newf....a year ago i would have agreed with you entirely but after delving into ubuntu for some months and now maemo on the N800 I'd say things are better than before. 2007 was definitely a good year for Linux and the mainstream.

The sad part is that from my point of view it seems like the elites of the OS, the stalwarts, the ones that count don't seem to want to change their old habits and frankly its not helping a platform that has so much potential.

Stability is not its issue, there is so much Linux can offer, its real problem is its geekiness and the dragging feet of some of its people. It really need to break this bounds and join the party. Ubuntu is great start and Nokia has made a good platform for that move as well. The ball is now in the court of its developers and various elite-ish users. Cater to tom dick and harry, don't so readily dump them in terminal sudo hell.


Anyway, don't loose hope. Buy that N800 or N810, they are very good once you have some patience and you know where to look for apps.