Wow! I'm shocked at the responses here. Definitely differing opinions from Maemo users versus Symbian users.

Nokia/Ovi Messaging isn't available for the N900 yet, but will provide PUSH email for up to 10 simultaneous accounts, including webmail. It keeps the accounts separate, unfortunately for your single stream preference, but it actually is a plus for me, and the interface is excellent. I'd wait for Nokia/Ovi Messaging on the N900 to be released before making the jump from the Blackberry to the N900.

True. You'll have to wait. But Nokia Messaging/Ovi Mail is a big part of Nokia's services strategy, and it is expected for the Maemo platform as well. Its not ready now, but is confirmed to be planned, and could still be ready by launch. We'll just have to wait.

Are you talking about Ovi Maps on the web or the dedicated application? When most Nokian users talk about Ovi Maps, they usually mean the on device application, not a website, which is nothing like the former. The Ovi Maps website is just getting started, but the app is a class leader.

I think you must understand that Ovi Maps is in a class above Google Maps on any device for a couple reasons. First, Ovi Maps allows sideloading of maps and offline map data. This means when you get dropped off in the middle of the Sahara with no cellular or data connection, your map software still works. You could theoretically find your way home with it, while Google Maps is a web service without offline maps.

Also, Ovi Maps is more closely integrated into the OS. It will allow other apps to use your map data stored on the device, and new apps for the Ovi API are coming all of the time.

Ovi Maps allows you to search for restaurants or anything else, and gives all the same information as Google Maps, including directions, for free. Turn by turn voice navigation is an extra cost handled by subscription, but route planning and directions are free. POI differ depending where you are, but developed countries are all pretty well covered. You can buy supplemental POI and guides from third parties, but they aren't necessary. Built-in POI is in depth and accurate for the US from my experience. The Lonely Planet stuff is commercial marketing stuff.

I've used Ovi Maps since it was Smart2Go, and it will be an upgrade from the Blackberry Google Maps service by far. Nokia owns Navteq, the world's leading cartography company that deals with world militaries and navigation software makers to supply the map data for their apps. This means Nokia's maps will be better than the competition most of the time. This is something that is overlooked, but it will make a difference down the road. Nokia saves money on map data, and makes more selling the data it owns. These cost savings mean more spent on developing the Ovi Map experience.

I'd suggest you find a friend with an Nseries or Eseries device and try the Ovi Maps application for yourself. You'll see it is full featured, and you can install the maps you need at your PC or OTA while navigatiing, either one. It is a great app you can't overlook. I only use Google Maps for quick stuff, since it seems to connect to the GPS quicker, but when travelling away from home, its Ovi only.

I'm an avid and long time Symbian user, and I'm speaking on the Nokia "way", not the N900 or Maemo 5, which I obviously haven't used yet. But Nokia devices have always had PROFILES that allowed customized alerts for each type of notification. You could also select custom alerts for individual contacts by setting an alert in the contact application.

Nokia has always allowed any audio file to be used as a ringtone, and some MP4 videos as well! Nokia is OPEN, the biggest advantage coming from a Blackberry to a Nokia smartphone.

As for the profile "awareness", the Nokia N900 doesn't support changing profiles when in a holster (they still allow those in your city?? just joking...) out of the box. But the Symbian ecosystem had various apps that use the clock, light sensor, proximity sensor, and/or accelerometer to change the profile based on these settings. I'd expect those same applications for the Maemo ecosystem, but we'll probably have to wait for the community to provide them.

The N95 was out for about a few months before we began seeing them in development, and that was for a device with unprecedented hardware, and the ideas were new. The N900, albeit a juggernaut, isn't very different from previous high end Symbian devices, so the space will be filled with apps similar to those on other similarly equipped Symbian hardware. This is an assumption, and you'll hear people say I'm only speculating, but being close to many Symbian developers, I can assure you that many apps will be coming from that side into the Maemo space.