N9, N900, or Android?
 

I've been searching for a mobile device for sometime, I've done a lot of reading, but having trouble deciding on anything. The main use of this device will be for business (I'm buying it, but they pay for the data). Main need is for good work email/calendar/contacts, also have need to at least view MS Office documents (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), but editing is probably not really needed. Also need to be able to run some mainstream apps (CRM, Expensify, ZipCar, banking, etc...) that will most likely never be available via Maemo or Meego.

So obvious answer would be to get an Android or iOS device since I need apps that run on those platforms, problem is I don't really like Android (and like iOS even less). The multitasking/task switching is not very useful (although it looks like this is improved in ICS?), browsing the internet feels clumsy, and it feels like I come across a million little annoyances every time I use an Android phone that were done much better in Maemo.

So then I thought about the N9. On the pro side it is a nice looking, new device that runs what seems like a generally nice OS. Decent size screen. I can get the 64GB version for almost the same as the 16GB. It looks like I should be able to install NITDroid to run the Android apps I need. On the con side is no keyboard, stylus, or really any physical buttons and a niggling feeling that it really isn't as capable of an OS as Maemo 5.

So that brings me to the N900. I never really thought I wanted one of these since the screen is smaller than what I'd like, and it doesn't work on the carrier of my choice...but now I'm thinking I could use this as data only and keep my current dump phone for voice calls. It's only about $100 cheaper for a new N900 than the N9, which seems like a pretty small difference in price for hardware that is 2 years older. I'm not much of a spec guy, but I would like to make sure that the hardware is capable of browsing the web relatively quickly (my N800 is so slow browsing that I rarely use it for that purpose), and that it will be relatively capable for 2 more years or so.

So I appreciate anyone who has read this far. A lot of this is just thinking out loud to clarify my own thoughts, but I do have two specific questions.

1) Am I right that while NITDroid might not have all functionality of Android just yet, I should be capable of installing and running most apps?

2) Any major differences in performance of NITDroid on the N900 vs. N9? Any consensus of which device would work better as an Android?

Any other thoughts on things I might not be thinking about clearly?

Re: N9, N900, or Android?
 

Have you considered a Symbian device - Nokia E7 perhaps. they have full official MS office support now. great battery life and full-on multitasking. With the Belle update which arrived a couple of months ago they are very nice and bang upto date graphically. Despite Elop's best efforts they will be around and supports for another couple of years at least

at the end of the day though, if you absolutley need XY and Z apps, and they only run on iOS or Android, then you are stuck.

Re: N9, N900, or Android?
 

Thanks for the suggestion, but yes there are at least a couple of apps that, if not absolutely needed, will at least be very, very useful for me to have for both work and other things. Most of these are pretty U.S. specific apps, so pretty much a certainty that they won't ever have a Symbian version.

But that's what makes me think the N900 or N9 might be a better option. I could have Android for those times I need it, but I could use a better OS the rest of the time.

Re: N9, N900, or Android?
 

Just get yourself a 50$ low-spec Android phone for the apps you must use occasionally, and an N9 for your own pleasure.

I doubt NITdroid is yet quite mature enough to fully depend on.

Re: N9, N900, or Android?
 

multi tasking or so it's called is no different on ics than gb, it just looks different. It's just a list of recent programs. Wouldn't a BB be a better business device? Don't get an n900 cos it's one less for me to buy.

Re: N9, N900, or Android?
 

I know that it isn't up to the level of Maemo for multitasking, but I thought that they had at least made task switching a little easier in ICS, which on a practical level can make "multitasking" a better experience.

Blackberries have good email, but the screens on the good ones are all too small to do much of the other things I'd like to do with my phone. That might change with BB10, the Playbook OS I think is fairly nice the little bit I've used it, but I'm not sure I can wait until the end of the year when the new BB are supposed to be released.

As for getting a cheap Android and a N9, that would mean either two data plans, or switching SIM cards all the time (and doesn't the N9 have a different size simcard?)

