I don't know who are "they". If you mean the manufacturer (smartdevices/hhtech/whatever), then I believe they do not, and they are happy with compile time selection of device.

If you mean Mer developers, I think that I am the most interested in working on the kernel, and it is in my plans to get the same kernel working on both platforms. But I do not have a Q7, and I don't even know if the Q5 kernel source we have really works on Q7, or is only has some preliminary support.
Even without this work mer can work on Q7, either with the kernel that comes on the device, or with the source we have compiled for Q7 (or with source for Q7 assuming we can get it, if it is different).

I think discussing the Q7 in this thread makes sense, so it is reasonable to ask the thread starter or a moderator to rename the thread.

I do not completely agree. I believe that even with the same resolution, the larger screen will allow for using smaller fonts, and thus be more suitable than then Q5/NITs at home. Such usage also reduces the importance of a long battery life.

I agree that as a mobile device, it probably is not as useful, though you should recall that it has much larger battery.

I do not believe in lost in the middle. Every usage pattern has a different optimal size. Every size has a usage patter for which it is optimal.

I thought the 7" eee had to go because it was a MID display in a netbook case. A friend of mine had one, and the small screen in the (comparatively) large shell was silly. OTOH A properly executed 6-7" MID could be interesting, though (see Archos 7), the sofabook as I called it in the other thread

Sorry, but I still respectfully disagree with you guys. If the resolution doesn't go up, it's a ripoff in my opinion. I think you'll be unhappy when other stuff in a 7" form factor pass you by. I still say wait. 7" 800x480 is now for hobbiest's only, not for your primary reading gadget.

IIRC, 7" with 800 x 480 is quite near from most of the dedicated eBooks readers, am I wrong ? At least this one have colour ...

Being someone interested in SmartQ5 and who would run Mer on it, what is the hardware feature support status?

Sorry, I think thats been answered recently but I lost it in the noise.

As a slightly different spin on that: Would it be possible to have a table on the mer wiki showing what features are supported per platform, both hardware and software? Two examples, 1) OpenGL ES support is mentioned in random places, does Mer support that, and 2) the previous question about Flash.

The SmartQ5 tempts me quite a bit hardware wise and I'll be willing to help with Mer to get it to where I want software wise.

The bar has just been reset to 3.5" (9cm). Anything 800x480 that's larger than say 5" (12.7cm) is dead for me in a handheld. Remember, we're currently using 4.1" (10.5cm) and it's near perfect.

The Fujitsu Lifebook U810/U820 is a 7" convertible tablet (I wouldn't call it a netbook though, too expensive... it's usually lumped in with the UMPCs). It has always been intriguing to ,me... just wish it ran something other than Windows.

(just went to look it up... I was wrong, it's a 5.6", not a 7"... and the resolution is 1024x600)

when i see these resolution discussions, i keep wondering how small pixels can be before they are wasted...

also, with things still being bitmap sized, upping the pixel count on a physically small screen can make interface elements bothersomely small...

At the pricepoint the Q7 is at, it still serves a number of good purposes:

- a decent sized reader of novels and A4 pdfs
- a dictionary and encyclopedia
- a quick reference web browser
- photo viewer/slideshow
- basic xvid and mp3 player

As and when e-ink readers drop down to the USD100 range or the feted apple tablet arrives, then this device will be irrelevant but until then it certainly does have its niche