There will (hopefully) never be a time that something better is not eventually coming, further down the road. You need to make the buy decisions based on what is currently available, if that particular item is good enough for your particular needs.

I have to agree here. If I would always be thinking of what might be coming next, I should have never bought myself a computer!

And if you are like me, a gadget freak, buying also the next big thing is only a nice experience

very wise words.

and why i'll be passing on Rover's small screen.

sadly I don't think 71 will be a 8xx sized version, more likely a "roverTouch", ie a non-cellular phone version a la iPhone/iTouch

I just pray for an N800-like form factor...

Doubtful. I couldn't see that warranting a jump from 51 to 71. More like a slight variant change such as 52, 53, et al.

It would be stupid (ie, self-defeating) of Nokia to make such a move in the first place.

RX-71 to RX-51 therefore likely means "different" more than "better".

Agree that it is really up to the individual to make those cost-benefit decisions.

Maybe I have drunk the kool-aid, but I am warming to the idea of the Maemo phone (if it is indeed a phone). I was initially disappointed about the smaller screen and the fact that it might be phone capable (I use my n800 on planes quite a bit, and some airlines have a "no cellphone use, even in 'flight mode'" policy.)

But, based on the reported specs, the Rover is actually what I've been looking for in a phone: quad-band GSM, T-mobile 3G, nice camera (for a phone). I am hoping that it will be sold unlocked, though.

Anyway, having the phone running Maemo is the ultimate plus, since I'm used to it and hopefully would be able to use many of the apps that I already am using on my N800. In fact, I will now be able to carry my maemo apps around with me everywhere (the N800 is sometimes too bulky for me to carry all the time). Having a phone with the functionality of the tablet could also reduce complexity by reducing the duplication produced by using a separate tablet and a phone.

I don't expect my n800 to gather dust--it's still tremendously useful to me now. I'm hoping it will be my mini-device for places where cell phones are non grata, like planes and such. The larger screen of the n800 will be better for watching movies and playing games, etc.

I guess so far the only evidence of the RX-71 is the keymapping and all the talk about the "lead device RX-51"? Anyway, I'm thinking that if the RX-71 exists and there are plans to release it, it will be confirmed at some level when the Rover is released. Something like - "one more thing, there's also this larger tablet model coming out soon after the Rover". I find it hard to believe that they would release it a few months after Rover without a word at the Rover release. What do you think?

Me agree with Texrat.

Now, my GUESS:
RX-51 : Maemo 5
RX-56 : No key-board RX-51 sometime mid next year (MIGHT be a tad better with some extra hardware like a digital compass for example)
RX-61 : Something to showcase Maemo 6
RX-71 : The HOLY device. Destination reached!

I think, that's the reason why we are seeing something RX-71 in the current context.

EDIT: Oops! Just noticed, I replied to a month-and-a-half old thread!

it's okay, raju, the thread is aging like a fine w(h)ine.