I've been looking hard at the N900 as a replacement for my two year-old Blackberry 8330. From a hardware perspective, it's a no-brainer -- but that's to be expected when you're replacing years old hardware.

But from a software perspective, I've combed through the posts about the N900 and here are three important examples where the BlackBerry user experience seems superior to the N900. Maybe some can tell me if I'm missing something:

1. Mail

BlackBerry push mail is tightly integrated with Gmail and Yahoo mail. Mail appears almost instantaneously on my device, and all of my email accounts can appear as one stream, or as separate streams. Deleting mail on the device deletes it on Gmail/Yahoo.

Apparently, Nokia's OviMail is the equivalent of BlackBerry on S60 devices. But, according to this post on Maemo Guru, that's not what will be shipping with the N900. Instead, it's Modest email.

Modest supports IMAP-IDLE ("push"), but does it really work? Can I see all my inboxes in one stream on Modest?

2. Google Maps

Google Maps on BlackBerry look much better than Ovi Maps. I tried Ovi's latest web version and looked at reviews, and it appears that Ovi has nothing like Google's integration between search and navigation. For example, I can search for Thai restaurants near my current location, view the addresses and reviews of the results, call to make reservations, and get directions, all in one application.

Anything beyond simple mapping is an add-on for Ovi, and then the source of the data in Ovi is places like Lonely Planet (at an extra cost) which aren't comprehensive.

Is my take on Ovi Maps way off? Do Symbian users who have Gmaps find that Ovi is just as good? Is "POI" data any good?

3. Device notifications

Blackberry has the ability to have customized notification profiles, which control how each type of communication (SMS, email, phone, IM) rings, vibrates or lights up the device indicator. Blackberry "knows" when it is in a holster (via a magnet) and can change notification profiles depending on whether it is holstered or not.

I haven't seen anything like this for the N900. Have I missed something?

Thanks in advance to anyone with more experience with Nokia or Maemo who can help.

From what I've seen on screenshots, each account shows up separately, rather than having a universal inbox. Some people like to keep inboxes separate (e.g. work and home) and some people like them combined.

Maybe they'll be an option to combine them. Modest is open source so could possibly be hacked by the community.

Well if your primary concern is emails, then I would very much suggest a Blackberry, I have been using blackberrys for 3 years now and nothing comes close to what those guys at RIM do,

Regarding google maps, google should out a map version for maemo soon, so that should be ok, also I hear Navteq a Nokia subsidy is planning to get its GPS services on the N900, so that should take care of that

I have no idea about your third question I m afraid, prolly some of the other guys could answer that.

you should get the newest blackberry, i think it is 8900. If you are coming from a two yr old BB The nokia n900 will blow your mind, and maybe not in a good way.

If you just want to get out of the BB lockin chains and want something similar, i would suggest the e-series, like e71 or e72 coming out soon

Thanks for the reply. My guess is that Google won't bother to build a version of maps for Maemo until there are millions of people using Maemo, and I wonder if that's only going to happen in the next version. That's why I'm curious what Ovi Maps can do in the current version of Maemo.

Yeah. You should consider the N900 as a BB replacement only if Nokia releases Blackberry Connect for it.

Otherwise the feature parity will be too wide.

Wow! I'm shocked at the responses here. Definitely differing opinions from Maemo users versus Symbian users.

Nokia/Ovi Messaging isn't available for the N900 yet, but will provide PUSH email for up to 10 simultaneous accounts, including webmail. It keeps the accounts separate, unfortunately for your single stream preference, but it actually is a plus for me, and the interface is excellent. I'd wait for Nokia/Ovi Messaging on the N900 to be released before making the jump from the Blackberry to the N900.

True. You'll have to wait. But Nokia Messaging/Ovi Mail is a big part of Nokia's services strategy, and it is expected for the Maemo platform as well. Its not ready now, but is confirmed to be planned, and could still be ready by launch. We'll just have to wait.

Are you talking about Ovi Maps on the web or the dedicated application? When most Nokian users talk about Ovi Maps, they usually mean the on device application, not a website, which is nothing like the former. The Ovi Maps website is just getting started, but the app is a class leader.

I think you must understand that Ovi Maps is in a class above Google Maps on any device for a couple reasons. First, Ovi Maps allows sideloading of maps and offline map data. This means when you get dropped off in the middle of the Sahara with no cellular or data connection, your map software still works. You could theoretically find your way home with it, while Google Maps is a web service without offline maps.

Also, Ovi Maps is more closely integrated into the OS. It will allow other apps to use your map data stored on the device, and new apps for the Ovi API are coming all of the time.

Ovi Maps allows you to search for restaurants or anything else, and gives all the same information as Google Maps, including directions, for free. Turn by turn voice navigation is an extra cost handled by subscription, but route planning and directions are free. POI differ depending where you are, but developed countries are all pretty well covered. You can buy supplemental POI and guides from third parties, but they aren't necessary. Built-in POI is in depth and accurate for the US from my experience. The Lonely Planet stuff is commercial marketing stuff.

