Thread: Decision to purchase an n900 in 2013...
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gerbick
2013-01-07 , 22:58
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#50
Originally Posted by Val Demar View Post
I would choose the built-in Skype and true VoIP clients over Google Voice any day of the week.
But it's not an updated version of Skype - and Microsoft is slowly phasing out the old method of logging in. Nor am I using Google Voice for just VoIP - I'm using it for free text messages from my tablet. I'm slowly walking away from a phone, more towards something that doesn't also require a GSM radio other than for data.

But again, I've not even mentioned Skype. Can't say I'm truly a fan, and besides... the N900 doesn't support video to video like I require, thus Google+ - I do use their Google+ Hangouts though. VoIP on the N900 is friggin' spectacular. SIP is integrated like no other phone or tablet. So if you're after VoIP, then you're golden.

As for LTE/4G you don't really need it unless you do lots HD video streaming
I do.

and if that is what you do on your phone most of the time than N900 is probably not your best option anyway.
It wasn't my best option for long, but it was mainly around GPS performance initially. The tinkerer in me loved it. But the business and practical side of me needed more than it offers. And now since I'm less on phone calls, but higher on video (Google+ Hangouts and/or Skype) my needs are not met. Nor would be some of my social media needs that exclude Facebook and even Twitter, but include others.

Heck, I can't even get 3G on my phone with ATT, and still manage do most of my day to day tasks just fine.
Dude, I hear you. I'm in the boondocks of South Carolina and I get "3G" some days, but since I'm always around a wi-fi hotspot, I've been rethinking what most people liked about the N900, what we like about the tablets - 770/N810 et al - and what would make a better option for those folks and less about the cellphone type of folks because honestly, I'm on the lowest plan now, I make less calls now, and I'm all about using Google Voice to send my text messages when I travel overseas.

But back to the OP and way less about me. 2013, the N900 is an anachronism that appeals to the tinkerer in most of us. It's a relevant device that honestly has the best hardware keyboard experience that ultimately seems to be important to many folks (not to me) and it's a great device.

I would just be wary to buy one in 2013 unless I found a killer deal on a brand new one with a working USB port that won't come out easily and I don't mind charging on my desktop a separate battery to avoid stressing the USB port.
 

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