should I buy a n900 now?
 

Hi, I'm trying to decide if a n900 could be a good device for me to buy in the next weeks.

At the moment I have a nokia x6 16gb by vodafone, gave me from my job. I have not a data plan, so I connect only by wireless (in my city I have it at home, at job, and on public buses).

I use it mostly for:
1) phone calls
2) phone sms
3) text-book reader
3) music player
4) image viewer
5) web browsing (opera mostly)
6) rss reader (greader by google)
7) twitter / some chat with nimbuzz
8) view videos (rarely, but sometimes...)
9) very short note taking on way
10) maps and gps with ovimpas (I don't have a car, so I used it very few times, mostly to locate some address)
11) contacts, task and calendar. I syncronize that with iSync on mac osx at job.

Things I'd like to improve:

1) note/texts: I used to write short stories, article and so on on my sonyth55, but since I have the x6 it's almost impossible to write long texts, 'cause I find very annoying to see so few lines of text when the virtual keyboard is on screen. I Write almost exclusively on subway and on bus, while I go or come back from job.

2) image viewing: I have a lot of folders and a lot of images, some Gb maybe. The x6 has the bad habit to scan all the memory before to open the gallery. This process last several second (around minutes...) before I can have access to them. More, the device OS use own folders and not the folder in the memory. I have to load on the device a folder of images, then go to gallery, create a folder with the same name and move all the images from root gallery to the new folder. Very very annoying. I am happy with the screen and the visualizing application, but the exploring and organization is a real pain.

3) ram and processor. I am not an expert, but I think that I really need more power and surely more ram. I usually can have one or two program using at the same time (more telephone obviously). But not if the software are some heavy. For example, if I use Opera, I cannot have nothing more. I'd like a little more of multitasking permitted from the hardware.

4) More versatility with the home screen. I would like to have task, calendar meetings, and so on more some widgets, but x6 doesn't have widgets like n97 or n8/7. So if I put task, I cannot have contacts bar and so on. I could do it with some applications but they make the device really slow for other normal tasks)

5) Connection with my mac. I like I can use it like a mass memory with just the usb cable, but I'd like a simple native way to browse my macintosh with wifi. (I can do it with bluetooth with a third part application)

6) I really would like to have USB host (OTG?) and it would be perfect also to have the possibility to connect a lan cable (sometimes useful travelling)

7) I'd like also to can view videos and movies without need to convert them before.

Surely I am forgetting more things, but probably these things are the most important. I think I could buy a n900 around 200/250 euros here. Is this device the right for me and my needs?

I am a little worry for the future of the device (especially now with Nokia and Microsoft last events). I read the forum the last weeks but I'd like some opinions and advices.

I didn't try even android so maybe I should /could go with some other device like Desire-z or Motorola Milestone, or something so (I am thinking especially about the physical keyboard).
I have not a big budget (I have a 5 months old daughter) so maybe also a symbian device like nokia c6 or (not now) a nokia e7 could be the answer. I really don't know.

What to do?

Thank you in advance for the help.

--
Anjin

Re: should I buy a n900 now?
 

From my experience of s60v5 on the N97, I would say that the N900 is definitely superior in all ways to the X6.

Re: should I buy a n900 now?
 

Re: should I buy a n900 now?
 

It depends how much you will be spending on it. You might be happier with a lower cost Android phone like the new 3.8" Huawei.

Re: should I buy a n900 now?
 

Thank you for the answer. :) Is it a short answer for saying that everything I am looking for is in the n900? Fast image browsing, best web browsing, multitasking, etc etc? Or is just an observation on the superior OS? What didn't you like on the n97?

I really would like to know someone here in Madrid with a n900 for testing it... :(

Re: should I buy a n900 now?
 

Nice, I used to wrote down meetings note with the th55, but I found impossible doing the same with the x6.

I'm pretty happy with the opera on the x6 (just I'd like to have more ram...) so I suppose web browsing would be better on n900.

Good to know it, I really used the gps twice for testing, surely I am not a gps big user..

The possibility to overclock is good to have, so the device is not so behind the last new devices.

