I can see why they are doing this, WM7 is like its ancestors just there. Windows Mobile is often derided as this and that but it has weathered alot, been there for people and is simple more or less to use. No not slick like iOs, novel like Maemo or quirky like WebOS ... just there like windows.

Nokia is making the move to hold $$ not lead as the primary innovates of smartphone devices. Lets be honest most advanced users do not pick Symbian over the various alternatives. It's a low end mobile OS that's getting old fast. So this is a survival decision from a hardware manufacturer to out source its hardware to another OS manufacturer.

As too Maemo, its more or less been in our [the communities] hands from the get go. Meego ... a clone [phone wise] of another OS. Meego Tablet is still not ready for prime time, while its competitors are in the field getting the patches and service updates from real use. Which is classic Intel too, very slow to come to market and often late to innovate.

These are just my oppinions I personally love the N900, which I feel is extremely unique in the present market place, in fact I bought it knowing it was a white elephant from the get go. Having come from the Zaurus community I can tell you these devices can live on a VERY long time with support and motivation from the community.