Maybe if they had 2 lines of products:

1) Internet Tablets (770, N800, N810) that run maemo, but don't have integrated WWAN radios.

2) Maemo versions of the E61, E90, etc. Maybe an M-series (maemo) of phones and WWAN enabled devices.

If you want a non-WWAN device, you continue with the N-series internet tablets. If you want a WWAN device, you go with an M-series device.

FYI, here in the US if you want month-to-month EVDO service you can get it from a small and new ISP called Millenicom the EVDO is over the Sprint/Alltel EVDO network for jsut $50/mo w/o any contract. They even send a free USB EVDO modem. There is a $50 setup fee but BFD if you need the service it's better than a 2-yr contract. And the service is truly uncapped with no usage limits beyond the very reasonable don't host a server on it. Then again who in their right mind would try that on a mobile broadband connection.

I have a throw-away phone when I need it which costs me $100 for 1000mins that are good for a year. As long as I add say $10/yr to the phone the minutes carry over from year to year. I once used a cell all the time and eventually I realized I was never not at work...so, I not only sold the business and moved, I took that phone apart to fiddle with it's guts...and it felt great!

So for about $600/yr I have total freedom to be wherever and doing whatever. I really like that...heck I have even found EVDO RevA service in National Parks...now that was WEIRD...

BTW, I want a cell phone to be just that...a phone. I have plenty of computers and do not need a phone to keep my mind numbed with some sort of sound-byte propaganda from the TV networks of cell provider either...can you imagine if your home phone kept trying to push ads or other content at you all the time? So I say just bring back a SIMPLE CELL PHONE that one can use to make and receive calls when needed. That's all...

Rather than giving me an EVDO USB modem, I wish someone would sell an integrated device that has the functions of both a USB EVDO modem and a cradepoint personal hotspot (takes the USB EVDO modem, and exports the data over wifi; and it has an internal battery, so it's also mobile).

Even if you get a reliable and easy way to use an EVDO USB modem with a NIT, there's still the fact that the USB ports on the NITs are awkwardly placed (behind the kickstand, on the side of the device). I just don't see an EVDO USB modem alone as being an appropriate solution for the NIT.

(also, I seem to recall that you can get the same service directly from Sprint; $50/mo with a contract through SERO, $60/mo without a contract if you pay full price for the EVDO modem, or $60/mo if you get the EVDO modem at a discount and accept a 2 year contract)

johnkzin:

Sorry but I use that setup DAILY and it is tremendeously portable and transparent. The term USB router in this case means the USB modem connects to the ROUTER. The connection to the router from the NIT is via wifi. It could also be hardwired ethernet but, well, that is not ever gonna happen on an Nit's, or at least I should hope not...hehehehe...but, sorry if my description was unclear in that area....early onset CRS I guess...

Heck, the other day I was out shopping and had the router w/battery pack in my back pocket and used the tablet to yak on Skype to my better half...it's all SMALL only the tablet is bigger than a deck of cards or pack of cigarettes. Together it all weighs in at about 12oz? I need to weigh them and post some pics...

I find the solution is extremely practical and functional. The modular nature of it means if a single component fails it can be replaced easily but should any single component of a all-in-one setup fails then that device is a brick.

BTW, the Cradlepoint CTR350 also now supports router to router wifi networking, HSDPA devices and the WAN/LAN port auto detects what mode is required when hardwired to something. I could have bought a Cradlepoint PHS300 which has an user replaceable LiON Poly battery but I wanted the ability to wire into my home network if DSL went down.

And in my case the Franklin CDU680 EVDO modem supports and external CDMA antenna allowing me to create a true rolling hotspot in my vehicle or even a stationary setup at home if my only broadband option is either HughesNet or EVDO...EVDO wins hands down every time no matter if you need to buy an amplifier.

And yup, you can get a nice deal via SERO if you actually know an employee of Sprint and with phone service I think it's either $30 or $40/mo for uncapped data...but it will not be as user friendly as the smaller ISP. In addition there is dealing with the current fiasco that is Sprint's billing system since the Alltel merger/acquisition. The Millenicom is a whole different deal...I started with a small DSL ISP (DSLExtreme who offers service over a variety of DSl systems now) almost a decade ago and have never been let down...smaller meant better customer service. I prefer to pay a bit more for not having to deal with a megaCorp.

And I never even mentioned connecting the EVDO modem to the USB port on the NIT's as an option...in fact the NIT's are PROBLEMATIC due to their current design and that wonderful but just PITA sometimes placed kickstand... I actually use it as a handle as much as I do a stand. I find it aids me in making sure I don't drop the device. I have hand probs that can make holding something difficult and I often will drop something for no apparent reason...at least it proves gravity still works...hehehehe...

Now there is a design oversight, lack of a place to attach a lanyard. A wrist lanyard would save a lot of broken screens I would think. My solution is once from a camera store that just sticks on the back. Not elegant but it works.

BTW, I too would LOVE the ability to add whatever MBB option works for me to the device via either one of the memory card slots or making the device a tad thicker adding a bigger battery and a slot for the card of choice...but that would get messy in terms of antenna's and what not...still would love a larger battery and that extra 1/4" is not likely to casue anyone but an image over substance zealot to have a stroke.

Ah, so you DO have it connected via a router. Good to know :-)

Do you have the Cradlepoint CTR-350 or the MBR-thing that Millenicom has on their site? I couldn't tell which one you have, from your message.

