I can walk across the office and get a cup of coffee or go outside and work on my fence with my internet radio in my pocket. My home computer would need two hands to lift, and the power cord isn't very long

And you shouldn't sit in front of your computer too much, it isn't good for your health

Really? I must disagree. Take some time to actually try reading with it. Mess about with font size and stuff. I found that once I got the settings right, I could read huge Neil Stephenson novels without any eye strain. I'd say reading from the tablet's screen is actually easier than from a book (except when outside in bright light). The crisp text, high contrast and back lighting really make reading enjoyable. And I can read in bed with the lights out without disturbing my wife!

I've been looking for a good e-book reader for a long time, and I've been very disappointed by the other options I've seen. Either the text is chunky, the screen is low contrast, the form factor is unwieldy, or there's something else wrong.

The tablets are great for reading e-books. I feel I've got some authority here; I'm a lifelong book reader. I've been tearing through stacks of novels for at least 30 years.

No Exchange support is a dealbreaker? That's like saying no MS Office document support is a dealbreaker. Perhaps Exchange support would be nice if you work in an office that has been lured away from standards-compliance by Microsoft, but there are workarounds even for those sad situations (eg. Texrat's web-based solution).

As for GMail access, I'd say Modest, while still beta, is close enough for most geeky types to live with. It does a fine job of GMail IMAP.

Not sure what add-ins you're looking for, and what coffin you're talking about, but some of the most popular ones have been ported over here. This being an open software platform, I'm sure others would appreciate it if you ported the ones you need and made them available for us.

Dude. What consumer level? There's no such thing as a consumer level for these things. This is cutting edge technology. I'm glad Nokia released the tablets before achieving this mythical consumer level. Why? Because getting to consumer level always involves a lot of paid developer time that drives the price up (for the iConsumer) and a lot of closed, secret beta testing that I can't be a part of. This way, I get to geek out on the coolest device that I've ever owned, and I paid half of what an iConsumer would have paid.


If you're bringing Windows vs Linux into the conversation (are you the same guy who said MS Exchange support was essential?), then NITs are exactly like desktop Linux. If you roll up your sleeves, pop open the hood and do some tinkering, you can get your tablet purring beautifully. But even desktop-centered Linux distributions like Ubuntu don't have the polish and ease-of-use that Mac or Windows has. The tablets are the same way, you sacrifice some polish for a whole lot more control and flexibility. Sure, no multitouch. But no jailbreaking required, either.

I love these threads; it always gets me worked up when people tell me my baby is ugly.

My bad. Looked like a demand from where I sit... especially the "give me" and "some time tomorrow" parts.

But I'm glad I didn't disappoint you with my response. Can I get you to fill out a Curmudgeon's Satisfation card?

Oh wait-- there is something truly wrong with that...

good ones to add to my regional vocabulary for the next time I'm in NC (Mt Mitchell area is lovely)

as for the rest of the iBoreThreads.......
"deila um keisarans skegg"






Jæja, en áfram med sm jörid

Quite right. It took 3 years for PDAs to become awesome,from 94 to 97.

As do I...I think. I'm not really sure what's behind that curtain. Maybe Exchange and Outlook can go away now.

actually i got gorram from watchin firefly...the regional dialect took me some time to get used to skreet instead of street...skrimp instead of shrimp...etc...

Isn't it cool: I think my n800 is currently the greatest thing since sliced time and you think your tablet is crap. I think that's cool. Just sayin'.

I stopped for fuel at a country station in NC and a sign on the pump read "No Cridit". so I paid in cash...... But they wouldn't take my dollar coin (bad luck apparently) and was forced to use another $20 bill. grrr.

I can't get used to what they say up here at the coffee shops: "double double please". still gives me shivers.

I like accents and idioms. Isn't this more fun than arguing over imaginary shortcomings of the N8* (or promised pluses of the iSaviour)?

Well, the OMP came out in 1993, for 3.5-4 years, actually.

Which '97 release are you discussing?
A kilobuck for a PDA (a brief Google says $950 original price, anyway) isn't necessarily mainstream ready, but the MP 1000 would certainly qualify as awesome.
The PalmPilots (Personal and Professional), OTOH, might make the mainstream-ready cut, but don't fit your word "awesome"...

Oh well, two device families, one for low-end, one for high-end... Yep, awesome it was. If only I'd had any money back then.

Make it stop...... The title says "NITs - what are they good for... ???" but all I hear in my head is:::

War, huh, yeah
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Uh-huh
War, huh, yeah
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Say it again, y'all

War, huh, good God
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Listen to me

Ohhh, war, I despise
Because it means destruction
Of innocent lives

War means tears
To thousands of mothers eyes
When their sons go to fight
And lose their lives

I said, war, huh
Good God, y'all
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Say it again

War, whoa, Lord
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Listen to me

War, it ain't nothing
But a heartbreaker
War, friend only to the undertaker
Ooooh, war
It's an enemy to all mankind
The point of war blows my mind
War has caused unrest
Within the younger generation
Induction then destruction
Who wants to die
Aaaaah, war-huh
Good God y'all
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Say it, say it, say it
War, huh
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Listen to me

War, huh, yeah
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Uh-huh
War, huh, yeah
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Say it again y'all
War, huh, good God
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Listen to me

War, it ain't nothing but a heartbreaker
War, it's got one friend
That's the undertaker
Ooooh, war, has shattered
Many a young mans dreams
Made him disabled, bitter and mean
Life is much too short and precious
To spend fighting wars these days
War can't give life
It can only take it away

Ooooh, war, huh
Good God y'all
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Say it again

War, whoa, Lord
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Listen to me

War, it ain't nothing but a heartbreaker
War, friend only to the undertaker
Peace, love and understanding
Tell me, is there no place for them today
They say we must fight to keep our freedom
But Lord knows there's got to be a better way

Ooooooh, war, huh
Good God y'all
What is it good for
You tell me
Say it, say it, say it, say it

War, huh
Good God y'all
What is it good for
Stand up and shout it
Nothing