what programs can be installed on n900?
 

as many calling n900 tablet-hence it has desktop capabilities what kind of programs can i install on it that i can't on the n97 that will show me that it's really a pc like device thats better than the n97- for example *can i install an office on it- is there an office for linux and maemo
*and since i am using windows i am not familiar with linux so what pc applications if at all from linux desktop can be installed on the n900(since it's a mobile "pc")? prove to me that it's really a pc like device and not a simple smartphone that doesn't even support most of nokias' apps in ovi store since they are for symbian

Re: what programs can be installed on n900?
 

We can prove it's like a PC because you can straight install all the Linux programs made for ARM processors. People even have found a way to run OpenOffice on the previous tablets. I don't see why it wouldn't run on the N900.

Re: what programs can be installed on n900?
 

A flavour of the types of apps available for Maemo 4 is available on http://maemo.org/downloads/

There are spreadsheet apps (such as Gnumeric) and word processors (such as Abiword). Maemo 5 (as run on the N900) already has Documents-to-Go available to view Microsoft Office documents. There has been mention that they'll have a chargeable version which allows you to edit, but I've not seen it.

Re: what programs can be installed on n900?
 

The Maemo Garage is a major reason I hope all Maemo apps are published on the Ovi Store. That site is a train wreck for average consumers, but typical of the old Symbian guard's geek base. I think the Garage needs a redesign with more information and visual cues instead of all of the anonymous text that accompanies each "project", which should be called programs or apps instead. Just confusing for normobs.

Re: what programs can be installed on n900?
 

Or am I too critical?

Re: what programs can be installed on n900?
 

The garage is like an incubator for programs, you normally do not use it for installing programs.

As a normal user you will not even need to visit garage.maemo.org - it is, after all, where applications are developed.

As a normal user you will install applications via the application manager, which in my opinion is superior to "app stores".

Maybe you want to take a look at maemo devices first before jumping to invalid assumptions?

Re: what programs can be installed on n900?
 

Garage is not for end users. They should just look at http://maemo.org/downloads for community software

And to their Application Manager with Extras activated.

Garage is a collaboration infrastructure for developers and heavy contributors.

Re: what programs can be installed on n900?
 

By the way, yesterday konttori told me that many Diablo binaries just install and work, even if they of course have still the Diablo look&feel.

Re: what programs can be installed on n900?
 

I think the garage just need to have store fronts.

If a guest enters from the garage, then we can assume they are already familiar with what a project is. And the (pretty?) store front showcases the readily packaged deliverables for the masses.

Re: what programs can be installed on n900?
 

From your description, it sounds like this is met by garage projects being able to use a "www" directory to create a website (e.g. http://mud-builder.garage.maemo.org/, http://qt4.garage.maemo.org/, http://mediabox.garage.maemo.org/)

Either way, the hideous UI of garage itself is for developers working on a project - no one else. Even the bug tracker is going to be deprecated in favour of bugzilla.