Originally Posted by fatalsaint

On topic: The only thing that makes the N900 more of a mobile computer is the OS IMHO. Technically Android and the iPhone 4 (has to be 4, no one will ever convince me a phone that can't multi-task is a mobile computer..) could be considered one but their OS just screams "mobile phone" as that is completely what they are designed around.. the phone. Plus.. an entire Java-based desktop OS is just... an ugly thought. The N900's OS is more closely related to Desktop and Laptop OS's already established on the market. The multi-tasking sub-system isn't hampered, altered, or screwed with any way to try and "optimize" the "phone" experience by automatically picking random targets and killing them, or closing them into 'save states' to save on memory.

Some may think the latter is a good thing for a phone, I don't necessarily disagree, but it would be horrible on a mobile computer.

Originally Posted by ChoMar

Almost. The Keyboard is another point. The rest of the HW has about the same functionality as most Android Phones.

Originally Posted by ysss

Though I agree that multitasking is important, I don't think it defines what 'computers' are either. Moreover, I think it's borderline right-wing talk, when you prefer something just because it's the known and familiar standard/implementation. Yes, I can see that the -current- multitasking implementations on iOS and Android are incomplete, just like the rest of their features-set are compared to their desktop brethren; but those are obviously work in progress and they may even one day overtake the 'personal computing' space when they reach feature-parity with what we currently know as 'computers'.

Originally Posted by fatalsaint

The known standard/implementation is what makes an item what it is.

Therefore, currently, the N900 more fits the description of a mobile computer than any other (phone) device until such time as Android, iOS or Chrome OS, or whatever - can take over the desktop computing market share with some new innovative way to work with desktops/non-touch screen devices.

Originally Posted by ysss

Lastly, let's remember what brought us here... people are looking for an excuse/justification for its deficiency compared to those devices classed as 'smartphones', thus the argument of 'more like mobile computers'

Originally Posted by fatalsaint

Justification is like masturbation - you're only screwing yourself.

I personally don't buy into the excuses that it does or doesn't do X because of Y or Z. I don't care.

The "phone" on it works fine for me.

The "computer" on it works fine for me.

The N900 works fine for me. And it works more consistently with multi-tasking than Android ever did for me.

Thus.. it is the right device for me... mobile computer, phone, smartphone, or any other name. It just is what it is and it works for me.

Anything that can be done on the N900 can be on done Android if someone were to write it. Same for vice-versa. As long as the hardware is there, the application can be made.

Whether or not one is more of a mobile computer or not, to me, implies that it operates more consistently with how you expect a computer to operate. Currently the N900 operates exactly like I expect my Desktop to operate... Android does not. Therefore, IMHO, the N900 is more of a "computer" than Android. In the sense that Linux means GNU/Linux, by "computer" I'm not talking about the static "computer" definition of "performing calculations automatically".. technically we could call a "calculator" a "computer" - I'm using "computer" in the generic vernacular that one would link to a Personal Computer, Desktop or Laptop.