Thread: N900 - convince me
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GeneralAntilles is offline GeneralAntilles
2009-10-03 , 20:14
Posts: 5,478 | Thanked: 5,222 times | Joined on Jan 2006 @ St. Petersburg, FL
#2
Originally Posted by RevdKathy View Post
Ok, let me say up front I probably don't belong here. I'm not a developer, and I don't know much about linux (I'm not even sure how to pronounce it, having heard several variants!)
Listen.

Originally Posted by RevdKathy View Post
I'm looking to replace my mobile phone, and was almost completely sold on a SE Satio. Until I spotted the n900, and did a quick "wtf?" - why had no-one suggested that?
Probably because Maemo's been a relative unknown until now having only recently become a cellular phone platform.

Originally Posted by RevdKathy View Post
I suspect the answers to that were along the lines that mobile phone vendors don't necessarily think too far outside the box, which had meant I'd looked at the hero, the i8910hd and the satio.
Maemo is a scary thing for the existing cellular market. It's a bit of a game changer as it's the first really open mass-market cellular device.

Originally Posted by RevdKathy View Post
Let me say that I work my mobile phones hard. My phone doubles as email, sms, diary, shopping list, bible, library of novels, pdf and office reader, calculator, mp3 play and (particularly) camera (and probably a few things I've forgotten). It was that last which was the appeal of the satio - great looking camera, with s60 software with a massive amount of 3rd party apps.
Based on this alone, I'd say if you're the type who's at least a little adventurous the N900 will be perfect for you.

Originally Posted by RevdKathy View Post
At the moment, the nokia site lists three apps as 'coming soon'. None of them are what I want.
Don't worry about that. The community is hard at work getting all of their cool applications for Maemo ready. You'll see a lot more stuff in Maemo Select in the coming weeks and months.

Originally Posted by RevdKathy View Post
So, aside from selling me the whole idea of the n900, what is the current situation as regard apps?
Most of the developers are only just getting their hands dirty with Fremantle. Expect a flurry of activity to come out of the Summit and soon after. The current situation looks grim if you don't know where to look, but things are definitely happening.

Originally Posted by RevdKathy View Post
I read your thread about a Bible app: that's what brought me here. But frankly, looking at the stuff about using rapier, at the moment it looks like you need a fair amount of prgramming knowledge and confidence to install it. So is there going to be a Bible reader? What about, say, one for Olive Tree? I need something that will function offline as well as on - can't go online in hospital, for example.
All it needs is for somebody to step up and make it happen. Whether that person will come can't necessarily be predicted, however.

Originally Posted by RevdKathy View Post
Equally, will there be an app available for e-reader?
Yes! FBReader has been on the platform very nearly since day 1. The Maemo 5 version still needs work, but it's coming along. Be aware that FBReader does not handle DRMed ebooks, however.

Originally Posted by RevdKathy View Post
Does the n900 come with something that will display powerpoint? and read docs?
Documents To Go should be available, and there's always Google Docs.

Originally Posted by RevdKathy View Post
Here's a silly one: I've used a little java shopping list programme for years. I gather maemo won't support a java environment?
Nope, but we do have Shopper (Maemo 5 version is coming).

Originally Posted by RevdKathy View Post
And what about a dedicated twitter app? Something like gravity?
Mauku (Maemo 5 version is coming).

Originally Posted by RevdKathy View Post
Finally, I've seen something that will install another software 'virtually' - how does the n900 function if I do that and run it, say, as palm.. which would enable both olive tree and e-reader software to run on palm? And does that require a degree in programming?
That'd be Garnet VM, which is pretty straightforward to install and use. However, I'm not aware of Access's plans for Maemo 5.

Originally Posted by RevdKathy View Post
Ok... sorry to go on. I was almost at the 'click to purchase' on the satio when I found this... and I have an awful lot of questions? Do you nice people have any answers for me?
Hopefully.
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