There are a half dozen threads on how to install software and another half dozen on emulators and about a million N900 sucks/rocks threads all kicking around in the first page or two. Could a mod please sticky a post with basic answers to these and lock/delete/incinerate/merge/whatever the redundant ones that show up?

Moderator, please merge this thread ("Sticky rules & FAQ post in N900") with this one: "Is there any form of moderation on these forums?".

Not really the same thing at all. A lot of the volume and noise could be reduced by having a sticky thread answering the basic trendy questions as they arise and a rule/policy/practice of weeding out or aggressively merging threads that cover those. I'm aware that there are mods here, i just don't think they make their job and our experience as pleasant as it could be with a bit more policy, structure, and enforcement.

As a N810 owner who has been trying to follow the N900 threads with a thought to upgrading, there are two troubling tendencies. The first is, as mentioned, the tendency of new users to post questions to which there are already answers in other posts. The second is for cranky developers to rant at the new users.

A prominent FAQ link is sorely needy and N900 users need to update the FAQ with answers to questions that pop up.

I would suggest that the current wiki could serve as the repository for the FAQ but if it is to do that the structure should be changed to make the N900 a primary node. This would restructure the current:

# 4 Hardware
* 4.1 N900
* 4.2 (Older) Internet Tablets
* 4.3 Battery
# 5 Software and Usage
* 5.1 Operating System
* 5.2 Games
* 5.3 Other Applications

To:

# 4 N900 / Maemo 6 / Fremantle
* 4.1 Hardware
* 4.2 Operating System
* 4.3 Applications
# 5 Older Devices
* 5.1 Hardware
* 5.2 Operating System
* 5.3 Applications

good ideas guys.

i would be willing to help if any is needed.

The content, shape and layout of the wiki and FAQ are under discussion at UX meet Code in Barcelona, this weekend. Hopefully we´ll see some things streamlined there.

As you say, there´s deperate need for some consoliditation of the good information available. Though I fear the noise will only abate in time and we have to ride it out a bit longer.