Re: N9, N900, or Android?
 

task switcher? Nothing easier than n900 or n9, and them both do real multitasking

Re: N9, N900, or Android?
 

Yes, the "multitasking" in ICS seems a lot better compared to the older Android versions. Previously, you would have to hold the home button and you'd get a short list of "recent apps"(I'm unsure if that did work on every Android phone though :confused:).

Now, there's a dedicated task switcher button in the status bar that pops up a list on the left hand of the screen(at least on tablets) with screenshots(I don't think they're still running like in Maemo) of all background/running programs/apps/applications. Swiping them to the right closes them.

Re: N9, N900, or Android?
 

^Well apparently in ICS you can have downloads running in the background, so it sort of works? Just not like maemo or meego.

You are going to get the best multitasking experience with an N900 or N9. And if you are that in love with the N900 and find that the N9 is lacking, then stick with the N900. I always miss my N900, I love my N9, but it is still no N900.

If you must go android, go with something that has ICS obviously. Nexus is great for that but you can always get an older device with ROMS available for ICS. I would still recommend the GNexus anyway.

Re: N9, N900, or Android?
 

I think that feature came out with one of the earlier Android updates, so it might not be on some of the first Android phones, but has been on them for quite some time. I'm not 100% on that though, but the feature has been on any Android phone I've ever used.

My non-technical understanding is that in Android apps can run in the background, but the OS chooses when to close them, not the user, so you're never 100% sure that the app you want to go back to has continued running the entire time. For me personally, the bigger issue is that sometimes I want to minimize an app, so that i can switch back to it in the same place I was in, but other times I want to close the app so that when I restart it starts fresh (say at the browsers home page instead of the page you were last on). Android hasn't made it easy to do the second of these, there is basically just the minimize for most programs, and my understanding is that manually quitting a program can screw things up a bit. Not sure if the swipe to close thing in ICS really close the application, or just removes it from the recently used list.

Re: N9, N900, or Android?
 

>>buy N9
>>install Nitdroid
>>buy Capacitive stylus
>>buy Tiny BT keyboard
>>Do your business
>>get profit :)
>>get an Android
>>play with it
>>get bored with android
>>sell android
>>Buy N900 :)

Re: N9, N900, or Android?
 

TBH I don't really know if I love or even like the N900. I've never seen one in real life. I have an N800 that I love and I put a Maemo 5 theme on it for a bit. I ended up thinking Diablo was better for the N800, but the Maemo 5 theme still seemed like a better UI than any other mobile OS I've seen.

Re: N9, N900, or Android?
 

task switcher in ICS is a MixBag of running and Recent Apps.. and yes mostly it closes App when you Swipe them off...

Re: N9, N900, or Android?
 

^The swipe actually closes it and resets it the way you are referring to/want. It is true that the older method was just a pausing mechanism and you didn't know what was going on in the background, or for certain apps it would reset everytime you opened it. ICS is different from that in which whatever is open will be in the task switcher window and once you close it, it's gone, similar to maemo/meego.

Re: N9, N900, or Android?
 

My opinion is that you should not rely on Nitdroid. I love my N900s, but based on no experience, I guess that what you really need is the N9, because the N900 can be temperamental, meaning it might suddenly not work in a way that a business can't tolerate.

If you definitely need some Android programs, maybe you should just go with an Android phone. It won't have the razzle dazzle of the N9, but it will use the same programs the other businesspeople use, and that is handy.

Re: N9, N900, or Android?
 

My two cents...

If you plan on using the phone data only, then the N900 or N9 aren't that bad of an option (NITDroid doesn't have working cell phone, AFAIK). But I'm pretty sure you'll quickly stop using NITDroid once you see that Meamo/Meego are so much more powerful, multitasking and all. If screen size is an issue, go with the N9. I personally would have a hard time without a keyboard or resistive screen (gotta love the stylus), but I'm sure you have your own priorities.

