I doubt QT will make everything fine, but it does give a path. For example QT across Windows, OSX, and Linux does a few glitches and bugs. But the capability to run Amarok in say both Windows and Linux is wonderful.

Likewise I predict a whole lot of initial problems since Meego will be running on so many variants of hardware. But eventually being able to run the same app across different architectures would be wonderful.

The whole Meego thing has been interesting. From one point of view, it gives Maemo and Moblin legs to stand on, as Android increasingly becomes a competitor (one of the many reasons of its success is the many angles of attack Android has). Don't like the Droid? Fine get the Nexus One. Don't like that? Ok get another device, but they all run Android. Meego, has the potential to do the same thing.

On the other hand it adds a slew of problems that now have to be addressed lest each Meego distro runs apps designed only for that system. QT cross-compatibility is the proposed solution for that problem. So while it won't solve everything, it provides a path.

Otherwise everything will be run through a java bytecode interpreter. =P

I'm optimistic that a community port of MeeGo will be available for the n900. Maybe even reasonbly quickly.

I'm somewhat pessimistic regarding drivers for the phone, wi-fi, gps, bluetooth, and cameras. If any of these drivers are fully open source, great. But I think at least some of them are closed, and the community is at Nokia's mercy in getting them to work in meego.

the N95 had recently another bug-fixing update. almost 3 years after release date. No new features, no new OS but it's overall faster and with better battery life they say (haven't tried that yet)
stop whining about short support. Anyway that's why we got a smartphone, all the missing sw features will come as 3rd party apps eventually. I agree that we are somehow being used as freelance nokia quality controllers but stopping filing bugs is no good neither to us nor to the future of the niche kind of device we love having. That kind of response will surely lead to iphonization.
________
ROLL A JOINT

Why would anyone work on new apps from this point forward? I mean I'm sure apps for maemo in the works will continue but why new apps?

If you'll allow me to play devils advocate: Would you you buy a brand new n900 with the news from the past 3 days? I know if I hadn't already bought mine I would have waited to find out more. It isn't like any other device runs maemo 5 limiting it's reach and of appeal for support. The number of people, relatively speaking who have maemo 5 is very small, and the number isn't going to noticeable increase in this environment.

I don't believe it is all doom and gloom at this point; though things aren't clear either. QT could be a highlight if all goes in way it has been suggested being able to use (some number) new meego apps. Also the n900 would make a great test platform for meego so there would be incentive to have it ported unofficially sooner than later.

Lets be realistic also about what we expect out of our n900's. Most, not all, but most of use will replace the phone between one and two years regardless of having maemo or meego. In a year from now there will certainly be a much more powerful devices that have had the most critical bugs worked out.

I said all that to say this...yeah things aren't ideal for the n900 at the moment. Being a N900 owner I understand why some are stressed about the current news. But It's a great phone.....not a great house. Get a year or so out of it and get the next latest and greatest.

N900 running meego would be the coolest though, if meego is as great has we assume it will be.

i filed a bug against maemo 4 when i noticed it on my n810. the bug is still there in maemo 5, but the bug report now contains information that it's fixed in their internal builds and the fix will be in the next upgrade (PR1.2) probably.

this won't fix it on my n810, but it'll fix it for me. my report wasn't useless. the code that contains the bug is in maemo 4 and maemo 5.

i expect similar things to happen with fremantle>harmattan and harmattan>meegoAfterHarmattan. the existing code doesn't disappear. it's still the same building blocks that you also find on most any gnu/linux desktop or laptop. (in fact, filing bugs against maemo now might even fix them on your ubuntu laptop if they turn out to be upstream bugs)

"whatever Nokia and Intel are smoking in their pipes"

there fixed it for you

The OP's idea is silly:

Before:
Team working on Maemo 5 updates
Team working on Maemo 6 / Harmattan
No promise for Maemo 6 / Harmattan on N900

After:
Team working on Marmo 5 updates
Team working on Maemo 6 / Meego / Harmattan
No promise for Meego / Harmattan / Meego on N900

What HAS changed though is that Meego is developed more in the open than Maemo ever was, which means it should be easier for the community to take Meego as base for a new OS for N900..

I can understand the hurt and disappointment the OP feels, but not reporting bugs would be cutting off your nose to spite your face. Just about the only form of limited support Nokia is providing the N900 is with bug fixes, they are far to slow to be released but they are happening.. we believe.. eventually... in 1.2 we trust.

By not reporting bugs, all you are achieving is making sure they are not discovered meaning you'll have to live with them. Everything coming from Nokia suggests that from this point forward the N900 is firmly in the back of their minds, so we can't honestly expect these bugs to be discovered through testing at Nokia labs. They will be concentrating on MeeGo and the N900 successor.

So what can you do to register your protest? I don't know, but the obvious one is voting with your dollars. I'm relatively lucky in that I have a 12 month contract, shorter than a lot of people. I'm counting down the months and, if things haven't changed, I will pick up something better and will be leaving the N-series and Nokia behind. Word of mouth is also an easy one, let your friends/family blogs know about your experiences. We seen by the usb adapter problem having been ignored by Nokia until it was on Engadget that Nokia doesn't feel that bothered to listen to individual customers but is very concerned about it's reputation on the blogosphere.

You should all take a look at http://talk.maemo.org/showthread.php?t=45213 to calm your fears a bit. I think you're going a bit overboard and missing the big picture.

Stskeeps, I did read your post and I appreciate the time you have taken to write it. It didnt really calm my fears to be honest.

Your first answer starts

"If Nokia will do this, it's obvious that community versions for N900 of MeeGo and Maemo 6 can exist..."

From what they have done so far, I see no reason to stop worrying It would be nice if Nokia themselves would come out with a statement which answers questions like those posed in your post.

I may just be a bit of a doom and gloomer