Very true, I've had my N900 for just over a week now and really like it, but I also work selling phones, and believe me the N900 is a HARD sell, the typical convo goes as follows..

"So what can the N900 do??"

Well anything you want really, its based on Linux which makes the development of programs and functions easier with out the usual vetting process akin to the iPhone, as you've probably read around the net

"WOW sounds good, so what can I do... now"

Well right now, the basic stuff, phone calls, emails, texts, web browsing, but its the development of programs/apps thats coming that makes it really exciting

"Ok so whats the battery like"

Ok, but depends on how much you use it, the next firmware update is said to improve its power management so it'll only ge better

"Does it have maps"

Yes but its a bit slow with no voice guidance yet, again the next firmware update will make big improvements

"Video Calling???"

The camera is in place but not yet active, the next update should fix that

"Does the phone rotate like the iphone or those google phones?"

No not yet, again the next update will introduce full OS rotation so its easier to use the phone one handed

"Does it have an App Store"

Yes, there are various ways to installing applications to the N900, remember its more of a full computer, so as time goes on you'll be able to install some real quality applications

"Yeah but what do you get now??"

A few apps maintained by the linux community as the official Nokia Ovi store is not yet live, but there are general warnings installing these apps, so dont just go around installing loads of stuff randomly

'Why"

Its just the way Linux works as an operating system, the programs available are mostly still in development.

"Oh ok, so you want me to sign a 2 year contract on a device that out of the box obviously isn't really ready for release on the promise that these features are coming?? Yeah I don't think so, give me an iPhone"

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This has happened at least 3 times so far and once with the Nokia rep standing right beside me demoing his phone like there was no tomorrow.

I think this is going to be a big problem for Nokia, Yes the N900 is fantastic, and yes I prefer it to my 3GS but on a whole the general public are going to be put off the device until Nokia really sort out at least the basics, most people are fickle when it comes to mobile phones, the number of times I've sold utter crap phones (i.e LG Cookie/Chocolate) to people because it has a small feature increase (i.e. lke handwriting recognition or 0.1 difference is camera pixels, or mostly cause it £5 cheaper, over a decent phone (i.e. Nokia 5530 or Samsung Toco Lite) is horrendous and then they whine when the've got to bring their rubbish phones back for repair when they break or crash.

For Nokia to sell the N900 to the masses, which is what they will want, they need to move fast other wise it'll end up like the Sony Ericsson Satio, here in the UK all Satio's were recalled due to a massive software bug, since then sales are non-existant even though all the problems have been fixed, as soon as someone hears a device has a problem or is lacking a feature that'll stay with them, I even see to people who are surprised that the iPhone now supports MMS, they hear something once and thats it....

Well thats my rant, hopefully someone from Nokia might read this, but probably not Even so, Im really enjoying my N900