The N900 is about $200 new on ebay (or are they refurbished?), in any case, $100 less than the N9 is just crazy, where did you get those prices.

And finally, try to USE the phone (N900, N9) before purchasing, as that's the best way to go.

Good luck!


EDIT: Why not get a cheapo Android device for phone calls, and the N900/N9 for data? I doubt the apps you listed use lots of bandwith...

Re: N9, N900, or Android?
 

Definitely go with Android. We don't need more demand on the supply chain of N900's, lol!

On a more serious note, based on my own use/needs of such devices:

- If you NEED a particular app found only in certain devices, then your decision has already been made.

- The N900 on AT&T is not as good as the N900 on T-Mobile (in the U.S.) Sometimes, I just need that 3G and don't want to wait for a wifi hotspot.

- I can't live with or without my N900. I wouldn't say it is a love hate relationship since it is mostly love but I really want Nokia Maps on this damn thing and the hate would go away.

If you can't make up your mind, others have already mentioned it, Cheapo Android + N900/N9. I myself am using an N8 + N900 combo, but I just don't want to lug around 2 devices with me all the time.

Re: N9, N900, or Android?
 

A dead on arrival, a stalled and slowly fading, or a rapidly maturing and expanding OS?

Re: N9, N900, or Android?
 

Thanks all for the comments and suggestions. AS far as the Android apps go, need is maybe too strong of a word. It's more like there are apps available on Android that I wouldn't necessarily use daily, but they are things that can make my life a bit easier when the need comes up. I currently use my wife's Android phone for this as the need comes up, and she's mostly been patient with this, but it would be nice to have the capability on my own.

As far as the various plans go, I'm in kind of a unique situation in that I currently don't pay anything for my Verizon voice plan. If I was to upgrade to a smartphone on Verizon I would start paying for both voice and data, and my company would reimburse me for the data portion...but that would still mean I'd end up paying about $30 more per month than I currently do. The other option is to go with a T-Mobile no contract plan, which will give me "unlimited" data and unlimited texts, plus 100 minutes of voice per month. My company would pay for the T-mobile plan, and I wouldn't lose my free voice minutes on Verizon. But it does mean that doing a cheap Android phone + a dumbphone + either a N9 or N900 would be one too many devices to carry around with me.

Re: N9, N900, or Android?
 

Though I love my N900, I still can't trust it fully. Sometimes there would be missing messages in my inbox, other times I'd miss a call because it becomes unresponsive. It's a great mini computer but wouldn't rely on it too much as a phone.

Re: N9, N900, or Android?
 

NITDroid still can't make phone calls. That's a prob for a phone, innit?

Nokia N9 and Nokia N900 are both phones. Never forget that. Unable to make calls is unacceptable unless you have that money and pocket space to waste.

Regardless... ICS does background tasks. You can download via the Browser, move files via Root Explorer and be responding to an e-mail quite easily. It doesn't tile like Harmattan does, but it's less serial tasking than iOS and closer to true multi-tasking than Gingerbread in terms of presentation.

Re: N9, N900, or Android?
 

NITDroid Alpha 3 for N9 has just been released. Once it reaches beta an N9 may be the solution for you. You can boot into ICS for the occasional Android app while using MeeGo as your main OS.

An N900 may not be the wisest choice. The N9 may be declared DOA but at least it is still in production and still being upgraded. It has more useful life left than the N900.

Re: N9, N900, or Android?
 

I've been using an n9 on this plan for about a month, and it seems to take care of most of my needs. Especially if you configure a google voice account with a simonics sip account. Then, your voice calls can be made as data instead of voice minutes. Don't try to get this plan in the store, they won't know what you're talking about. Order the sim online direct from Tmob and get a sim cutter online. They cost about 6 bucks. The only caveat is that you may not hear the first 3 or 4 seconds of outgoing calls when the other end answers. I also have a fairly new (8 month old) android phone and an n900.

