N900 user habits?
 

How do you use your N900?

I have seen a lot of threads here regarding both windows mobile and android which not in any way have the same computer functionality as N900 has, so the question is, how many are actually use it as a mobile computer and how many are just using it as an dumbphone with games and apps?

Maybe i should clarify the choices a bit ;)

4th option is if you are satisfied with a dumbphone/S60 style of interface and only use chat,im and videocall and such stuff.

3rd option is if you are satisfied with the functionality of a android/iphone interface that only can show apps and widgets and nothing more.

2nd option is if you are a iphone/android power-user, but thinks it is okay with several apps to do everything you want, within a sandbox enviroment.

1st option is if you need a real computer with the ability to surf all the folders, create, open, edit and delete stuff in the same way as you would expect on a homecomputer with a fullfledged filemanager/desktopenviroment like nautilus or explorer.

Re: N900 user habits?
 

I think that your poll is not too fair. I would like to be able to tick the first 3 propositions. :D
How do I use my N900??
First, as a phone, not a Computer (I do not code any program or things like this) but there are few tools which help me replace my computer when i am on the go for example.
Second, as a multimedia device. I'm satisfied with the 5mp camera and the large storage (even if i only use 25GB (5GB for Apps)- it's quite enough for me) to listen music and store a lot of Photos (I'm very Photomaniac)
At last, for games. There are not a lot of good games like in Android and iOs but i'm a little bit satisfied (preenv and emulators)
But the big thing I love with it , is the ability to tweak it the way you want. For me it's one of the best smartphones I ever had, even if after almost Two years of use, it becomes to be obsolete. If nokia does not want to release another good phone like tghe N900 (N950 would be sweeeeet) I'll for sure move (And create another farewell post) to android (Galaxy Note and Nexus are very tempting) or to the iPhone 5 (I wait for the OS and the iPhone to be mature enough)
That's it.

Re: N900 user habits?
 

I would say the same as Boemien. But I take the gaming thing out (it drains battery too fast to be a feature I'd like to have), and I put the mobile apps device thing in. I like to be able to use some apps but in a mobile scale. I would love to have some applications that are out there like GamePass Mobile for viewing NFL matches (which I can't have in the N900, of course. Besides, it requires Flash 10.2 ...). And some others in order to use them when I don't have my PC near.

Actually, I'd like this device to be able to do anything. But it's not possible, but gets kind of close :)

Re: N900 user habits?
 

I found that my habbits changed a lot when websites started using flash 10

Re: N900 user habits?
 

Oh, yes, of course: I hate Flash. It's a really annoying software, especially when on Linux or other non hyper-commercial devices (as N900).

Re: N900 user habits?
 

Agreed, but for example embedded items on the BBC website rely on flash.

I used to be able to view these but now I can't, where as my friends with Android phones can. It's trivial but one reason why I am not sure if I will get an N9.

Re: N900 user habits?
 

you missed out i want a phone that i can fill with 28gigs of porn and watch them while on the train

Re: N900 user habits?
 

ooooh GOSH! :D :D :D :D

Re: N900 user habits?
 

... which makes me wonder: can you record video clips with the cam while playing back another clip in the media player? :confused:

Re: N900 user habits?
 

It's funny that even if you tick the last one of them, you still can't go iPhone/android

And don't tell me to jailbrake/root just to change themes because it's gonna be even more funny.

Re: N900 user habits?
 

Strange... a 10year old mobile can load themes.
But the last one is more a "is the chat sms videocall" all i use kind of alternative.

Re: N900 user habits?
 

Well, i tried to distinguish what makes n900 unique in the first one.

So, your answer woud mostly be 2 or 3 depending on your intended use of galaxy note, since the note is a bit different than all others ;)
... I also used the term "business" kinda loose, but a businessphone have to keep notes, be able to read pdfs, keep track of a lot of company/customerdata, and some other officestuff.
-Including mail, which i guess mostly is part of alternative 4 or maybe 3..

Re: N900 user habits?
 

Looks like the majority chose the first option to have a device that can replace a computer on the go.

I love the idea that its not just an internet tablet with phone functionality but because its powered by maemo linux. At least with maemo you won't need to boot up into some sort of dalvik vm and still have raw access to most of the hardware on board.

At least for me it'll also serve as linux-on-the-go for when I want a dose of linux in me day and I'm not in front of my usual computer (which is running linux as well).

Re: N900 user habits?
 

Who needs tabs n pads n pocket pcs when all you need is a phone like n900? No flash 10? No problemo! Fire up NITDROID XD

Seriously, this is even better than having a netbook that fits in your pockets d^_^b

Re: N900 user habits?
 

Me too, but i have a feeling that not everyone that has chosen it actually meant it.
-But, not everyone that uses a computer uses it as a computer, there are a lot of people who view computers as if they were simple tablets or even internetkiosks/dumbphones too.

I also like the openness of maemo, it has a great potential to be developed much further than it is, as a real computerreplacement.

