Nokia fanatic:

which came first, the hen or the egg? are you sure unproductive Mobile device users are not unproductive just because they are using a device which is more a toy than a productive tool?

I can ask the same exact question for the popularity that you claim. could it not be that the popularity of vertical based mobile devices is because there never really was an alternative, thus consumer lack of knowledge? The N900 is basically the only mobile comuter. How do you know that this would not have become the major trend if more of these devices were attempted?

I always think its a huge mistake to offer only one type of product like everyone does now, instead of many types of products like Nokia used to do. Giving people alternatives, you will see that not everyone wants a huge but flat smartphone with no keyboard and toy functions instead of productive functions.

Samsung Galaxy note brought back the stylus pen and has proved hugely popular.

Isnt it a shame that we who call us so advanced have no serious hardware manufacturers who can make anything but a similar looking device? I dont think its true that devices with great design like N900 can not be made anymore.

Ofcourse its less likely now that Elop sold Nokias headquarters and based the future designs on the copy and paste principle, rather than the principle of quality and design which is how the N900 and many other Nokia devices came about.

Besides, even if you were right about consuming rather than producing content, the N900 principle of mobile computing instead of smartphone is far better a method to consume. Imagine a N900 with modern hardware and updated OS! (ex.full GNU).

How much fun would consumers have being able to select their type of desktop out of the box on the same device instead of using some boring "same design for all" old fashion symbian looking user interface?

I think you underestimate consumers. The only reason they go with badly designed Apple or Android products is because they do not know better and becaus they are easily sold by marketing gimmics.