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The N900 is now 15 years old! (9)
to Nokia N900 by Arno_11 - 2 hrs, 59 mins ago -
Sailfish OS for the Motorola Moto G7 Power (XT1955-5) - (ocean) (4)
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2009-10-07
, 17:47
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Posts: 445 |
Thanked: 572 times |
Joined on Oct 2009
@ Oxford
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#22
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It's interesting that Amazon (at least) are billing the N900 as a 'mobile computer', not as a phone. As well as probably being a more fitting description it might get buyers thinking about it in as a netbook competitor rather than as a really smart smartphone, and if that happens you're into a whole different mindset where people don't routinely expect carrier subsidies etc.
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2009-10-07
, 17:47
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Posts: 369 |
Thanked: 191 times |
Joined on Sep 2009
@ Virginia
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#23
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Apple have played to their strengths and reaped deserved rewards for doing so. Their devices 'just work', and are packaged with careful attention to 'style'. They are fashionable, sleek and useful to many people. Yet, in many respects, they are a toy. Toys have great value in society, but they don't always make value.
The N900 is the latest step in bringing the power and utility of computers into tighter integration with our lives. Where you used to have to go sit down at a terminal, you can now perform the same tasks concurrently with your life. It is an ever-present link to the networked world.
The N900 is the latest step in bringing the power and utility of computers into tighter integration with our lives. Where you used to have to go sit down at a terminal, you can now perform the same tasks concurrently with your life. It is an ever-present link to the networked world.
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2009-10-07
, 17:56
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Posts: 635 |
Thanked: 282 times |
Joined on Sep 2009
@ Black Mesa Research Facility
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#24
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Originally Posted by pycage
as much as your post made me laugh, it's sadly true...people are too stupid to appreciate something like the N900 (ofc i don't mean people from maemo.org lol)
Joe Average usually uses dumb phones because all he wants is to make calls and texting.
Only a small fraction of those people use iPhone, because they think it's cool. They don't even realize it's dumbed down because they don't expect much from a phone.
For people who have been using smartphones before OTOH, an iPhone is not really an option. The N900 will have a hard time standing up to state-of-the-art smartphones, too, but it definitely has potential.
The N900 is no iPhone killer for several reasons, IMHO:
- it will never have as many apps as iPhone (Maemo will have quality instead of quantity)
- not many commercial developers because the N900 user base wouldn't throw away money for fart apps and co.
- the user interface is too complicated (for Joe "Dumbphone User" Average it is)
- resistive touch screen (the screen is good, but Joe Average will only listen to "experts" instead of trying himself)
- the Nokia brand is not "cool"
- too heavy
- not many carriers will carry it
- hardware keyboard (looks like a complicated device, will scare Joe Average away)
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2009-10-07
, 17:56
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Posts: 267 |
Thanked: 128 times |
Joined on Sep 2009
@ Somerville MA - USA
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#25
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Originally Posted by mdl
I disagree, the form factor and marketing is directed as a phone. MID is a nearly unknown term. netbook just got hot over the last 18 months... and mids are further outside of the mainstream. to explain a mid you have to take five minutes and say "well its like a netbook, but a tablet and smaller and no it isn;t a phone.. but it could be. no no no its not a ****ing iphone its different because its a real computer.. " and no one wants that kind of frustration.
It's inevitable that the addition of 3G capabilities to the tablets would lead to erroneous comparisons with existing smartphones. But the N900 should really be compared with other MIDs and pocket computers.
You make comparisons to what is known and clearly understood by the majority of people. you dont describe a file minion as like chateau briand but smaller, but rather a ny sirloin... (god i need to break for lunch)
anyway... i think you get my point.
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2009-10-07
, 18:09
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Posts: 607 |
Thanked: 450 times |
Joined on Sep 2009
@ Washington, DC
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#26
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Originally Posted by sevla
I think these two phrases reflect a basic problem. The first is the idea of a platform. People don't buy platforms, they buy products. How many users of the iPhone know who makes its CPU, what speed it runs at, or what OS runs on top of it? They are interested in what the iPhone can do for them. If they need it to do something that it can't do out of the box, they'll look in the iPhone store and, if it's not there, they will either trade it in for a different phone or give up.
"platform proves itself"
"giving advanced users what they want"
This brings up the second phrase which I will rephrase as "what do advanced users want?" For me the answer is a rich suite of applications which the N900 seriously lacks at the moment. In fact, I can't think of a single thing that the N900 has to offer an advanced user right now which can't be matched or bettered by another phone.
Granted, there is a great deal of potential in the OS but Joe Average is looking for results. I don't buy a car based on how it can potentially be tuned to perform, I buy it based on how it performs when I drive it away from the dealer. A car tuner might look at what he could do to a car when deciding what to buy, a developer might look at what he can do to a phone when deciding what to buy, but Joe Average is into immediate gratification.
Next year the answer might be different. All the advanced developers will have created applications that advanced users lust after while Nokia will have improved the UI so that Joe Average can see the advantages. Next year. Not now.
