite cheap 2nd hand on these forums and eBay (though be careful you don't get one of the fake Chinese knockoffs from there).

Re: n900 to buy or not to buy
 

Also you might want to know that Nokia support for the N900 is terrible. So there are three factors you might want to also consider.

- Am I fine with getting a device that may have no future bugfixes (outside of PR1.3) or updates? The Meego the N900 will be getting is not the same Meego the next Nokia device will have.

- Are you fine with losing .5 inches? The n800 has a 4 inch screen while the N900 has a 3.5 inch screen.

- As someone who came from using a dumbphone (no Internet connection, very basic cheap phone) and the n800. There's a problem with tweaking the N900 messing around with its internals, guts and all. Namely, if something goes wrong when your out and about you may not have a phone anymore until you fix it.

Oh and plugging the N900 into a TV to use it as an office computer doesn't work so well due to the composite video connection's small resolution. But it works fine for games, video files, showing pictures, etc...

Re: n900 to buy or not to buy
 

WOW I cant believe ANY of you guys can recommend him to get a N900 in any good conscience. Either you guys really want him to screw up or you did not read his message clearly.

To the OP - DO NOT GET THE N900. In fact, I do not recommend you get ANY smart phone (except maybe an Apple iPhone which you already have) but this applies most of all to the Nokia N900.

Why ? Because YOU DO NOT OWN A COMPUTER - this means if you install ANY maemo app from a repository (even if it is not in extras) and it bricks your phone or screws something up (yes it can happen), you CANNOT FIX IT because you CANNOT REFLASH it WITHOUT a computer.

This issue applies to smart phones in general BUT most of all to the N900 because it is VERY easy to **** up and even installing a bad app can do it - its no big deal if you can reflash it but you do not have a computer to do this.

If I were you, I will keep your current phone. Instead I would ask your parents for money and get a cheap netbook of some type. This will be much better for your work/internet surfing then the N900 - whilst the N900 does internet decently, it is not a candidate for serious word processing etc of any type.

But the key point is, if you have a N900, you NEED a PC to go with it in case something goes wrong, which CAN easily happen - with great power comes great responsibility haha

Re: n900 to buy or not to buy
 

I'd just add that the best thing to do is go to a shop and see if they have a demo model you can try - play with it a bit, see what you think of the maemo interface, contacts, try the phone, camera etc.

I did that and was immediately impressed with it, got it there and then and havent regretted it. Not perfect (read posts above) but still a brilliant piece of kit.

Re: n900 to buy or not to buy
 

Yeah get a £99 netbook and a PAYG cheap mobile handset ~£10.

Re: n900 to buy or not to buy
 

Oki I can easily get access to a pc, iv had a netbook in the past and not fond of them,

Re: n900 to buy or not to buy
 

[QUOTE=anthonie;777883]hi fellow metal-head cyberboy109!

1. Is the sound quality good enough to replace your ipod?


2. How's the webbrowser?
web browser is the best ive used on any smart phone... it seems a lot of reviewers agree its a very impressive web browser...


3. The slider quality, how is it?
ive had mine since march, its been great so far :)



4. Responsiveness of the screen, you ask?
This is actually my first touchscreen phone... but all my friends who've probably come from other resistive touchscreen phones comment on the really good responsiveness of the screen...


5. Document editing?
dunno


6. dunno

Re: n900 to buy or not to buy
 

* If youre a Linux geek its best computerphone ever.
* If you want a good phonefunction N900 lacks alot stuff and the telephonystack is not complete. Dont buy
* If you want latest flash dont buy it.
* If you like develop in C/C++, python, perl whatever buy it.
* If you prefer multiplatform SDK compåatible with both stationary computers, tablets and phone N900 is good.
* If you want a hyped phone buy an android or Iphone.
* If you want a most iopen platform buy N900
* If you want support for most video/music codecs out there buy N900

Re: n900 to buy or not to buy
 

Not to buy, STEAL one! xD

Re: n900 to buy or not to buy
 

That's actually a good point and I do admit that I forgot you do need a computer to reflash it.