Ps, i like your signatureline:
N900/ Nokia N900 is not a phone/smartphone! its an internet tablet with phone functionality - so quit assuming its still a phone/smartphone when it isn't!!

Re: N900 user habits?
 

i chose #1, the reason that the N900 caught my attention is because people in a local forum have been discussing how they have been leaving their laptops at home since having the N900. :) i'm not disappointed and it's more than what i expected it to be (i'm a regular user who's surprised by what devs here have been able to make the N900 do).
the E51's a better phone than the N900, so that's the one i use to make calls and SMS. :)

Re: N900 user habits?
 

my N900 habits?
sure!

Music scrobbling on my last.fm account
internet browsing and posting at forums
staring at it and admiring it sometimes
re-arranging the homescreen (all the time!)
waiting for the next cssu like it's christmas

feeling proud of it

Re: N900 user habits?
 

:D:D:D I also like the 900 :)

This i havent understood, why is it so interesting or for some even "dead serious important" with a uppgradeplan?

Re: N900 user habits?
 

So still no one stop solution, shame...

Re: N900 user habits?
 

Exactly, while something's in testing but a known feature - sure it's nice to know when it'll be finally released but I'm not sure how necessary it is to grow the OS with ever more features.

Re: Poll:
1 & 4 - the whole linux pc OTG with phone all in one is amazing but sometimes one just needs to make a call or send a text - and it doesn't work as expected!

Re: N900 user habits?
 

even i have voted for the first option.. N900 is one of the best devices i have used.. who cares what world says abt N900, its a computer that has changed my life and has especially replaced my pc browser..N900 is my life now.. :D

Re: N900 user habits?
 

Most of the time i dont even know if "uppgrades" even are new features. This i mean in a broader sense to include all phones and pcs ;)
- I have turned off windows uppgrade btw. since there have been problems with them and it is also recommended to do so in professional installs.:)

I have never had any problems with calls and sms.

Re: N900 user habits?
 

Well I just was backing up some files from my N900 via gftp's SSH2 ftp
connected to my Linux machine with WLAN when a phone call came in.

Seriously: you cannot fit this usage into one of the patterns that you
mentioned. ;-)

But I voted number 1.

(I wonder how those iPhones or Androids would be doing the above?)

Re: N900 user habits?
 

I like to do things just because I can, not necessarily because I have a need to...there is no real reason to run (k)ubuntu on the N900, but I do it anyway because I can. Same thing with x-plane...Sure, I have the desktop version on my computer, but there's something very satisfying about getting it running in PreEnv (not to mention the ability to fly a plane while flying in a plane - I took my N900 on my last flight for that purpose, but also to watch a few movies, experiment with GPS [I found you can get a fix at 30,000 feet by pressing it up against the window, but it's unreliable], test ideas in python when they come to me, and work on a sketch of my cat in mypaint).
I recently set up port forwarding on my home desktop; now when I'm on the train I can mount my home folders via sshfs and stream music - to the default music player as well as VLC. I used my N900 for internet at home because its 3G connection was faster than our dial-up, for all operating systems (Mac included - I have yet to get OSX tethering working with an Android phone, but with Maemo it works right out of the box!)
For a few days at work I didn't have a computer to work at, so I used the tv-out and extkeyboard to make the N900 into a miniature desktop, which seemed to run better than the netbook I have now. I would still do that but we don't have the monitor with RCA anymore.

Re: N900 user habits?
 

For me, the hardware KB is a godsend, I sms a lot.

I went from a Motorola K1 to the N900, as I wanted a mobile email/web/rss appliance - it fulfills all those requirements, and takes decent photos too.

Re: N900 user habits?
 

I have to agree - I don't sms, but I use google talk/skype a lot. My Tmobile Comet's on-screen keyboard is just awful in comparison,even with Swype.

Re: N900 user habits?
 

I use my N900 a lot, but only slightly for actual phone calls, probably only 10 or 15 minutes a month average.

I use my hardware keyboard a lot mainly for Twitter and for sshing into my Linux servers. Also for VNCing into my mythtv server to schedule and manage recordings whilst the missus is watching soaps - I find the zoomability of PresenceVNC to be an absolute killer feature, and one
that I have not been able to replicate on my Ubuntu laptop.

Other than that it's just the general amount and all round beastiness of the hardware - stereo speakers and the 32gb onboard storage - coupled with a 32gb microSD, means I can a fair bit of my music about.

Managed to track down a spare LCD monitor at work with a composite in which works great the TV-out along with a fullsize keyboard and mouse when the N900 is "docked" - killer

The flexibility of the N900 is what keeps me with it. Only wish I could have gotton my hands on an n950.... maybe I should tweet Quim and see if there's any left!

Re: N900 user habits?
 

I am also interested in kubuntu, i am just waiting for it to be able to do phonecalls, then i will also try it.

How did you manage to do that? what type of programs did you run and was there any limitations that you think could have been handled in a better way in maemo?

Re: N900 user habits?
 

And here's the link to the other post where I have posted a photo of my N900 hooked up to an lcd monitor running Twimgo