Image viewing is pretty important for me. I really use it a lot. Do you use it with a lot of images. Is the n900 viewer affected from the same x6 bad habit? I mean to have all the images mixed when you load it on the device. Does the n900 search all the memory for looking for new images and show all images in the gallery? I'd like to browse the folder and when in one, click on one images and THEN could pass to the previous or the next, zoom it, etc etc.

Does the n900 connected with usb to a computer be view like a external memory?

Thank you for the answer!

--
Anjin

Re: should I buy a n900 now?
 

@anjin ... it seems the keyboard is very important for you. While @tzsm98 says you may like the keyboard a lot, my experience is not the same. I wished the keys on the n900 were a lil bigger and sensitive to touch, I have to push and press the keys more then I want to. My friends say the same about the n900's keyboard, long chats can be a lil unpleasant. So I'm not sure you will like it or not and I will really advise you to try your best to spend sometime writing on n900 before you buy it.

Btw about the home screen customization, I think n900 has the best home screen that no other handset, even these days, can match.

Re: should I buy a n900 now?
 

there is a thread around here that says something like "post your n900 screenshots" and people post all kinds of desktops/home-screens, search for it and you will love it.

Re: should I buy a n900 now?
 

Yes. Some of these guys above have given better answers than me....but I know the limitations of the s60v5 operating system very well, from bitter experience.

Image Browsing is great because unlike the s60v5, you can view just one folder of pictures and have them in thumbnai view. Or you can view every image on the phone in thumbnail order. You can't do this on s60v5.

Web Browsing is fantastic. It is just better in everyway on Maemo than it is on s60v5. The differences are too numerous to mention but everything on Maemo is just.....BETTER.

Trust me, I had an N97 (which is essentially the same as the X6) for 18 months. I bought it just after launch and I hated it the whole time I had it.

Re: should I buy a n900 now?
 

Opera is available for N900.

Yes, the N900 is recognised as external memory on a PC when connected in Mass Storage Mode.

Re: should I buy a n900 now?
 

Thank you to you too for the answer.
As I said, I dont' know Android, but it seems a big phenomena. Anyway I think no keyboard on Huaway.
Do you recommend it above the n900? Or is just a budget thing?

Re: should I buy a n900 now?
 

Hmmm That's bad... I'll try to find some store with a exposition n900 to try the keyboard. But that's not simple at all.. :(

Yes, I read it, and for it I am sure the n900 multiple home screens can be perfect!

Thank you for your time. Keyboard hard keys... but for the rest are you happy with your n900 experience?
--
Anjin

Re: should I buy a n900 now?
 

I'm more then happy. There is no other device like this, a complete computer in your pocket. But i'm a software developer also, so I like n900 more and the things that bother a lot of other ppl dont bother me. So it depends on what do you expect from this kind of modern cell phone.

Btw, a friend is also deciding if he should buy an n900, he is deciding between n900/htc-desire/samsung-galaxy-s. His day job involves working in linux so he is a lot attracted to n900. But I think flash 10 is not coming to n900 (despite the fact that it was demoed by the adobe ppl, video is on youtube) so he is now comfused if he should buy it or not. So you should also note that flash 10 is not on n900 and right now i have no knowledge if its going to be ever available or not. Vimeo.com already doesnt work on my n900 anymore :(, but youtube still does :)

Re: should I buy a n900 now?
 

Yea you should!cus I'm going to buy it too ;D

@abubakar
why you name is my real surname??? this is confused.com!

Re: should I buy a n900 now?
 

Well, I like the idea to have a little complete computer in my pocket. I am not a software developer. Despite to be trying several times to study python for my own with the help of some books I never been able to really learn it. I think I'd like to be able to write some my own application but I dont' se it really near to be for the moment. I am a professional graphic designer and a creative. Anyway I try to use at most every hi-tech gadget I own. I used the TH55 for several years until I had to dismiss it... Now I am using the x6 for all I can, but it has some limits that I can not pass over.