Though I wonder with the backup program someone made if you still need a computer. I haven't tested it myself yet (just made a backup) but others have reported success. It's the one where you slide the keyboard open before the OS boots up. Theoretically with that you won't need the computer at all since you can restore a backup (that's on the device).

Re: n900 to buy or not to buy
 

I found the n900 to be

- great for media (eg watching/listening to movies/music/ebooks)
- good for 5MP photography with an excellent carl zeiss branded flash
- high quality screen resolution, good for reading/browsing from
- excellent slide out keyboard (a must, esp for large fingers or fast typing-one reason why ill be avoiding the N8, as im pretty sure the initial N8s wont be featuring one)
- price of the n900 will be set to drop much lower soon after the N8 is released, so you might want to wait if you dont want to waste cash!

Im quite fussy when it comes to noticing the downside on what I buy, so :-

- although the signal is good, I found call quality to be much lower than my cheapest ever mobile (that was around the $20 mark)!
- screen tearing with scrolling software/games to be an annoyance
- fairly poor/jerky video when recording from the camera, certainly not up to the same standard as its photo quality
- much shorter battery life when comparing to my last sony/samsung mobiles, having to charge the n900 almost every day
- my mains adapter eventually gave up, although USB via the pc worked fine for charging my n900
- price of the n900 will be set to drop much lower after the N8 is released ;)

Re: n900 to buy or not to buy
 

I think you've really found your device with the N900 for these reasons:

* It's a great "ipod". Media player software has a learning curve, but sound quality is so superb that it makes up for it totally.

* You will love the browser. You seem to appreciate a powerful browser and after the N900 you will not be able to go back to the Android browser. You'll wonder why you played around with that "make-believe" browser until now. Everything works, straight from the browser, no YouTube apps, just www.youtube.com.

* BT keyboards and mice, connectivity and computer-like apps are available for the N900. In this sense its good value for your money when comparing to a laptop.

* Build quality is good. Its sturdy although not the slimmest device around. All in all I think it looks a lot better than most of its competition, for e.g. MILESTONE, Dell Streak. Dell Streak is just too big.

However, in the end if you can afford to wait a couple of months, then I would not get the N900 at this point. Reasons:

* The N900 is about to be replaced by a more powerful, flexible device that will receive loads of more support. You'll have to hold out until Christmas to get it, though.

* The next device will do everything the N900 does + + +

And yes, as someone mentioned, you will probably need a PC to flash the N900, as I think everyone flashes their device quite often. Then again, perhaps a Care Point can help you out unless you admit to having installed unstable "Testing" level applications. :)

Re: n900 to buy or not to buy
 

But he owns a n800, so he can put it in HOST MODE and flash the n900 from there :D

Re: n900 to buy or not to buy
 

Hmm I don't want a fancy android phones or Apple over hyped trash.....I love Linux ubuntu being my no 1 os I did forget to mention a qwerty keyboard I can touch is a plus......touch screen phones can be a bit eh annoying at times....even typing this on a HTC hero is annoying I keep pressing the wrong keys lol

Re: n900 to buy or not to buy
 

A updated version of the n900 out at Xmas? Any other info?
Oh I can pick up the n900 for £380 now

Re: n900 to buy or not to buy
 

Eh.. I'm not so sure about that. Typical use cases probably. Extreme use cases booting Easy Debian, using computer applications, ports of software maybe not. The community has taken a huge beating between Nokia's continual lack of support and the flood of users that have developers leaving (or reducing their appearance on these forums). Not to mention the N9 (I think that's the Meego device) comes with a capacitative touch screen. Not the best for unoptimized software that isn't finger friendly.

I also doubt QT development will take off fast enough (Meego needs more people to get on board). Though there are a plethora of QT desktop apps (but again not optimized for finger).

Re: n900 to buy or not to buy
 

Since not having a computer is such a big issue, can you explain why it wasn't a big issue with the N800 he said he has? How was he fixing the N800 if something big went wrong?

If not having a computer didn't hurt him with the N800, why would it hurt him with the N900?

My assumption is that he might know someone with a computer and he could use it if he needed it. However he avoided the problem with the N800 he would use the same method with the N900. And, btw, I think the N900 is easier to use without a computer than the N800.

