Originally Posted by TA-t3

This talk about using/utilizing the PIM on the phone is in stark contradiction to what was at one stage implied by Ari: The phone is just a link to the network. So it can be really simple. (Ref. e.g. the blog he posted last year about that lipstick phone as an ideal phone.) I mean, what's the point of buying a rather expensive gadget like the N800 (expensive compared to "normal" phones), if you _also_ has to buy a **!@ "smartphone" too? Just to get access to something that should have been part of the N800 in the first place?

I've said it before: The ideal phone for me is a simple, small, bluetooth-enabled low-cost phone with long battery life (so black-and-white LCD screen is fine), which can stay in the pocket all the time except if somebody calls me on it. And these kind of phones don't have useful PIM apps. And the "PIM" in mid-range phones like my k700i is rubbish. And in my opinion phones are not the best place for PIMs anyway, it's much better to be able to use and looking up stuff at your N800 in front of you while you hold the phone at the ear (and for the same reason it's not a good idea to use the N800 as a generic phone, so I've never agreed with those reviewers complaining about the fact that it isn't a phone).

Originally Posted by fldude99

If I may put in my 2c here: I run a small ofc and hence am tied to my phone almost 24/7. After recognizing the limitation of a mid price cell (I use the SE W810i-great cell device btw) I decided I needed some sort of PDA for times out of ofc..the Cingular 8525 (HTC Tytn) appeared to be an awesome device-which it definitely is. So I get it on Cingular's 30 day trial, and use it for a couple of wks..and it is definitely a great tool and useful for my needs..especially for using "real" internet access when away from the ofc. However, I finally realized that for the actual time I needed the extra features of the 8525-it just didn't justify having to carry (or lug) such a "beast" of a device. I much prefer the little W810i and what I need it for 90% of the time in my shirt or pants pocket. So I returned the 8525..bought a N800 and when I need the "extra" feature of using "real" internet..I just get online if I'm in a wireless environment..or tether to my cell if not. The N800 is limited in it's PIM, but I find using my W810i for calendar..remind me of tasks..and contacts is perfectly fine..and since it is with me all the time as opposed to the N800, I don't think I'd use a PIM function on the N800 anyway. Anybody else with similar experience? I think the N800 does what it does well and in my opinion a cellphone-even midrange priced ones-manage contacts and calendar functions in a satisfactory way.

Originally Posted by Karel Jansens

What exactly do you do with those Google apps (the precious few that work with the Internet Tablets' browsers, that is) when you find yourself out of internet reach? Can you even run them if there's no internet?

BTW: No, Google Docs and Spreadsheets don't even work with Opera.

Originally Posted by fldude99

If I may put in my 2c here: I run a small ofc and hence am tied to my phone almost 24/7. After recognizing the limitation of a mid price cell (I use the SE W810i-great cell device btw) I decided I needed some sort of PDA for times out of ofc..the Cingular 8525 (HTC Tytn) appeared to be an awesome device-which it definitely is. So I get it on Cingular's 30 day trial, and use it for a couple of wks..and it is definitely a great tool and useful for my needs..especially for using "real" internet access when away from the ofc. However, I finally realized that for the actual time I needed the extra features of the 8525-it just didn't justify having to carry (or lug) such a "beast" of a device. I much prefer the little W810i and what I need it for 90% of the time in my shirt or pants pocket. So I returned the 8525..bought a N800 and when I need the "extra" feature of using "real" internet..I just get online if I'm in a wireless environment..or tether to my cell if not. The N800 is limited in it's PIM, but I find using my W810i for calendar..remind me of tasks..and contacts is perfectly fine..and since it is with me all the time as opposed to the N800, I don't think I'd use a PIM function on the N800 anyway. Anybody else with similar experience? I think the N800 does what it does well and in my opinion a cellphone-even midrange priced ones-manage contacts and calendar functions in a satisfactory way.

Originally Posted by sapporobaby

Another issue to consider along with the basic features is that the N800 is seen by most as a geeky developer device. It will NEVER gain mainstream popularity until someone gets serious and develops a simple, easy to use installer, and applications for the common man. After reading this forum and browsing the Maemo, I have also come to this conclusion that this is not a device for everyone simply because of the subscriber base. Hardly anything written is understandable by anyone other than developers or the somewhat closed community that surrounds the Internet Tablet platform.

I am considering simply putting my N800 on eBay and going back to a normal device where the forums are populated by less snobbish people and those who do not have a problem communicating to non-developers.

Originally Posted by Karel Jansens

I want this too. But only if I can have 3.5g for free. Or at most for the price I now pay for my ADSL access.

Until then -- and that scenario is a long way off, believe me -- I want to be able to do everything offline if I choose to.