If I'm a novice user, did I buy the wrong phone with th N900?
 

I Had the G1 running Android for two years and then I switched to the N900. Was happy before, now I think I am just out of my league and without a support system. Knew how to use all apps on my old phone (the ones I wanted).

Now I cant get Google email settings right so no email on my phone and other basic issues as well.

I have looked into Nitdroid and the unbelievable effort given by its developers, but think my questions would make em crazy. looks like it would get me back to the android feel, but I think maybe I should have just gone EVO or something for us users.

Any advice or am I in the wrong joint to ask such a question?

Re: If I'm a novice user, did I buy the wrong phone with th N900?
 

Usually, we change phones because we are unhappy with what we have. "if it ain't broke, don't fix it".

Re: If I'm a novice user, did I buy the wrong phone with th N900?
 

What part are you struggling with? Had no problems setting up GMail here.

Advice: Ask specific questions about specific problems and people will try to help you. You've managed to mention one specific problem, but only alluded to other simple things you are having difficulties with.

The more focused your posts the better chance of getting sensible feedback and not encouraging a long comparison / complaint thread. Asking if you've bought the right phone is ultimately pointless on any forum.

Re: If I'm a novice user, did I buy the wrong phone with th N900?
 

I'd say that the N900 is a challenge to tame for novice users. Its worth the time and effort, as it really is an amazing device. You have excellent support for the n900 here as most people are willing to help. There are some incredibly smart people here. Just ask for some help and dont be afraid to take some chances and I'm sure that you will be pleasantly surprised.

Re: If I'm a novice user, did I buy the wrong phone with th N900?
 

Just a curve to learn different apps. I have recently moved to an N900 from a symbian phone, and an N810, and have also used an Android device. You'll get used to it.

I use the built in email client with gmail very sucessfully, checking for mail every 5 minutes. You'll need to set your account up as an imap account. you'll be able to get the settings from your settings page on gmail. Search these forums for "Modest fixes" as there is a patched version of the email client (called modest) which is much better.

Give Maemo a good go. It is a great OS, and I feel it is as good or better than Android in lots of ways

See above for advice. No you are in exactly the right place to ask about N900 and Maemo related topics. Keep positive, and ask any questions you have.

Oh, and welcome to the community!

Re: If I'm a novice user, did I buy the wrong phone with th N900?
 

Yes, you made the wrong choice. I could tell you why, but I would basically be regurgitating your original post. You answered your own question.

The person, the software and the hardware all have to fit together. You, the n900 and Nitdroid couldn't be further from that notion.

Re: If I'm a novice user, did I buy the wrong phone with th N900?
 

If you had had an Android device, what exactly makes you a novice? Any non-Android phone would be different. If you make the effort to learn, you'll get the hang of the N900. One nice thing about the N900 is this community. Ask good questions, and you'll get good help.

Re: If I'm a novice user, did I buy the wrong phone with th N900?
 

if you want to learn something about linux and co you are right.but if you are too lazy for that you are wrong.
if i bought the n900 5 months ago i was a linux newbie.it was my first time with terminal.
but with help from the community,google and our great wiki im usin xterminal now like a pro

Re: If I'm a novice user, did I buy the wrong phone with th N900?
 

no, u didn't go wrong at all, i got this phone 4 months ago, i didn't even know what linux or xterminal are ! (i'm just 16) .
now i use x-terminal like a pro, i have my device overclocked @900mhz, i have everything "custom", reflashing can't get easier, i don't feel unsupported at all, i have the huge and awesome maemo org community here backing me up in everything, thanks guys, best community on the web, i mean if your having a problem, or you miss an app, or what ever, just post it here, and trust you get alot more support than the one you might get from nokia or google or.....
this device can do it all, nothing this device can't do (please guys, no one say 'cook my dinner...' becasue it can !! ).
thew os can't be more simpler, you can have up to 9 homescreens.....
dude give it some time, read some topics here, and u'll be good to go.

Re: If I'm a novice user, did I buy the wrong phone with th N900?
 

Do you have any linux experience? Do you really need such a powerful phone that lacks some basic functions? Would you like an easier to use app store? My guess is you most likely bought the wrong phone.

Re: If I'm a novice user, did I buy the wrong phone with th N900?
 

i am a novice! and if you are a novice, i might be more than you.

i have my n900 (no nitdroid YET), OC'd @1.15GHz, did so much trouble with and re-flashed the device more than 10 times.

and still in love with it!

EDIT: i learned Linux (the novice level) when I got my hands on this n900, yes you can say that the n900 is my gateway and mentor for Linux or linked me to individuals who are well educated with Linux

Re: If I'm a novice user, did I buy the wrong phone with th N900?
 

joeyn, I switched from Symbian to Maemo (N900) and I didn't know anything about Linux. Now, thanks to N900 and this great community, I know how to use xtreminal, tweak the phone etc. Every new thing requires learning, so don't be afraid of new challenges.

Here you have some instructions how to set email accounts on N900

- Nokia N900 Review of Email

- Setting up Email on Nokia N900

and also screenshots of my gmail settings.

Re: If I'm a novice user, did I buy the wrong phone with th N900?
 

well i can say you bought the right phone... well for me atleast, i am a noob also, but when you like to learn new boundaries and constantly crave and aim for a challenge with a rewarding experience this is definitely the phone for you.. ive done a bunch of stuff on this phone(installed nitdroid, OC, emulators etc) but i never get tired of using it :D

Re: If I'm a novice user, did I buy the wrong phone with th N900?
 