Re: n900 to buy or not to buy
 

Good price for the UK? I know that you can get the N900 at Dell US currently for $350 (plus shipping / tax) after coupon. I think this is a great price for a device like that!

Re: n900 to buy or not to buy
 

The N900 is definately not worth its current price of around £380, when I first tried one out I had assumed it would be around £200 max. With its shortcomings (its certainly not perfect) lack of support (not just nokia) and successors to be released very soon, I expect it to get alot closer to the latter within the next couple of years.

Regardless of what anyone here thinks as to what its "really" worth paying for an n900, I expect we will ALL look back on this in 7 years time with a frown and think "did I REALLY pay that much for a brand new N900!?!?!!" just before googling across to ebay to find the last n900s trying to be sold off for around £70.... perhaps even less

lol ;)

Re: n900 to buy or not to buy
 

Maybe because the N800 isn't also his cell phone?

Re: n900 to buy or not to buy
 

Lol flashing a device isn't a problem my parents let me use there pc.....rite now a desktop/laptop isn't really a huge thing for me rite now if a n900 isn't worth the value and the dell streak is running android ill prob just buy a cheap *** Nokia phone with a decent camera and umid......I really had my heart set on a n900 not becuase it was cool but cause I really liked maemo....if there was still updates for the n800 id be happy but like all technology folk are turning there back on the n8x0 devices.....latly the web browser has become so slow and out dated my n800 is nowbeing used as mp3 player for my flat

Re: n900 to buy or not to buy
 

No its not, mobiles.co.uk are doing it for £269 (up from £249)

Re: n900 to buy or not to buy
 

I wanna see that done! :D

Re: n900 to buy or not to buy
 

I wouldn't bother giving any more money to Nokia (after the crappy support they've given me), but I agree--go buy a phone (a dedicated phone, something that works RELIABLY as a phone) and keep using the N800 as your portable computer. Otherwise, you might as well go with an Android handset--where it works reliably as a phone and browses the Internet FAR FAAAAAR better than the N800 and does SOME computer-like stuff.

I still use my N800, too, but I've gone the Android route and it has been the best thing I've done. Every day, I feel increasingly satisfied that I didn't bother with the upgrades to the N810, N810WE and N900. Those would have been enormous wastes of money, in the end.

Re: n900 to buy or not to buy
 

I have a UMID but if you leave the battery in too long (uncharged) it discharges permanently.

Re: n900 to buy or not to buy
 

What kind of UMID? Is it a Nokia Nonsequitor 900?

Re: n900 to buy or not to buy
 

Dont buy, wait for next one!!. Trust me

Re: n900 to buy or not to buy
 

lol, Its a pocket pc 5hrs browsing on WIFI:

http://www.umpcportal.com/2009/04/um...1-full-review/

Pretty neat!

Re: n900 to buy or not to buy
 

Wow.. that's... actually pretty cool! :) Cargo-pocket sized little computer I could run REAL Ubuntu on--unlike this Maemo/MeeGo hackfest. I'd wonder if the manufacturer's customer supports is better than Nokia's. (Hard to imagine anybody that isn't, lately.)

Re: n900 to buy or not to buy
 

Umid any good iv heard some mix reviews on it?......pity on the n900 atleast I asked and not bought one

Re: n900 to buy or not to buy
 

Its 316g so its very light. Great keys for thumb typing.

Only thing for me is that I am lazy as and don't like to connect with a phone as a router so I may put it on ebay soon to get a 3G model or so. You can use it in portrait for ereading and stylus use and its so light that you dont feel it.Viliv n5 is out but has poorer battery life 3 vs 5 hrs. A second hand Vaio P wouldn't be a bad move either.

Having to use a USB adapter to connect peripherals is a bit annoying though.

Re: n900 to buy or not to buy
 

In light of the Nokia tablets (and crappy phone) fiasco, though... you can say, even with adapters, "at least I can." :)
How much are you looking to selling it for, by the by?

Re: n900 to buy or not to buy
 

Not too sure yet, probably about £175 as the battery isn't charging anymore, only runs on mains :( I have been told on pocketables that I need to try a higher voltage charger to try to get the cells working again. Or buy a replacement for £50