That is very true.. however, using a Nokia tool to try and fix a failing Nokia device is very different to using 3rd party software. Can they refuse a warranty claim if that's what you've done!?

I'm talking about using flasher to repair devices that don't boot any more..

The mods over at Nokia's discussion forum seemed to think it would.. enough to delete a thread that suggested (and got a sucessful result) doing just that!!

This really isn't about invalidating the warranty, it is about what is covered and what is not on Nokias behalf. Only deleting/removing IMEI and taking the phone apart will (possibly) invalidate the warranty. Besides, there are consumer laws that usuall are much more consumer oriented than these warranties, and laws cannot be omitted by warranties or agreements.

But make no mistake, damage on the phone, casued by software or any other thing, software or hardware not authorized by Nokia, is not covered by Nokias warranty. It is written in the last pages of the manual (or rather the quick start guide). This is of cource totally out of sync with how the N900 is marketed, and Nokia should change this, as this is illegal marketing or an illegal restriction on the warranty. For instance this site:
http://maemo.nokia.com/maemo/
where they talk about the benefts of open source software.

The only possible conclusion is that maemo.org is in fact authorized by Nokia. But what about other open source communities??

I don't think it's possible to void warranty for N900 (unless you want to change product code and IMEI)

Flashing firmware is ok.
Flashing to another firmware is ok.

It's like a computer, you get it from a shop, it comes with Windows, getting rid of it and put Linux on. When it's broken (hardware wise), you do factory software restore and take it to the shop to fix. There are no way they can tell what you've been doing with it.

I am aware NSU sends all sort of data about the phone to Nokia.
If you are afraid, just use the flasher too and avoid NSU

have you read the PC manufacturers warranty terms?

so if i install a software that can override motherboards voltages etc and burn my whole computer, I can sue the manufacturer?

Going back to the original point..

what if I use the motherboard manufacturer's own publicly available tools to change voltages.. would that affect the warranty?

I appreciate that reflashing the device may leave it in a state that Nokia may not know it has been flashed, but at the same time that would be breaking the terms of warranty if you are effectively covering up what you'd done.

You really cannot talk about warranty in such a general manner. You have to look at the actual one. Very few things affect the warranty, either something is covered, or it is not. With the N900, the only things that voids warranty (but not neccesarily so), is to physically fix it yourself (take it apart), do something with the IMEI number or throw it in the toilet, in the microwave owen or some similar abuse.

In addition there exists laws in each country, that will blow most of the warrany statements of the N900 out of the water. This is also stated in the warranty of the N900.

Rule of thumb is that you can do whatever you like, except those things that actually voids warranty. But these things can be different from product to product.

I think people are talking about different things here. Installing software(applications) from maemo.nokia.com or Extras repository obviously shouldn't void the warranty and neither should flashing it with official firmware to unbrick it. But if I try to install Android(also software) on the device bricking it in the process I don't expect Nokia to just send me a new one under warranty. I also don't expect the computer manufacturer to replace or fix my computer if something goes wrong with for example linux installation.

Ok, some common sense please.

The device has an intended purpose, which should be clear if you read the user manual.

Nokia can not take responsibility for 3rd party applications, that should also be pretty clear if you read the text presented to you by the application manager when installing from a non-Nokia source.

Simply put, flashing your device with Nokia tools and a Nokia provided flash image will not void warranty.

A totally different question is, what you did to end up in a situation that requires a reflash.

I had a thread deleted by Nokia on the discussion forum because they believed it was discussing debranding and voiding the warranty by flashing the device.. The actual thread was discussing jumping into R&D mode to get a "bricked" device booting again...

Not debranding, not even flashing.. The thread had numerous success reports too! This was why I started this thread.. to find out if using flasher would void the warranty.. since the moderators on Nokia's forum seemed to believe it does..

Sounds like an interesting thread indeed :-)

Well, the N900 does present a new way of doing things as compared to S60 and S40. Now it is actually possible for end users to flash the device by themselves. The difference in terms might not be clear everywhere yet.

And I guess the official Nokia forum moderation rather errs on the side of caution when a thread drifts close to something that sounds like it shouldn't be done.

P.S. Just as a reminder R&D mode is definitely not something for an average user. It's good for R&D and not much else :-)