Last edited by DaveP1; 2009-10-07 at 18:11.
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2009-10-07
, 18:12
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Posts: 267 |
Thanked: 128 times |
Joined on Sep 2009
@ Somerville MA - USA
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#27
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Originally Posted by ewan
Amazon is describing it as "Nokia N900 Unlocked Cell Phone/Mobile Computer with 3.5-Inch Touch Screen, QWERTY, 5 MP Camera, Maemo Browser, 32 GB--U.S. Version with Full Warranty"
It's interesting that Amazon (at least) are billing the N900 as a 'mobile computer', not as a phone. As well as probably being a more fitting description it might get buyers thinking about it in as a netbook competitor rather than as a really smart smartphone, and if that happens you're into a whole different mindset where people don't routinely expect carrier subsidies etc.
"This unlocked cell phone is compatible with GSM carriers like AT&T and T-Mobile. Not all carrier features may be supported. It will not work with CDMA carriers like Verizon Wireless, Alltel and Sprint."
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2009-10-07
, 18:14
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Posts: 369 |
Thanked: 191 times |
Joined on Sep 2009
@ Virginia
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#28
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I try and explain the N900 as a bastard mutant lovechild of a netbook and a cellphone 
Apple have proved that millions of people love their sleek, pocketable devices - they've hit the sweet spot regarding form factor. These devices are constrictive, whereas the N900 etc is bringing the flexibility and open nature of a linux netbook to this more highly portable format.
Apple have proved that millions of people love their sleek, pocketable devices - they've hit the sweet spot regarding form factor. These devices are constrictive, whereas the N900 etc is bringing the flexibility and open nature of a linux netbook to this more highly portable format.
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2009-10-07
, 18:16
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Posts: 2,173 |
Thanked: 2,678 times |
Joined on Oct 2009
@ Cornwall, UK
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#29
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Originally Posted by matthewcc
Interesting: Amazon.co.uk is describing it as "Nokia n900 Mobile Computer with Maemo software"
Amazon is describing it as "Nokia N900 Unlocked Cell Phone/Mobile Computer with 3.5-Inch Touch Screen, QWERTY, 5 MP Camera, Maemo Browser, 32 GB--U.S. Version with Full Warranty"
"This unlocked cell phone is compatible with GSM carriers like AT&T and T-Mobile. Not all carrier features may be supported. It will not work with CDMA carriers like Verizon Wireless, Alltel and Sprint."
Different marketting for different markets?
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Hi! I'm Kathy and I'm a Maemo Greeter! Welcome.
Useful links for newcomers: New members say hello , New users start here, Community subforum, Beginners' wiki page, Maemo5 101, Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Did you know Meego.com has forums too?
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2009-10-07
, 18:17
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Posts: 2,014 |
Thanked: 1,581 times |
Joined on Sep 2009
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#30
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Originally Posted by DaveP1
As an "advanced user" I want the POTENTIAL. Apps can always be written, but without the underlying hardware/OS to back them up its pointless. Android has shown that, the ability to write apps is easier than ever, but the hardware and the OS/Java platform is so lacking many "cool" ideas cannot be implemented.
I think these two phrases reflect a basic problem. The first is the idea of a platform. People don't buy platforms, they buy products. How many users of the iPhone know who makes its CPU, what speed it runs at, or what OS runs on top of it? They are interested in what the iPhone can do for them. If they need it to do something that it can't do out of the box, they'll look in the iPhone store and, if it's not there, they will either trade it in for a different phone or give up.
This brings up the second phrase which I will rephrase as "what do advanced users want?" For me the answer is a rich suite of applications which the N900 seriously lacks at the moment. In fact, I can't think of a single thing that the N900 has to offer an advanced user right now which can't be matched or bettered by another phone.
Granted, there is a great deal of potential in the OS but the Joe Average is looking for results. I don't buy a car based on how it can potentially be tuned to perform, I buy it based on how it performs when I drive it away from the dealer. A car tuner might look at what he could do to a car when deciding what to buy, a developer might look at what he can do to a phone when deciding what to buy, but Joe Average is into immediate gratification.
With maemo you have essentially a desktop equivalent linux install. Anything that can be written for Linux can in POTENTIA be ported to maemo (yes I know screen size issues etc aside). The only limitation is memory (mostly resolved by the ability to swap) and the CPU (pretty beefy in the n900). The OS is completely Opengl compliant which means any eye candy you could want can easily be implemented (and in many cases simply recompiled).
This device is a launch pad for the next generation of portable devices which will be targeted at the upcoming audience of VERY tech savvy kids coming up through the ranks. They will expect MORE from their devices.
That being said.Maybe this phone isn't for you "Average Joe" but I really don't think it couldn't be used by one.
Oh and as far as Apple hitting their mark. i quote my brother.
"No one every went broke appealing to the lowest common denominator"
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N900 isn't the finished product. It's a rung in the ladder for Nokia to be on top when the portable computer convergence roller coaster really begins.