I really didn't see any videos on youtube or vimeo on the mobile, anyway it's bad to know that probably I couldn't if I want.
--
Anjin

Re: should I buy a n900 now?
 

Yes, I recommended the Android phone because it' brand new, has a larger screen and costs 200euro unlocked.

My N900 is now 18 months old and there's nothing out right now that compares to it. It is truly a little computer but it has limitations. You won't be getting all the new hyped up apps and games that other platforms are getting. If the limitations don't scare you, you'll be fine with it.

Re: should I buy a n900 now?
 

The N900 is a little high-tech small computer linux gadget.
It is not really a mobile phone, but offers almost all You are looking for.
Came from N95 (almost perfect), N97 (worst phone) and N900.
I love it, but see it as pocket computer. But You should like Linux and have some knowledge or desire to learn.
Otherwise maybe an Android would be better.
Just my personal statement, as dis- and advantages have been mentioned.

Re: should I buy a n900 now?
 

Some fag tagged this thread 'hell no'. Probably too scared to post their criticism in this thread.

Re: should I buy a n900 now?
 

Hi Anjin,

I would highly recommend a Nokia N900 any day. I wouldn't worry about lack of support or what Microsoft are going to do in the future. The N900 runs on an open source operating system called Maemo. If you frequent this forum enough times you will realize the N900 is well supported by the maemo community and you should not have a problem with it.

The Nokia N900 is not your every day locked device. There is so much more you can do with it.

For example, you mentioned you haven't tried Android, well If you want to try out the latest from Android (Froyo 2.2), you can download and install NITDroid or Gingerbread. They are Android ports that work on the N900 and give you the experience no other Smartphones can possibly match it.

Speed - You worried about the speed of the N900. Don't be! By default it runs at 600MHz, but wait, it's open source and not locked down like other phones are... so there are tutorials on this forum and elsewhere explaining how you can download scripts to overclock your N900 run at 700MHz, 800MHZ, 850MHz and even 1GHz... There are tutorials and scripts that tell you how to run your N900 more efficiently with less power options, so that your battery lasts longer and runs more efficiently.

Screens, The N900 is not locked down like most Nokia phones. On the N900 you can add widgets on any of the four screens in any location. You can link contacts, or web sites, or applications directly on the desktop. Each desktop can have a unique background or you can have one big scrollable screen. But wait, what if you want more than 4 screens, or what if you want up to 9 screens, well on the N900 you can do it easily. Again there are applications that you can download and install that give you this ability to add more screens. There are some great applications available in the repositories. Thousands of applications, so don't believe people when they say Nokia doesn't have a great application library. If you are only looking at Nokia's OVI store then yes, OVI is somewhat limited, but there are lots of repositories where you can download software from and the possibilities are endless.

Modding - If you want to modify the theme or add transitions, or hack the taskbar, everything is possible with the N900.

Video - The N900 can handle everything. If you are into video, there is no need to convert your videos into a format that the N900 can play... No need, because the N900 plays all formats in any size. I regularly download DIVX/XVid, WMV, Mov etc and play them through media player or other 3rd party applications. You are not tied down to one media player. There are loads of options from the open source community.

Music - again plenty of file formats are supported without having to even download extra codecs.

Browsing the internet is one of the best experiences on a N900. You can have real browsers loading the full website. You not just limited to the default browser. oh no, there is firefox and Opera and Chronium and a few more in the download section.

Multi-Tasking is the N900's strongest point. You can open a lot of applications at the same time and switch between them with ease.

It has a great 5MP camera and it's easy to take photos and then send them via bluetooth, email, sms or any other service such as Flickr, google, facebook etc.

The Physical keyboard is awesome as well and very much like a real keyboard offering all the usual shortcuts. If you write a lot, twitter, email and SMS, then you'll have no problem with this keyboard.

The GPS is one of the best in all smartphones, and OVI maps is completely free, but you are not forced to use just one map application. There are loads to choose from. I prefer Sygic as it's been written for the N900 and works brilliantly.

Twitter applications, well there is Tweego, Twimgo to name just two that work really well. The N900 supports a dozen or so IM clients, which can be rolled into one and accessed from the main chat window. Did I mention SKYPE, which comes built in on the N900, so you can make free VOIP calls.