And, where did you get the battery pack for whichever one you have? What kind of battery life are you seeing on it, and under how much use? And how is the quality with skype? clear? Do you get many interruptions or distortions? (the one or two times I tried skype, it was a distortion every 30-60 seconds; my gf didn't appreciate that at all :-} )

Last, what do you use to carry around the battery+router+usbDongle? I was thinking about getting another Pelican case to hold all of that, but I don't know which one is sized right to be "just big enough to hold all of that and the foam inserts to secure it", and how good the signal strength is through the high density plastic.

Plus, I'm pretty sure I'll need to move to the next larger Maxpedition bag from the one I have, in order to carry the iGo keyboard, N810 in a pelican case, and a 2nd pelican case for the above. Though, I've been thinking of moving up to the Jumbo or Manta anyway (I have the "Fat boy").

Yeah, one of the things I like about the "many devices" approach is that you're not betting the farm on one device.

Yeah, I noticed they have AT&T devices on their list now. If only they had a T-mobile compatible device on the list.

And, if only it had a small built-in jabber server to act as an SMS/MMS gateway from your PDA/Laptop/etc. But that's probably asking a bit much. That, or Skype should implement full bidirectional SMS so you can treat its IM service as a substitute for a cell phone SMS plan.

But if they did, I could use just the cell service on the router for 95% of my cellular/mobile needs, including Skype for a bunch of stuff ... and then drop my MetroPCS phone down to the unlimited voice only plan for $35/mo for just those cases where Skype voice reception isn't good enough for a given call.

Yeah, I had thought about that too. I wish they had kept the ethernet port on the PHS. Though, honestly, I plan on moving all of my server (my home email server) oriented stuff to Google Apps anyway, at which point my home machines will be client only. At that point, having them only online when I'm home, and thus also use the PHS for their network access, would be just fine. Cheaper than having two ISP's as well. Oh, and, I can get work to pay for _one_ ISP starting next month ... if they were paying for whatever ISP I use for my PHS, then that would cover me all around.

The other question I have about the cradepoints (or the external battery you've got) is if there's a way to power/charge them via USB (I have a car charger that has a USB port on it, and might get one with 2 or 3 USB ports; then I have USB cables for charging my phone and my NIT ... being able to charge phone+NIT+router all at once would be nice).

I also use the kickstand as a "hand strap" on my N800 ... but I haven't really done that with my N810. It isn't as comfortable to use the keyboard when held that way, in my experience. I suppose it might work if I only put 2 or 3 fingers, from each hand, under the kickstand ... but having all fingers from my left hand under it makes it an awkward angle for two-thumb typing.

I'd like to point out that many of us use an all-in-one device that is very complex for transportation. Just because something is all-in-one doesn't mean that if something goes wrong with it the whole thing has to be thrown out or anything. Parts of all-in-one devices can be fixed.

Skype exists now, and if there was universal wireless, the N8xx devices could be used for phones everywhere right now. You would always be free to carry as many cell phones with you as you chose in addition to your all-in-one device.

Moved to it's own thread...just too long and too much of a thread-jack for me to feel happy about it...

Here is the new thread:

http://www.internettablettalk.com/fo...256#post147256

yes, but to do so one have to forgo the whole device for a while.

(Newbie Alert.) I voted that I would like to have an all-in-one device. I am surprised that I am in the minority by better than 2 to 1. While I don't have any knowledge regarding battery life, I under stand having a spare battery to swap out as necessary is not a big problem. One of the more common replies was, "No, I want the big screen." I assumed that the implication of the question was whether or not the N810 should also be a phone. I don't own a tablet yet and I certainly don't have any expertise in the hardware area. But why shouldn't the N810 have a phone built in? I'd love to have mobile internet, but without cellular service, it's kind of like having the latest and greatest car stereo - that only works when you're parked in your garage. Sorry if this offends any of the community, but it seems to me that carrying two devices is kind of silly if not just plain inconvenient.

So, I said I was agnostic about all-in-one vs multi-device ... and it's more like I sort of go back and forth on it (agnostic in the "undecided" sense, not the "it doesn't matter", "it's not decidable", nor "there is no knowable answer" sense).

Here's what I posted over on the Wimax tablet thread:


Personally, I'd prefer to see no direct WiMAX version of the N800 nor N810. Instead, I'd like to see a device like the CenterPoint PHS-300 that has 1 USB-client port for charging an internal battery, configuration, and use as a USB network adaptor, 1 RJ45 port for direct ethernet, and a low power Wifi radio (maybe GPS too). Then different models for:

• European GSM/UMTS/HSPA/etc.
• USA GSM/UMTS/HSPA/etc. (supporting both AT&T and T-Mobile)
• CDMA 1xRTT/EVDO
• WiMAX
• Perhaps LTE if it's not rolled in to the GSM models

And, for the CDMA and GSM versions, it has a built in SIP server and very light Jabber server, so that you can use a SIP client to make phone calls and a Jabber client to interact with SMS/MMS.

And it would have a small https web server for configuration.

The internal battery should be big enough to last most of a day (6-8 hours), if not all day (12-18ish hours). Dual hot-swappable batteries might be cool. Especially if it has an external USB battery charger you can buy.

I think those would be much better products than an N800 or N810 with built-in WiMAX.

So, I guess my current leaning is toward multiple devices. A WWAN<->Wifi gateway device, a NIT, and maybe a real camera (with a wifi SDIO card).