Ok mikeallen, we have strung you along long enough, and I apologise on behalf of the community. Each of the problems you have described is real, and not a failing on your part to follow basic instructions. We all just like to sustain a false reality within which the n900 and supporting software do actually work as expected.

In fact, there are many more issues that you have yet to uncover, and you may not find all of them as we are particularly adept at misdirection and covering up.

There is a phone for everyone, and the n900 is for those who prefer a phone that represents a bit of a challenge.

I suspect this isn't you, as you appear to be disappointed by the very things that make us happy - bizarre and unpredictable behaviour in a phone. I guess you remember when phones made phone calls and that was it. Simpler times.

Anyway, it is clear that this phone has had the opposite effect on you than indended by Nokia - it should delight and keep your mental processes agile with its ever changing nature, however it appears that it has done the opposite - to frustrate and bewilder.

My advice would be to put it in a lockable drawer, and never open that drawer again.

Do you have a drawer that you can sacrifice?