Hi, after making 62 posts I have finally decided to get my very own tablet. I will eather get a N810 or N800. The outcome of this thread will help me make my mind up.

Pros of the N800
2 Full Size SD card slots
Cam that can face away from you (to take pictures)
FM Radio
PRICE

Pros of the N810
Keyboard
GPS (not a biggie)
80Mhz faster
smaller


I would be using it as my mp3 player (to replace my ipod) and to play Movies. I would also do the obvious Im, email, and web browsing, Reading PDF's (if i had the n800 and the camera was good enough i may take pictures)

Another think I am interested in is using the tablet in USB host mode or USB OTG. (what is the difference between host mode and OTG? Are they the same?) So i know that the N800 with OS 2007 could do host mode, can it do it in 2008? What about the N810?

If I got a N800 I would buy a 16GB SDHC Card (I already have a 4GB one) If i got a N810 I would buy a 6GB micro SDHC card (do they make them any bigger yet?)

So it really comes down to do I really want to spend ~$200 more to get a smaller, sexier device with a keyboard, but louse all my nice storage space? Everyday I change my mind about which one I want to get. I have had experience using a 770 and a tiny bit with a N800, but none with a N810.

So what should I get? Whats the status of USB host?
Thanks

They have the exact same CPU, and run at exactly the same speed.

Yha but the N800 is underclocked.

N810: TI OMAP 2420, 400Mhz
N800: TI OMAP 2420, 330MHz

I just looked it up, so i was 10Mhz off, but the speed is not a huge deal to me.

just buy one dude! you can't go wrong and if you feel you might buy the wrong one buy both...............

N800 speed was 330MHz with OS2007. OS2008 changes clock speed on the fly depending on the CPU load and this makes it identical with N810. The top speed is 400MHz on both N800 and N810. So, there is no difference as long as you install OS2008.

USB host mode works also on both devices with OS2008. Just remember that N8x0 is OTG compliant, meaning that when host it can supply only 100mA of current. (Though, there seem to be some headroom made up to 200mA. ) This means most low power devices work, but not high current draw devices, such as iPod that charges itself from the host USB port.

If you do not have OTG compatible peripherals and suitable cable, you need to do switching between the modes (OTG and host) in software. There is a thread something like "N800 host mode experiment" where you can find more info how to do this.

After 62 posts? Man you have put entirely too much thought into this, just buy one, you won't be sorry.

See Mara's post.

As for storage capacity, you can be sure that the mini & micro sd cards will get bigger as time goes on. Already, the biggest current SD is 16GB, mini SD is 8GB, but 16GB should be around the corner. So I wouldn't count out the n810 simply because of the memory card size.
However, my biggest gripe with the n810 is the fact that the internal flash is permanent. And I'm not sure if 2GB is big enough. What I'd like to do is have 1 large SD card internal, and boot the device from that card. On top of that, I'd like to load up alternet OS distributions on it (I'm thinking of porting over one of the distros available for the Sharp Zaurus such as pdaXrom). Or load up a full Debian install on the internal flash. So thats the reason I picked up the n800 (plus the lower price). Also, I'd rather use an external GPS module so it can be located up by the car window (to get better satellite reception) rather than an internal gps chip (the minivan has some sort of solar filter imbedded in the windshield, and there is only one spot by the mirror where a gps receiver works).

So, if you don't think you will need the keyboard, you can go for the n800 for now, then a year later pick up the n810 when the price comes down (after they introduce the n900). Or, when the new model comes out, you can more easily justfy picking it up since your current one is 2 generations behind instead of only 1 :-)

. . . and 32GB SDHC cards have just been announced, too. Let's face it, SD will always be bigger and cheaper than mini or microSD.

Well, not to push you one way or another, but here's a couple thoughts to add to your list. (FWIW I have an N800 and am still waiting for my N810 to ship, sigh)

The N810 has a brigher screen (20% reported, whatever that means) and has much better viewing in direct sunlight (as reported by serveral people).

I wouldn't really give much weight to the swivel camera though, if your purpose is photos. Neither unit has that great of a camera for still shots. (think cheap/free cell phone quality). However I have used the swivel ocasionally on video calls to wife. (IMO video quality isn't that bad over SIP directly, Gizmo's implementation is a little raw looking) So it can be handy.

Like you, I wasn't placing much weight on the GPS. I certainly don't need it to drive around rural Montana where I live. However, Maemo mapper with Google sat maps will be another story. Camping, hiking, fishing, skiing backcountry, etc... I'm actually looking forward to it now.

On the other hand, the N800 is really a bargain now and runs the same OS, same speed, etc. That's why I just can't see getting rid of mine, even when the new one comes. I know it will be useful for quite a while still.

You really can't go wrong with either IMO.