Sorry if I ruffled a few feathers, but this is my view, the view of an outsider with an advanced technical background, extensive Symbian experience, and new to the Linux and Maemo ecosystems. That will be the demographic of a majority of the new blood in this space, so my opinion should be of interest in this light. It is my wish to further the accessibility and user friendliness of the Maemo environment, both software and community wise, not criticize anyone.

Maemo is on a much larger stage now, and this is an advantage of everyone here. So ignore how my thoughts make you feel personally, and instead give worthy explanations for why things are and at the same time develop ways to intertwine the best of the old world with an idea towards improving the entire experience for accessibility for a first time computer user.

Maemo is poised to be that introduction to computing and web, and this is a wonderous vision to imagine. An N900 will be someone's FIRST COMPUTER EVER!! Can you imagine this? I'm excited for the implications of Maemo on our society going forward.

I've already learned that the Garage is NOT the app market some incorrect sources have implied to me in the past. As some have correctly pointed out, it is an INCUBATOR of sorts, where only developers and those interested in testing beta software at their own peril or joy can browse for solutions to interest them, or participate in the development of. That is totally cool, IMO.

I've also learned that apps expected to work on device considered finished software is available via the App Manager, a Maemo version of the Ovi Store, for lack of a better analogy.

What I'd like to know is how can I browse this software list online from a desktop or mobile browser? Is it possible? Or am I forced to buy a device to browse for available software? Is the Downloads page this list, or are there other places I can find Maemo 5 software?

These are questions MILLIONS of people will want to know in the coming months. I'm just asking ahead of time so I can let those interested in Maemo in my own community know themselves, so when they arrive here, they can immediately spend time getting involved in this community, instead of asking these obviously silly questions.

Excuse me for asking everything and giving an opinion, but its who I am, and can be an asset if you look at it. You'll appreciate it when all the Symbian Freaks get here. There are ALOT of US you'll be "inheriting", and we love mobiles.