I am drooling over it, I must admit, but I have some questions, I will do my best to be specific of my needs. I am an experienced Linux user. I am looking to be done the PDA scene, I hate pocket PC, and Palm OS looks like a limited future. I also am doing away with my laptop as it is just plain overkill for what I need. So my solution is I am thinking the N800.

I intend to use it for, playing some multimedia, some voip and video conf (recreational not business related communication), internet browsing, and well general gadget geekery (I will get to that in a minute). I will be in WIFI range or using a 3G connection over Bluetooth most of the time. I will be expanding with SD cards immediately. I would like to be untethered power wise no matter what.

OK so here are some of my questions:

1. What methods does the N800 have to connect with another computer apart from WIFI and bluetooth (USB maybe?) and what OS options, I deal with both XP and Linux on a daily basis. Linux usually I am using Simply Mepis which is an Ubuntu based distro.

2. How does one install software on the N800, can I compile source in the attempt to port over existing applications.

3. Some things I would like for it if they exist are the following, (if not can I port them)

a. a simple FTP transport (I do some web editing so I typically need to bring down a php, html or css file on occasion)

b. a pseudo-IDE text editor like say Kate or Kwrite. I can live with just VIM really.

c. a graphics editor of some sort GIMP would be nice!

d. a mod tracker, preferrably Milky or Skale but I can live with Cheese or Soundtracker if need be.

e. Other various "gravy" music programs such as LMMS, Hydrogen, or audacity, oh and XMMS.

f. how about running KDE based apps. Most specifically I would be interested in Kopete.

Anyway I know this might seem an unfeasible list to some. In some ways I would like the challenge of getting these to port. I know I can also VPN to a computer running them most days as well. My PIM functionality can be entirely handled these days online or via my cell phone or both. This device will be more personal related than biz related.

Thoughts, comments, concerns, quips even?

Ken

1 - samba client and server as well as ssh-fuse
2 - apt-get and a nifty front end app for packages supplied. compiled code... dunno

1. None, wifi, bluetooth, thats it. You can connect the SD/MMC cards to a pc via usb.

2. Its debian based, so apt-get vial a root shell or the application manager which is a front end for it.

3.
a. Not sure if its there already or not, but the bsd ftp is cli and small, should be easily compilable

b. Already has vi on it, and I think I saw VIM in the app list

c. The size of such an app and the memory needed/libraries needed, not to mention the hildon interface, make gimp all but impossible

d. don't know what these are

e. audacity wouldn't work, no right click, also that interface wouldn't work with hildon. the build in media player is ok, and the Canola front end is really nice

f. You would need all the kde libs.. some people have tried for simple apps, but its not likely.. however gaim is avalible


Also keep in mind, this isn't an x86 system. Its an arm processor, so stuff you just compile on your desktop won't work on this. There is an sdk to give you an arm enviorment though

Mod trackers are one of the oldest music composition programs, they use tiny samples and a keyboard interface (usually) to process the sample in a pattern. The first 2 are more advanced fast tracker style programs the latter 2 were more basic style. Trackers go back to the old Amiga and Commodore days and there have been DOS versions as well.

Side note question, does the sound chip in the N800 have any MIDI functionality?

Ken

One more question, is there anyway, via an adapter to connect via LAN?

Ken

One more question, has anyone tried the N800 bluetooth with the LGCU500 from Cingular or any Cingular phone for that matter.

Ken

connect via copper(cat[56]) no you can't.

Tried with a cingular phone.. yup

I have a slvr.. I can get DUN working, but its only 2G so its painfully slow.. but better than nothing.

As for midi, don't know. However I think you may be looking for just a bit more out of the tablet than is there.

Don't get me wrong.. I love mine, and when I travel, and its not for work, I am not even taking a laptop. This thing will give me all the computer I need on vacation, even ssh back to servers and what not.

OK thanks for the Cingualr and Lan info. Did some research on Milky Trackers site and they have a version for Linux on ARM processors.

http://www.milkytracker.net/?DOWNLOADS

Looks like it was intended for the Zaurus but I am thinking that will bring me really close for getting it on the N800.

Ken

go to www.maemo.org and check the wiki for the howto to install the sdk platform.. then you can try to compile your milky thing for sure

Any updates on the Milky Tracker compile? I could never get it to work on my model of Zaurus and since I bought two n770's for me and my gal I'm having hope to find some music creation software for our 770's.
Thanks.