I live in the UK where 'Comes with Music' is reported to have 33000 users

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/10...a_cwm_figures/

Sure. The same things were said about Android and the G1 when I pre-ordered it. They'll never compete with Apple and the iPhone with all it's apps, etc. etc.

But...even though the G1 and Android as first released were FAR more limited than the iPhone, as in:

a. A very, VERY basic, plain-Jane UI, no virtual keyboard, no auto-rotate, etc. etc.
b. Had few pre-installed apps, some were trash and almost nothing in the apps market.
c. Was missing many ordinary functions like bluetooth transfer, etc. etc..
c. Only one kinda goofy-looking phone with very limited memory was available for many months.
d. Initially was only available in the US and only on the #4 carrier.

I could go on, but you get the idea. Point is, despite all these shortcomings Android is now booming and the Android Market just passed 10,000 apps.

The N900/Maemo right now is light years ahead of where the G1/Android was only a year ago. Plus it has a friggin' global monster - Nokia - and a very active OSS community backing it.

No worrry. Maemo will do just fine...

I'd be wary to pit N900\Maemo against Android, iPhone or even the Pre at this point in terms of commercial success because Nokia is releasing the device at a pre-mainstream level AFAIK.

The battle will commence on Maemo 6 imho.