Any hardware differences between production and pre-release?
 

Any concrete statement as to whether the production units are identical in hardware to the 300 pre-release units. Eg such as
- screen material. Micheal Jervitz from my-symbian claimed to have an easily scratchable screen.
- digital compass
- slide mechanism. I think chippy from umcportal had a dead screen
etc etc?

Re: Any hardware differences between production and pre-release?
 

It was never an easily scratchable screen, sand will scratch many things, and is not something you would normally have in your pockets, unless you live near a beach, in which case, get a screen protector/case. A sapphire crystal coating is the only thing that will protect it effectively enough from scratches, and you'll only find those on the overpriced, under-featured "high-end" phones such as Vertu, Tag Heuer, etc. Even then, a sapphire crystal can be scratched by diamonds or anything of a similar hardness. Sapphire or diamond crystal covering will make the N900 way too expensive.

Re: Any hardware differences between production and pre-release?
 

Since Micheal has access to many difference devices, I was assuming his assessment was already 'relative' to other devices he's used. I.e it seemed to imply *HIS* n900 scratched easier than other Nokia devices he's used in the past.

Re: Any hardware differences between production and pre-release?
 

Actually, coins and keys tend to be the biggest problem. Also some cable connectors (including some earbuds) are coated for hardness. Chromium is very high on the Mohs scale and is the bane of screens, especially resistive screens which have to have the resistive layer on top.

Re: Any hardware differences between production and pre-release?
 

It seemed to be sorta established that complaints about the easily scratchable screen were actually reports that the thin screen protector that is meant to be thrown away anyway was scratching. We got that a lot when the N800 came out, too. The screen protector isn't that easy to spot.

Re: Any hardware differences between production and pre-release?
 

maybe those products can help you

Screen Guard
Cover

Re: Any hardware differences between production and pre-release?
 

The hardware will be exactly the same.
Any changes they make need to go through FCC again and I don't think that's possible within a month time (Maemo summit until today)

Re: Any hardware differences between production and pre-release?
 

Nokia fixed that problem with the N900. The shipping screen protector is opaque black.

Re: Any hardware differences between production and pre-release?
 

Maybe that's both the easter egg and a hardware difference: a clear screen protector.

Re: Any hardware differences between production and pre-release?
 

with very high pressure sand can slice through 2 inches of stainless steel.