Thanks ArnimS! That's the only positive thing I've read about my video response in this thread. It seems there are some really bitter feelings out tthere about the finalists. I would like to thank the judges for considering me one of the top five amongst so many very creative videos. I submitted my most original use for my tablet, and that's with my motorcycle. I don't know of many geeks that like gadgets and are mecanics too. Having my internet tablet has been extremely handy in my daily life. Sometimes I wonder how I got along without it before. Good luck to everyone!!!

I don't think anyone was really being bitter. Some people flat out said they didn't think it should've made it, but I see that as their honest opinion, not bitterness.

Mechanic with a tablet is fine with me. You are correct in that you are probably pretty unique in using a tablet for your motorcycle specs. You submitted your best use. I've got a dozen instructional pdfs & manuals on my tablet too - so that by itself is not unique. When I'm working on anything that is motorized; I can't keep my hands clean enough to use the tablet. I need a printout. In the construction realm of things: it is not rugged enough. I've got for instance manuals to build greenhouses. It is good as an extra reference, if you only need to look up one or two things along the way. Any more than that and you're better with paper. It can't be used directly in the line of construction & mechanics as far as I'm concerned. It is too delicate, will get damaged, etc.

Your entry fit the bill for the giveaway. Some people just happen to think there were better entries to get spot number #5 and I think the 4-way race shows that. That's the way it is.

No hard feelings.

Would love to catch up an talk about bikes & tablets. Check out your bike. Swap stories. If we were living in the same vicinity.

Joe, if it makes you feel better, you would have been my second choice. Too bad we don't run preferential voting here...

Worst case scenario for you, Joe, is that you're number 5 out of 32! Of particular note during finalist deliberation was how you kept going back to the central theme of using the internet tablet to help with your day-to-day life.

Again - determining finalists was HARD, but we had to do something. I encourage other users to visit the other videos, rate them, comment on them, and learn from what others do as well.

I saw every entry at least once, because I watched them all back to back on Saturday with my wife. I rated my favorite 10 or so.

Curious who will win, so I'm keeping an eye on the voting.

Thanks for the words Thoughtfix. By the way, I've been a big fan of your blog for a while now, keep up the good work! I truly am flattered to be among the top five, this is true, but I also wish my video was competing a little more shall I say fiercly with others, but I'm alright with where it's at. I gave it my best, and the judges saw my video response as fitting the contest criteria...thanks! Who knows, maybe by Friday some people will have a change of heart. (finger's crossed) Thanks for the contest Thoughtfix, this was fun to show off how cool internet tablets are, the most important thing I think.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXcC204XO6g

A number of people I've talked to mentioned that they liked the ad at the end of my entry (Pkicktalk) with the disappearing gadgets, but thought it shouldn't be at the end.... I don't disagree, so I posted it as its own entity on YouTube if anyone wants to just check that out!

I was thinking last night about some of the technology I've seen in developing countries and it would be neat to hear some dialogue. It seems to me that in most places, besides with the introduction recently of the OLPC that technology gets passed onto developing communities in 3rd world countries. There's a huge market for technology in the world, and it seems silly that countries aren't developing and marketing to some of those places. I thought the Motofone F3 was a neat product, http://www.motorola.com/consumer/v/i...ow=productHome , but I don't think it took off too well.

I talk to people on facebook, email and skype in Africa as I mention in my video entry, but a statistic in "The Economist" said that the total number of people with internet access in all of Africa is similar to the number in Ireland. There are 800 million people in Africa! But think about this. One of the biggest growing industries in Africa has been the cell phone market. Countries couldn't afford the infrastructure of landlines, and so cell phones have rocketed in sales. People who never had phones now can call me in Cleveland, Ohio. It's pretty crazy. So will Web 2.0 have the same effect as cell phones, thus skipping Web 1.0 just as landline phones never took off?

There are a number of fiber optic initiatives in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans to build capacity, and wimax had potential in Africa, but what uses of technology can be developed for 3rd world countries? Micro-financing has taken off because of the internet and there's a lot of potential for more. I think the technology is around, but what software can be useful for what? It's only fair for everyone in the world to have the same opportunities, and that's the beauty of the internet... it's an equal platform!

Just something to think about . . . Good luck voting for those of you that are still thinking about this!
-Aaron

I don't know if you were referring to me as the bitter one, because I'm not, if I REALLY wanted to win the N810, I would have had my girl in the video with her 38DDs (no she's not fat)...or have her make the video herself, and I would have had my cake and eaten it too...I just entered to enter...just wanted to clear things up. Everyone has their opinion...it's not a matter of fact, but I don't like the top 5 choices...it's just my opinion.

Nah. They're probably talking about me

We all entered knowing we most likely would walk away empty handed and had a very remote chance (1/entries) of winning the grand prize.

The other reality is that anybody here who really wants an N810, can get one. It may take saving/budgeting for a while, but if it is a must have, then device is out there, available for purchase today. (some markets later).

Maybe the overall voting system will be different next time. Like: Only judges and people who participate get to vote on all entries submitted with a hidden vote tally. Safe and secure. Could do an initial round to pick 5 finalists. Then have every participant cast gets a chance to vote a second time to pick between the most popular 5. Or let every participant select their top 3 of all entries. Tally up the points. Done.