I had issues with Gmail when i explicitly picked it as a service provider, but when i picked "other" and inserted all the settings it worked just fine (i haven't tried again setting up picking Gmail to confirm if that was really the issue though)

Re: If I'm a novice user, did I buy the wrong phone with th N900?
 

Not necessarily the wrong phone,
just depends on what you want to use it for.
And asking questions, just bear in mind
there is as much of a bell curve here as anywhere else.
Trolls, miscreants mixed in with ordinary folk and life hackers too
along with helpful souls and even patient folk as well.
Just try not to take anything personally when you get poked at
and you will find all the answers you need here.

And, for Nokia, perhaps there should be some sort of disclaimer
that the n900 is only recommended for beautiful minds,
others may find it too sophisticated for their lifestyle.:cool:

I know quite a few n900-challenged folk,
but we try not to discuss such issues in their presence...:D

Re: If I'm a novice user, did I buy the wrong phone with th N900?
 

Like a lot of the previous responses I had no experience with linux before my n900. A lot of the stuff I learned just through these forums, a lot of people are so willing to help and I'm glad i got my hands a little dirty on my n900 with linux. A lot of people do all of this because the idea of being about to tweak is phone, and not being confined to the manufacture configurations is exciting. They are curious and find the freedom of customizing it manually rewarding.

You seem like you've given it a fair chance, and if it's that much of a headache and you don't want to try anymore you should sell it. It's just a product, why let it frustrate you, get a phone you'll be happy with.

I my email client works, but the email client on the n900 is incredibly laggy while scrolling through html picture emails, you would think it would be smoother than scrolling a webpage but it isn't. And when you get push email notification it gives you a good 2 second lag, I don't like that very much. So even if you got it to work, if your anything like me you'd turn off the push notifications which kinda eliminates the benefits of having a email client, but fortunately the n900 has a GREAT browser, if I were you, just leave a bookmark of gmail on your desktop. The browser launches really fast, so does loading google mail

Re: If I'm a novice user, did I buy the wrong phone with th N900?
 

joeyn,

If you need a single reason why you should keep this phone, this should be a great community as such.

See how people are so eager to help you, with detail screenshots, even when you did not even specify your problem?

Enjoy your N900. ^^

Re: If I'm a novice user, did I buy the wrong phone with th N900?
 

Hey man, when I think that I almost bought a Nexus One or iPhone, I stop and shudder.

There are certain things this phone can't do as well, but holy monkey is it awesome. Just ask around, and you'll find this phone is very far from unsupported.

Re: If I'm a novice user, did I buy the wrong phone with th N900?
 

Indeed... so why did you switch, and why to this one?

Re: If I'm a novice user, did I buy the wrong phone with th N900?
 

Have you bought the right phone? Interesting Question...


Well to start off... What should phone do? Call people. What does the N900 do? Wayyy more than just call people... You can use internet, built in email, a camera (well technically its 2), media player etc... Soo on this point I can already say that you have the right phone...

Maemo. Maemo might not be Android, which is a good thing in itself... With Maemo and the N900 you have control over what you want to do. Nokia won't really force you into doing things, whereas many other phone manufacturers do... You basically have freedom with the N900.. You might not as many apps as the Apple/Android store, but at least you can get a few. The apple/android stores are literally full of crap, but here on Maemo we have apps which are useful (well apart from a few exceptions).

Support. What support do you need? If its a hardware problem, the go to Nokia Repair Centre (in my area they are really helpful) and if they don't help, then ask specific questions here. Software wise, this is the best support forum out there.. We have people who are experienced and can help you...

Some bugs/ common problems exist on the N900, but hey... at least its not as bad as the iPhone 4's Antenna Problem. :D

All in all, there is no way to buy a wrong phone (unless its an iPhone 4 which won't allow you to call unless u have those bumper thingys ;))..Mobile (Cell) Phones were designed for calls, and the N900 does it perfectly.. The features are rich, and the quality is quiet good.. Look at you N900 in a different perspective... It's a tablet with calling features..

Just be happy with what you have (it's not an item made by workers in horrible working conditions like Apple) ;) ... Just Enjoy your geeky N900 :)

(written on my N900)

Re: If I'm a novice user, did I buy the wrong phone with th N900?
 

guys n900 isn't a tweaking only phone, i do a 100 things on it everyday and none of them have to do with x-terminal ( well i can't lie, arround 15 of them are in xterm :D )
but really, you want texting, calling, chatting emailing, web browsing, play music and videos, youtube, facebook, twitter, send/receive files..... this phone is the best in doing all these stuff (don't forget you can do them all at the same time :cool: )
just enjoy your phone, if it makes you feel better, do what i do, just find a friend that has an iphone, or an android device, than start comparing your device to there's (multitasking, web browsing, rdesktop, ....) and you'll see that the n900 will crush them .
edit: don't forget if u want tons of apps and games get nitdroid. :rolleyes:

Re: If I'm a novice user, did I buy the wrong phone with th N900?
 

For non tech users, Android 2.2 and a newer Android device destroys the N900. Tons more apps, better phone integration and full Flash 10.1. No practical comparison. Still luv my overclocked N900, but non techs that want a better overall experience for phone, media, web and games are better served with other options. Heck, I went back to my G1 due to everything mentioned above except media.

Have Incredible now but still wish there was a CDMA version of the N900 with Android 2.2.

Re: If I'm a novice user, did I buy the wrong phone with th N900?
 

I destroy you!

- Optimus prime

Re: If I'm a novice user, did I buy the wrong phone with th N900?
 

No reference to awful second movie ;)