I've used Ovi Maps since it was Smart2Go, and it will be an upgrade from the Blackberry Google Maps service by far. Nokia owns Navteq, the world's leading cartography company that deals with world militaries and navigation software makers to supply the map data for their apps. This means Nokia's maps will be better than the competition most of the time. This is something that is overlooked, but it will make a difference down the road. Nokia saves money on map data, and makes more selling the data it owns. These cost savings mean more spent on developing the Ovi Map experience.

I'd suggest you find a friend with an Nseries or Eseries device and try the Ovi Maps application for yourself. You'll see it is full featured, and you can install the maps you need at your PC or OTA while navigatiing, either one. It is a great app you can't overlook. I only use Google Maps for quick stuff, since it seems to connect to the GPS quicker, but when travelling away from home, its Ovi only.

I'm an avid and long time Symbian user, and I'm speaking on the Nokia "way", not the N900 or Maemo 5, which I obviously haven't used yet. But Nokia devices have always had PROFILES that allowed customized alerts for each type of notification. You could also select custom alerts for individual contacts by setting an alert in the contact application.

Nokia has always allowed any audio file to be used as a ringtone, and some MP4 videos as well! Nokia is OPEN, the biggest advantage coming from a Blackberry to a Nokia smartphone.

As for the profile "awareness", the Nokia N900 doesn't support changing profiles when in a holster (they still allow those in your city?? just joking...) out of the box. But the Symbian ecosystem had various apps that use the clock, light sensor, proximity sensor, and/or accelerometer to change the profile based on these settings. I'd expect those same applications for the Maemo ecosystem, but we'll probably have to wait for the community to provide them.

The N95 was out for about a few months before we began seeing them in development, and that was for a device with unprecedented hardware, and the ideas were new. The N900, albeit a juggernaut, isn't very different from previous high end Symbian devices, so the space will be filled with apps similar to those on other similarly equipped Symbian hardware. This is an assumption, and you'll hear people say I'm only speculating, but being close to many Symbian developers, I can assure you that many apps will be coming from that side into the Maemo space.

Navteq is Nokia's cartography division. Ovi Maps is that service you mention, and it will ship on the N900.

I have to remember this. You're so right. The N900 is so amazing, if I had a BB and depended on it for work, I'd STILL carry the N900 BECAUSE it will blow my mind, but it may not be a good experience for all. The N900 allows so much, I'm not interested in what it won't allow simply because of its open nature. It is capable of doing whatever we want it to do. That is the N900's selling point. You can get the N900 to do anything. You can't do the same for the BB, no matter how hard you try.

I guess I agree with you, this time, but only for the email part. I'd actually stick with the BB and wait for the N900 to get it right before spending $500+ on an Eseries, as long as the wait isn't over 4 months from release.

I think you're right about this. Nokia's N900 launch page shows Yahoo as one of the supported services, and the only way I can think they'd do that is Ovi Mail, because Yahoo does not support IMAP without paying an extra fee.

Thanks a lot for your overview of the "Nokia way". I agree that the best thing for me to do would be to look at someone's Nokia smartphone, but my friends all have blackberries and iPhones.

Well, I'm a current hardcore blackberry user who is FULLY fed up with it's low amount of ram (I'm on a Bold 9000, I've had every device (GSM Device) that has been released, 8100, 8300, 8800, 8900, 9000 and 9500) and it's always the same device. I feel very locked into their system and as of lately their system hasn't been working that well. Instant messaging options are very limited (BBM is breaking down and has been like this for 4 months and hasn't been fixed yet either), and the VERY limited resources on the phone make it difficult to install lots of apps. Having to do battery pulls every day are nagging me because I want to keep SOME apps on my phone. Graphics are low. Games SUCK. The ONLY thing that they have going for them is PUSH EMAIL. Imap Idle is a solid. I love it. If not, you can sign up for nuevasync dot com, and you can get push email for gmail and push contacts and calendar. I've used it on WinMo, the iPhone and now I'll give it a try on the N900. It works very well.... So that should take care of the Push Email. If IM is well integrated and doesn't lose connection every 5 min (like android) or BB (every 6 hours on native IM apps) then I'll be SOOOOOOOOOOOO happy! . I just want a nice new device. Push email (multiple options here, and Nokia Messaging coming soon) and a nice OS. Let's see how the battery holds up I'm a heavy emailer and a heavy instant messenger (I will have to use GPRS like I used on the BB, which will be noticeably slower due to the lack of data compression).

I'm too excited about this change of device and OS to go back now. I've pre-ordered my N900, and im' excited. It's a change from the aging oses, Symbian & BBOS. Palm's Web OS, OSX and MAEMO seem like REALLY good Operating systems. Each with their pros and cons. OSX is simplistic. Palms Web OS is ... well... Palms Web Os xD Lol. And Maemo I've never had, and I'm going to give it a try I was debating between the Pre and the N900, and the huge keyboard was a deal breaker .

Really, what's YOUR reason for staying with blackberry? Company infrastructure? Then stay with BB. They're AWESOME at Push Email and making beautiful devices. But it's OS is archaic, yet functional. I need some bling bling.