Meh. N900 is for Linux enthusiasts. iPhone and other phones, are for damn near everybody else.

There's less Linux enthusiasts - OpenMoko, N900, Qt Greenphone sales all show this - all did not amass the same numbers as the Nokia N95 for instance.

The whole "iPhone isn't as open" does not even enter the average consumer mind. They just want to buy the newest Justin Bieber song or have Grand Theft Auto or have an app that finds them the cheapest gasoline whilst traveling on their phone. Nokia has delivered some of that on their other, less open phones.

But have delivered much less on their open phones. Why is that? It's so open, it should have everything. This whole "it's more open" mentality means almost absolutely nothing to the average consumer.

It means a lot to the Linux pro crowd only. Case in point... I want an app like Air Sharing. It supports the ability to upload files when the computer and phone are on the same wifi network. What are my options? JoikuSpot? Now we're looking at a $2.99 (on special) versus $11.15 (on special) price.

Open indeed.

Or Grand Theft Auto. Sure... I could emulate the older PC version, you know... the one that came out in 1997 - it's 2010 last I checked - or perhaps get the gameboy ROM version... which came out in 1999 - it's still 2010.

I can't get that on the N900. But it's open... which to a consumer means absolutely nothing.

So what are the advantages of open source to the average consumer? Not much. And to me... (long-winded rant aside) is what Nokia needs to explain to the average user. Why would they embrace an open source phone when all they know is how well they've been "guarded" (read: herded) by the closed systems of iTunes Music Store or Android. How the open source offerings equate to true freedom and not how they've been somehow led down a path that ironically looks just like that dystopian, amorphous mindset where everybody that owns an iWhatever thinks, acts, dresses or accomplishes the same stuff within that walled garden.

Nokia... get it right with MeeGo. Communicate with the customers about the benefits... and do it in the areas that you don't presently have an advertising presence (read: North America and Japan) and be consistent.

You failed us with Maemo 4, doing a bad job with Maemo 5... get it right with MeeGo or watch even more share slip through your fingers. Guess you'll always have the low-end market though. But that's the way to become the AudioVox in the land of Harmon-Kardon.

Rant... over. Get it right with MeeGo, Nokia.