Hello all,

My name is Dennis and I'm new to this forum. I'm a long time PDA user familiar with both Palm OS and Windows Mobile. In recent years I've come to relying on my PDA for multimedia and web access more than any other function.

My last PDA was a Palm TX. While it had some nice features (a sea of applications for just about any purpose, WiFi, Graffiti) it had many problems. I don't care for any of the web browsers for Palm OS. Graffiti 1 caused some system crashes (I despise Graffiti 2). The audio output was noisy - there's a background white noise always present. The biggest issue, however, was the poor quality digitizer. After less than 2 years of moderate use the digitizer failed. I replaced the digitizer and the new one failed after 3 months. Sold the TX as is.

Before the TX I was carrying a HP HX4700. Lots to like there but it too fell short as a connected device. IE for Windows Mobile is terrible and I could find no better alternative when I had the HX4700.

I'm currently carrying a HTC made T-Mobile Dash (WM6) that my employer issued to me. I am able to tether my laptop to it for web access on the go. It has also proven to be useful for PIM purposes.

When I went looking for a replacement for the TX I could not find a PDA that work well for web browsing and multimedia. I decided to continue using the company issued Dash as a PDA and skip replacing the TX. A week or so after selling the TX a friend dropped by with a Nokia N800. I was very impressed! It seems to be a perfect fit for what I want in a replacement for the TX!

After doing a little research I decided to purchase a N800. I considered the 810 but I don't need the GPS feature and the slide-out keyboard isn't worth the price difference for me. I should be receiving the N800 around the middle of next week. I'm looking forward to digging in! I've worked in the computer industry for more than 20 years and, although I have some Unix experience in my past, I've not done much with Linux. This should be fun!

I have OS 2008 ready for the N800's arrival - that will be first. I also have Garnet VM for OS 2008 ready to install. I'm hoping that Garnet VM will allow me to use a few Palm apps that I'd like to continue to use - we'll see.

This looks like a nice community and an excellent forum. I look forward to learning (and playing, and tweaking).

Just FYI, as a current and long-time palm (currently Treo 755p) user, and current n800 user, I can tell you that Palm still blows the doors off of the N800 for PIM purposes. Garnet VM is a cruel joke, IMO, but I suppose could work for some (limited) things.

As far as web/multimedia stuff goes, the N800 is pretty decent, though there really isn't much it can do that my treo can't (albeit with a much better screen). It's a neat toy, and, depending on who you are and what you used your palm for, it might be a replacement, but it's nowhere near the tool that the palm is.

Now if you're a linux guy, it's a little bit of Mecca.

Yeah, I gather from some reading here that GarnetVM isn't likely to do much for me. This is alright though. The few applications I was hoping to continue to use are far from critical and easily parted with. My business PIM needs are taken care of using the WM6 smart phone the company recently issued me. It's doing the job nicely. I've moved all of my personal calendar and contacts to Google and I've been using the smart phones browser to access & use this information for the last week or so. This is working out much better than I thought it would!

I plan to use the N800 primarily for web access and multimedia and, judging from my initial impressions and what I've read here, it should be just about ideal for me.