It's got all the usual bells and whistles that other smartphones have (Bluetooth, WIFI, even an Infra Red port so you can control your TV or Xbox or playstation).

There is a 32GB hard drive built in, which is more than enough storage and of course if it isn't, then you can still use SDHC cards to extend the storage to 48GB.

I could go on and on and on, but I think I have said enough.

You mentioned a few other devices with keyboards... Motorola Milestone 1/2, HTC Desire Z, there will soon be the Sony Ericsson Xperia Pro... They are all good looking, practical Smartphones, but none of them are open source or a like for like of the N900.
:)

Re: should I buy a n900 now?
 

You can use 32gb cards in the N900!

Re: should I buy a n900 now?
 

I don't mind to pay some money more if I have a lot more in return. Still I am not in condition to buy a new device every year, 'cause I have to save money for my family, so I am so happy to have opportunity to ask to this community. I'm not looking for a thousand of stupid applications or light and sounds. I am looking for a stable and useful device. I'm here trying to figure out how important could be these limitations. ;)

Re: should I buy a n900 now?
 

Even better :-)

Re: should I buy a n900 now?
 

Well, I used windows, and used linux years ago. I remember something, but never been a guru. I'm on macintosh at work and home and can use terminal sometimes, but, I tend to use the computer for making things more then have fun with the system itself. I imagine I am not scared at all from n900 is a linux box.

Re: should I buy a n900 now?
 

I'm not worry about lack from community, I have been lurking a lot in this forum, (from when it had the blue theme from n810?). I'm more worry about lack from nokia, 'cause, if I am not wrong, n900 has some important closed parts, especially in telephone use. Anyway I am sure that it's not something I am not living without.

This could be really more interesting, 'cause it could give opportunity to use features that just only one system doesn't have. Anyway, like said before, I'm more interested in what I have to do with the device, than having fun with the system itself. I'd like to have time for everything, but I know that my spare time is limited. :(

Good, now I can say that the power of n900 should be ok still for some time.

Yes, I surfed in a big thread where I saw a lot of screenshot from users' screens and yes, n900 homescreen is impressive.

Talking about the screen I am more worry about the screen itself. I had a resistive touchscreen and it finished scratched. I am quite satisfied from x6 capacitive screen. More for the strength and resistance then for precision. Naturally I know the difference from two kind of touchscreen, but I am happy to don't have to use a protective film; what's about the screen of n900?

Happy to read it, it's nice to know that finally I could just put my media files on the device and just play them! :D

great! It should be normal nowadays, but everybody knows that it's very difficult to find it in a mobile (yes, I know it's a little computer before then a mobile)

I'm pretty happy with the camera of x6, still I almost don't use it. But everyone is happy to have a "decent" digicam in the pocket.

Good, other users are not so happy with the keyboard, I really have to give it a try.

good, it seems that I am not losing anything from symbian (and I should have a lot to gain...)

Thank you. You really explained a lot and it seems you are really enthusiast of the device. So you are not worry about the future of maemo (or the mythical meego?)

--
Anjin

Re: should I buy a n900 now?
 

You should buy it. i had a symbian phone before and i hate symbian now. n900 i like a laptop in your pocket, what more can you need? also it can be used as a phone, navigator, hammer(i wouldn't rocomment it though), works even in -30 degrees of celcius(tried it) and you get tons of free apps for it and a great community to share your problems and opinions. It sure does have few things that are worth knowing for example: at first when i got mine, it seemed wery confusing and i didn't know how to use it. the screen scratches wery easily so you should buy a screen protector too. Opera was wery good on symbian but on maemo i prefer the browser witch came with the phone. harware keyboard is really nice but takes some time to get used to it.

so:
+big screen
+along with the divice came a video cable, spare stylus, headphones with spare earthingys(i dont know the english word for them ;) )
+flash support
+MULTITASKING
+GPS
+physical keyboard
+built in skype and some other IM services(messenger etc.)
+can handle cold and snowy weather
+withstands humidity as well (it is not made to be weather resistant but it does work after dropping in snow or using it in rain)
+disk space
+videos doesnt need to be converted to specific format, just put a movie in your phone and watch it :)
-poor battery life when multitasking all day (there are few threads found here about that)
-no one has a charger that fits in N900 if you leave yours home
-i've heard nokia doesn't make these anymore
-internet in bed (I should be sleeping instead of writing this post)

Buy it, you will love it.