The only things I miss when not using the android phone are the google music and amazon mp3 apps. Drive on the N9 is fine for my daily GPS, and Fennec with flash can take care of most other things that the default n9 browser can't handle.

My n900 is still on Gingerbread Nitdroid, and it seems to handle all the apps I want to use just fine. I haven't put ICS on the N9 yet, so I can't comment on that. I will say that Meego, even with it's shortcomings, is MUCH more pleasurable to use on a daily basis than android. Plus, it's lighter in the pocket (my android has a 4.3 inch screen). N9 for me has the best battery life, at 1.5 to 2 days of regular use. Android is second, and N900 is third. Both can get me through a full work day unless I'm constantly streaming something.

Re: N9, N900, or Android?
 

Want to let you all know thst sip calls works in nidroid alphs 3:on n9.
Performance is good. I use harmattan as main and boot nitdroid when i need to or feel lika it. (Wrote this from nitdroid)

Re: N9, N900, or Android?
 

Buy a galaxy note. A boring os but the device will give you a superior experience.

Re: N9, N900, or Android?
 

Well for me personally it doesn't matter, as I'm planning on keeping my current dumbphone, and using the other just for data. But IME Android wasn't that great in the phonecall department either. Last year I bought a Droid 2 Global, and ended up returning it about a week later because it rebooted itself in the middle of about half the calls I was on. When I took it into Verizon to complain about it their response was, "Oh, you need to install a 3rd party task killer on the phone, and a few times a day open it up and close all the programs that are running in the background." I decided to return it instead.

Re: N9, N900, or Android?
 

Well sorry to disappoint those who didn't want more demand for the N900s, but thanks to zlatokosi I just bought one on ebay for $150. :)

I'd been looking on Amazon where new ones were going for $300+. I figure at $150 and a no contract data plan it is at least worth trying for a bit, if it doesn't work out I should be able to sell the N900 without much loss and either pick up a N9 or an Android phone.

Re: N9, N900, or Android?
 

Okay... mind you. I carry different devices because they fulfill different criteria.

Smartphone where the overlay is in browsing. But the moment I need a desktop version, and since I don't have my N900 any longer... I carry an ICS Android tablet because it has Flash. I also edit some office documents, e-mails, et al... but for my work, I carry a laptop for that kind of work and ease of use.

Despite the overlaps, I have to say that I'm honestly a bit confused in what you want now due to your answer.

Oh... and task killers in Honeycomb and ICS. I would say look at something like Watchdog since what it does is create a rule where tasks that spike in mem or cpu usage gets too high.

Re: N9, N900, or Android?
 

so n9, n900, or android?

Re: N9, N900, or Android?
 

N9Tdroid00 :)

Re: N9, N900, or Android?
 

Sorry if my writing has been a bit muddled, it comes from being a bit muddled in the thinking as well. :)

It really comes down to two semi-conflicting desires:

1) I want a device that feels more like a portable computer than a consumer electronic device.

2) The practical side of me tells me that there are a bunch of useful apps on Android that can make both my business and personal life a little bit easier, and I should just go for one of those phones and be done with it. And I'll eventually get used to the Android OS.

NITDroid seemed to give me the option to "have my cake and eat it too" with either the N9 or the N900 to give me a "real" OS and the possibility to occasionally boot into Android as needed.

I decided to go with the N900 since it seemed inexpensive enough to experiment with. Worse case is it ends up not being a good fit for my needs, and I sell it to someone who can get better use of it.

The Android anecdote was simply to say that Android wasn't that great as a phone platform either (at least when I tried it). When I bought the Droid 2 last year I was thinking that I would want/need one device instead of 2 (T-Mobile didn't have the $30 plan back then), so I needed it to work as a phone as well as a computer...and I found at the time it didn't do either of those things very well. I thought it was pretty funny that Verizon recommended that I install a 3rd party app on my absolutely stock (no apps installed except for the ones that Verizon wouldn't let me uninstall) phone, to stop it from restarting randomly in the middle of calls