daperl - well done, you've quenched my thirst.

I am not really bothered by the dual core revolution so agree on that point. I am also a wireless man and wish more and more devices had better connectivity (e.g. printers, DSLR's) but fact remains there are still devices that are out there which people will not upgrade simply to get wireless functionality.

I will give you an example of why I would like USB host/HDMI Output. I am an avid photographer/graphic designer so i like to move storage/manipulate/share images as soon as they are ready. As much as I adore my 13" netbook, I avoid travelling with it. The N900 has served as a true tablet for me - I use it to draw sketches, store high res images and then share with clients when ready. My SLR does not have bluetooth/wifi connectivity (do any?) and at times I resort to using my N900 to take photos only because I am able to share as soon as I need to. The possibility that i am able to download photos from an SD card onto my tablet (N9?) and then spend the rest of the day out without going back home sounds beautiful to me. I accept that my request might be niche and not really a critical one -but one can ask.

HDMI has simliar benefits as I can showcase art designs in any meeting/home as long as a HD tv is around (at HD quality). Sure id prefer DLNA but configuring this on the go isnt realistic and can be difficult without a router around.

As for the hwkb, i'm ready to move onto touch only. I accept we must work with what we are given and find new benefits in change. So no issue there. In response I am getting a new N900 so I can make the transition easier!