Re: should I buy a n900 now?
 

@ Anjin

Just buy the bloody thing already.

Re: should I buy a n900 now?
 

@ MyNokiaN900

I noticed on one of your screenshots on your site that you live in Greenhite. Heh, I'm just down the road from you in Gravesend.

Funnily enough, I looked at a flat for sale today in Greenhite because I work just round the corner on Crossways Boulevard.

Small world! Great site by the way.

Re: should I buy a n900 now?
 

Hell yes... buy three.

Re: should I buy a n900 now?
 

Re: should I buy a n900 now?
 

Personally, I can't get over the fact that I'm using the exact same Vim text editor on my N900 that I use for all my work on my desktop machines. Not a crippled version, or an app that kind of looks like Vim, but the real deal. That, along with the fact that I can squeeze 80 columns of text onto the screen and still read it easily, means I can work with serious documents and source code files without any trouble.

I'm certainly writing more with my N900 that I'd ever expected I would with a cell-phone-sized device.

I'm not sure there's a much simpler way than to use the usb cable. :) Also, I connect to my Mac over bluetooth without needing any third party applications; that works quite simply as well.

Well, odds are the N900 will pretty much be the last of its kind to come out of Nokia. Android phones really don't give you the same kind of options you have with Maemo (unless you hack them to do so), and of course iOS and WP7 are essentially useless except as containers for pointless little apps. (Maybe I'm being a little harsh, but my previous phone was an iPhone; I enjoyed playing with it for a while after I got it, but eventually I just ended up doing nothing more with it than answering phone calls. I just don't have time to sit and watch teensy tiny pretty little apps doing teensy tiny pointless little things.)

In short, the future may look bleak for the N900, but there's not a lot of competing products that can do what it does. I think it's still worth far more than the competitors.

Re: should I buy a n900 now?
 

Nah, it wasn't me. Which would be obvious if you read my posts in this thread praising the N900.

As for the rest....words words words.

Re: should I buy a n900 now?
 

Buy it if you like it, Buy it if you want it, Buy it if you need it, Buy it if you can afford it :)

Those are the wisest words you can never forget.

Re: should I buy a n900 now?
 

should I buy a n900 now?

nope
i think u should wait another few years till the prices go down even further..

Re: should I buy a n900 now?
 

Nokia is dropping mameo and the n900 linage in favor of windows. If nokia do not believe in their products why should you.

Re: should I buy a n900 now?
 

Then you will not be able to buy a NEW one.

Re: should I buy a n900 now?
 

The dark side of the N900 is the hardware as it is already outdated and i agree with the comments on the keyboard but there again you can plug an external via usb.

Re: should I buy a n900 now?
 

nowdays if you buy a phone or a pc it will be outdated in couple of months :D
doesnt n900 have the same processor that iphone have? (but with ability to overclock ;) )

Re: should I buy a n900 now?
 

I'm interested in the app you use for note taking. Xjournal? or you just type darn fast on that keyboard?

I'm using Xjournal but seems some limitation to expand more pages. Each time I need to save page by page. Suggestion?

As for OP question whether to buy a N900 now, sure why not? It's a rather good device (for now). But Cavaet Emptor, please spend some time to read the other threads to familiarize also with some of the negative feedback. Ultimately, it's your choice. But definitely, the community here makes the overall N900 experience so much better!

Re: should I buy a n900 now?
 

You can overclock the N900. No problems there, besides the default speed plays angry birds just fine.

Re: should I buy a n900 now?
 

but overclocking it to 1100mhz (like mine) makes a HUGE difference in overall performance and most of all in multitasking ;)