OK,
Hello all

I didnt wanna hijack the other guys thread thats why I'm starting this one

I am an extreme newbie.

I just got my n800 today and I am charging it now. I have the update downloaded and ready to install.

I also have an 8 gig card I bought with it.

What exactly do I need to do to have this thing working great?
Leave the card out until I update?

What programs do you recomend I go find and install? and what do they do?

Again I am a complete newbie when it comes to the n800 and the linux os. I am computer efficient (win xp) I just dont wanna mess this thing up and I want to learn and know about all the great things this can do.

A nice new updated tutorial/walkthrough would be great!

Thanx all and I hope in the future I can be of some help to someone else.

bornfree

Welcome.

As for the memory card, there's no reason to insert it before reflashing. You do need to decide whether it's going in the internal slot or the external slot. The only difference is the the control panel applet only will put the swap file on an internal card. You can easily change your mind later.

The non-preinstalled application I use the most is mplayer. In my opinion, it's the only video player worth using. You should be able to install it from maemo.org

Thanx Ace

Do all programs have to be downloaded to my pc and then installed from there (like the update to os2008) or can I download them directly to the n800?

For instance the Mplayer or game emulators?

Also, since this is a brand new unit I shouldnt have to back up anything? or should I? Told you I was a noob...lol

OK, getting tired. I'll just let this go till tomorrow.

Thanx all

bornfree13

As there is no "step-by-step" manual as 'out-of-the-box' the n8x0 work fine 'as-is', however, if you like 'add-ons' much like a new window to your home or a sound system to your auto, all I can give you is my experience.

I spent, hey I am slow, about 100 hours over six months, reading all posts and then trying everything that sounded "GREAT" posted.

Here is my list, other than stock installs:

Easy to install , load-applet , Midnight Commander, openssh, Becomeroot, WinSCP, Putty, Statusbar-clock, and Canola

Takes work/effort to get it right - GPE-Calendar , Erminig, and Personal Menu


To use your windows PC/Laptop,

openssh
Becomeroot
WinSCP
Putty


is the easiest and fastest, IMHO.

Sorry you will have to spend a few days reading looking/searching on "how-to", maybe one of these days I will get around to making a full how-to....

I decided to also give a few screen shots of WinSCP/Putty with 1st set of instructions to install programs...

Once you have WinSCP/Putty working you do "apt-get install load-applet" at the #.....

Also search for apt-get for a host of other 'cool' things....

The only thing you need a separate computer for is a full reflash of everything, like the update to OS2008. The N800 has a program called "Application Manager", which is a friendly way to install programs. You can also install programs easily from maemo.org, just browse on over from your N800.

As for App. Manager (or more technical programs like the afforementioned apt-get), you'll need to make sure it has the appropriate repositories (servers) enabled to install most of the cool software (under "tools > app catalog" in App. Manager's menu). I can't recall what the defaults are, but you want maemo extras. Either enable it in the menu or try installing something from maemo.org like Mplayer or Maemo Mapper. Before the maemo.org install can procede, App. Manager will prompt you to enable the appropriate repository.

I can't think of anything to backup off a fresh install. There's a preinstalled tool for backing up user settings/files (which I haven't tried). But that's pointless to use, before you have added anything to backup

There's a video that comes with OS2007, I think, and a different one with OS2008. If you really, really like Nokia advertising, you could back that up...

No, nothing worth backing up.

If you are a complete Noob you should check out http://tabletschool.blogspot.com if you start at the beginning of the video archive soon you will understand a lot about how the tablet operates. I can't recommend many other sites as you'll find a if you are a Linux novice that is about the only site that caters to your level of knowledge.

I got mine less than 24 hours ago and can attest to the fact that the "instructions" are scant - especially for a device that is loaded with variables. So, to begin, I had a few goals:

Fully charge the battery. Took about 2.5 hours. Then, to get a feel for OS2007 - just to see if my plan to upgrade was too hasty. I could see within moments that the performance on 2007 was lacklustre based on the video tutorials I had seen, so I played around for a few hours, without adding any files or prefs, while I figured out the upgrade process.

Windows users have a straightforward upgrade path, it seems, while us Mac users, not so much. Nonetheless, after getting some "General" help (he's a bit grumpy, but comes through with the goods..), I was able to d/l the upgrade and by following the directions, performed the u/g in literally seconds - WOW, fast, and it worked perfectly.

The dearth of clear instructions gives a new user the idea/fear that there might be more to read/know about this, but I am starting to see that what seems like over-edited instructions are really all that is necessary.

As mentioned, past the OS upgrade, and possibly a mass-dump of media files, the tablet does the rest with an internet connection and its own tool-set. Really slick.

As for going from 2Ghz to 400Mhz and 22" to 4" well, that is just an adjustment for anyone to make for themselves - I see some who must have pretty high expectations as they are selling units within days/weeks, but for me it's exactly what I wanted.

Of course, if you are already a DOS/Terminal whiz, disregard everything above..;-)