Try it out and buy it if you like it.
I'm so happy with this piece of hardware and woud never trade it for such a crappy Android device...

This thread is great it has one positive comment so far about the N900, just goes to show how many UNHAPPY people that actually own already a N900.

Yes, but remember that ALL WE ARE TROLLS.
If you don't want to lie, you are a troll.
Nice rules.

well, i'm happy with the device. But not with the support from nokia. Only good paid app is sygic. And navigation is included in other nokia phones

@THMaemo

Seriously mate, you've got an overwhelming NO as an answer here.

from the short list of things you want to use it for, the N900 doesn't really do them well at all and there are better devices for those tasks.

And as for the Future of Maemo, Kojacker said it. Maemo is dead, long live Meego. And we don't know what Meego is like yet.

The N900 has an amazing potential, but due to lack of support from Nokia that potential remains unrealised and is likely to stay that way.

But, on the other hand, you do seem keen to want one, despite the warnings...............

I'm happy with my device. Best browser out.

You have probably heard that Maemo will be replaced by MeeGo on future devices. MeeGo is a joint effort between Nokia and Intel, combining Memo and Intel's Moblin into a single OS.

This is very good news. And, Nokia has said many times that neither the N900 nor Maemo 5 will be forgotten and are backing that up. Maemo 5 on the N900 will get another major update almost any day now. It may well get more updates after that. The coming update will include Qt 4.6 which is very important since it will, in basic terms, insure that software written for MeeGo will also work on Maemo. So the N900 will have a long and useful life regardless of whether your ever upgrade it to MeeGo or not. It won't matter much as far as the usefulness of the N900 is concerned. So if you like the N900 and it meets your needs, don't worry about the future of Maemo or the N900.

OK, now I'll try to answer your original questions...but not tell you what to do. That's up to you.

1. Basic calendar functions like reminder alerts work fine for me, but I doubt it will sync with Windows Live Calendar. Don't know for sure, I don't use anything Windows.
2. Don't know, I don't use anything Windows.
3. I get a GPS lock very fast, in just seconds. Ovi Maps works fine, I use it a lot. It will plot a route for you, but does not do turn-by-turn or voice directions. If you're willing to pay for it install Sygic maps for that.
4. I really like the Maemo UI. Simpler and faster to negotiate than the Android phone it replaced. And if you don't want to use the terminal, you'll probably never have to.
5. SMS is excellent. MMS is not enabled out of the box. For MMS you will need to install an app called fmms. I never use MMS anyway. It's an old technology that will likely be gradually phased out by all manufacturers.

You have to want the experience tbh. I like the whole product development process. Looking at stuff like witter or fmms and how they are developed. It excites me..i don;t know about you

it seems the OP mind is already made up and is just here to get that final confrmation. it has been a resounding no but i wont say no...ill say answer your questions for yourself.
the future of maemo is an up and down story. nokia is neither admitting or denying that meego will be on the n900..so no one knows for sure....however they did state that they will continue to support the n900 irrespective of the release of meego....so take that as you want....about updates...the Hong Kong N900 version has been released with the 1.2 software...which SHOULD mean that it will soon be available for other regions.(few days to few weeks)...battery life is not the best..but im guessing many here had the n95..i am one who had the n95 and i usually carried 2 batteries....not a big issue for me......i do not use the calender for much but as a "to do list"....and thats works as it should.....most of the IM clients are available (msn facebook google yahoo) http://nokiamobileblog.com/n900-soft...-facebook-msn/
and they work well....there is also skype and fring....as for mms there is none integrated but there is a popular app that does it well....as for apps being available..they are quite a few and you will see a new one popping up every few days.....
lastly, maps....you wont get lost...but in comparison to what we are seeing on other devices....it is below par....
now the decision is yours....but i can tell you already made the decision.....

If you have Outlook on your PC the N900 does sync fine using Nokia PC Suite either by USB or Bluetooth. As everyone has stated learning curve with N900 and I am still stumbling along....
Doc