The underlying Operating is more of a Desktop than it is a mobile phone. Desktop software runs on the N900.. not just "phone"-ized software written by random people.

It is easier to port desktop software to the N900 than any other device on the market. This makes it more of a mobile desktop than a phone. Now, the fact that said desktop software is *not* available yet goes to the youngness of it. In Maemo 4 we had Gnumeric, Abiword, etc all ported. Which means I am using *exactly* the same software on my desk at home, as on my new "phone". This puts the N900 into a category of it's own.

I'm not using a run down version, not using some remake of it, not using someone else's version to accomplish something similar... it's the *exact* same software just repackaged for Maemo. This is a huge plus for me.

SSH is OpenSSH.. it IS OpenSSH.. it's not a hack - not a remake - not a Putty or ConnectBot or whatever Apple's version of "SSH" is.. it IS openssh.

I know the switches, I know how it works, it doesn't change from my Desktop Ubuntu to my N900. X forward is probably possible, if not done already, with the N900.. which means I could launch actual desktop apps from my desktop TO my N900. This is not "controlling" my desktop like an RDP or VNC.

Things that interest me are obviously not what interest "normal" people.. but N900 has the capability of adapting to someone like me - the iPhone (even jailbreaked) and the Android (rooted) still do not offer the flexibility and seamless move from my Desktop to a Phone that the N900 does.

Also, if I don't like the built-in browser.. I can get real firefox to run.. complete with all the plugins/addons that I would normally use on my desktop. It might be slower - but for those odd websites that just refuse to format right on mobile browsers - it's an option.

All this is just my opinion, of course - I have no idea what "Nokia's" official stance on it is.. I've seen it sold as a "phone" - which definitely causes confusion with some buyers on why a lot of the "phone" features are either missing or are half-asked. On Newegg I think they just "recently" changed to title to phone AND mobile computer.. where before it was just Unlocked Phone.

Personally... android and the iphone don't compare because when and if I run into something that I cannot do on the iPhone or the N1 - I am stuck. There is nothing I can do. On the N900.. I have options.. multitudes of them. All the way up to and including booting a completely different OS if I want/need.