Now, now, those were hardware & software design decisions, not quality control issues.

Raz him for the SD corruption bug.

I am aware of that. Evolution of OS2007 is the best proof. Also hardware changes in 770->N800->N810 are good example of that (even I don't agree with some of them ). But in transition OS2007->OS2008 some lessons were unlearned. Also organizational machine screwed it big time.

I don't view N800 only negatively. It read itt for long time before I bought it. I knew what expect and those needs are fullfilled. Almost all recreational web browsing I am doing now on N800. Desktop is left only for work, mail, usenet. I am using N800 to take notes on meetings and in libraries. With help of web I was able to create half-decent Polish keyboard(s).

But with all those messing I feel IT is just few steps and some polish from really good, universal tool:

- USB host, with cheap SD cards it could be great databank for amateur photography (especially N800 with two slots) + all other benefits like el cheapo keyboards, pendrives, etc.
- bugs in keyboard layout and lack of documentation for advanced features
- hardware/software bugs - poweroff enigma...

These are only things which are bugging me on really daily basis.
-

Couldn't agree more, so I'll include a URL slasdot scripts. Personally I think you also need to install addblock plus. Since add servers are typically slow, and tend to deliver non-standard code. In a full size system you can have the programs to correct this but the IT is too slow. It's amazing how much removing adds improves the look and feel of the net. [ I'll finish this later problemm at aa DC]

<wakes up from drugs-induced, fever-ridden daze>

Huh?


<gently slides back into blessed unconsciousness>

Rant (snipped to save bandwidth)

Sounds to me like you have a defective IT. take it back and get a replacement. !!!

Bod.

This is a joke, right?

Do you really have a problem understanding what the N800 can be used for? Just because you flashed the firmware (as we all did), and installed many apps (some more than once as we all did), you truly can't see beyond that? Do you need some killer apps pointed out to you? Mobile VOIP, GPS, MP3, emails, ebook reader, pocket pdf reader, pocket games, scientific calculator and lots more.

Okay, the Media Player in OS2007 was worthless for videos but mplayer was there to fill-in.

I was looking at buying a UTstarcom F3000 WiFi VoIP Phone from VOIPsupply (or equiv.) when I determined the N800 was close to the same price and offered the WiFi SIP phone functionality (plus Skype) and a couple dozen other functions all in the same device. There was no question in my mind that the N800 was worth every penny I paid.

Sure the OS2008 release thing and the repository troubles were a bumpy few days. Those of us who had a clue helped each other to get the OS firmware with our own servers and then put the thing in a drawer for a few days until the repositories recovered.

But now that the cpu is @ 400mhz and my bluetooth headsets works in VOIP calls, and YouTube videos play nicely, and the USB port works in Host Mode, my N800 is "over the top" with regard what it can be used for.

I can see how someone who wasn't considering a UTStarcom WiFi VOIP phone (or NETGEAR SPH101, or Linksys WIP320, or BELKIN F1PP000GN) would not see things as a clear slam dunk as I did. If you are not a Skype or Gizmo user or (insert SIP provider here), and didn't use Meamo Mapper, FBReader, FREE42, Mplayer etc. what did you buy this for in the first place?

For all the people who complain that the N800 is a buggy beta product unfit for the consumer market, I don't feel those people have much perspective. Tell me what computer product sold to consumers is defect free. Didn't these people ever use DOS versions 1 &2, Windows versions 1 & 2, Windows 95?, 98? WindowsME (oh WinME was sooo bad), even linux was buggy and incomplete. Don't these people buy brand new cars that have design defects and manufacturing defects (and for big money)? Many people purchased N800's recently for ~$220, that is very little money for all the functionality they got. There are all kinds of laptop computers sold with design defects, and big screen TVs that die prematurely due to design defects. These products cost many times what a N800 costs. All of these examples are consumer products which are unworthy but people still purchase Fords, Chryslers, Dell, Toshiba, Gateway, Compaq, and Microsoft products year after year. I often joked that if Microsoft built cars or airplanes that the planet would be immensely littered with wreckage and dead bodies.....it isn't really a joke. Bluescreen of death.

The N800 and Maemo platform may not be perfect, but they are great, especially at the recent price point. If all you use it for is mobile VOIP and as an MP3 player it is worth $200. That is how I feel.

EDIT: Can someone tell me if FREE42 is available for OS2008? I miss it, since upgrading the OS.
UPDATE: I have FREE42 again... I had to install the N810 version from Tajuma.com (even though my IT is the N800).

That's the one I use for slashdot instead of the main site when on the tablet. Faster, with more info per page, works perfectly with optimized view on, and it works perfectly fine also with a slow GPRS connection. Not so good if you like to read more than 5 comments (and if they could have filtered out the 'Funny' comments then the signal-to-noise ratio would have been better as far as comments are concerned).

I've only seen scattered posts and haven't experienced those issues on my preproduction N810, so it would be difficult to speculate. I also have to be careful about uninformed speculation anyway. But I do wonder if the common element is not the battery itself. Too bad they're so expensive... that probably prohibits a lot of user testing...

It's gonna sound rude again, but anyone who asks "what do you use this thing for?" may have been better off not buying one in the first place.

I'm always asking "what ELSE can I use it for?"

Nicely said. My mind was blown recently when I experienced my first SSH session into my tablet from my Ubuntu server. It was literally like an epiphany occurred. Exploring various aspects of the tablet with help from these forums is now my hobby. I even find real uses for the various things I'm trying out too (e.g. SSH, Host mode, etc). I'm simply amazed at the stuff I can do with a pocket device that's a few hundred bucks.