The N900 is a mobile computer, ok, now how i convince other people? - Page 5 - maemo.org

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	allnameswereout	2010-09-15 , 21:22
	Posts: 3,397 \| Thanked: 1,212 times \| Joined on Jul 2008 @ Netherlands	#41

Originally Posted by SavageD

Now to get things back on topic, why would I call the n900 more of a mobile computer than a phone:

Every mobile phone is a mobile computer.

The defintion of a computer is, according to Wikipedia:

A computer is a programmable machine that receives input, stores and manipulates data//information, and provides output in a useful format.

Which means my espresso machine and the traffic lights we use are also computers. Heck, they even run an OS.

So a mobile computer is simply a computer you can use on the go, with a battery.

1) It has a ridiculous 32gb of built in memory + additional sd card support.

There are iPhones/iPods with more 32 + 32 GB memory. That is not a reason why we'd call these devices a mobile computer, or not.

2) It's Operating System is closer to a linux platform than any other device on the market. So much so that if you were to enter root directory "/", it would be hard to tell the difference between Ubuntu and the Maemo platform if you placed them side by side. Infact, it's much more easier to port linux software to Maemo than any other device currently in the market.

No, its not. It is an embedded Debian GNU/Linux variant for Nokia models. There are tons of embedded Linux devices on the world based on Debian GNU/Linux. Or BusyBox.

3) Built in terminal support, (no need for some weird other worldly hack to acheive this).

A fair point; you have CLI access out of the box, and root access pretty easily.

4) It can run many other Operating Systems including easy debian and android.

Not fully, there are driver issues.

5) Although It lacks support from major companies and uh...Nokia >_>...the device still lives on because of it's hackabilty and similarity to the linux platform (computer), and also it's great community support.

This counts for many devices, and many devices running Linux.

6) Lacking apps doesn't make it any less of a computer than, than a computer lacking software.

Agreed, a computer only needs firmware and an OS in order to work. Not additional software.

7) Processor power...although it comes with 600mhz, it can be overclocked to 1ghz.

Samsung Galaxy S runs at 1 GHz.

Many of your arguments would count for my DSL modem running Linux, or my iPod running Linux, or my Zaurus running Linux, or my DVR running Linux, etc etc.

I can give you reasons why the Nokia N900 isn't an average smartphone (form factor, the phone backend isn't priority nor polished, it has tons of features, you can better run a full Linux distribution on it than get native software), but I wouldn't resort to some of the arguments you're using though unfortunately my argument aren't good selling points for the N900 to the general public.

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mobiledivide	2010-09-15 , 21:29
Posts: 751 \| Thanked: 522 times \| Joined on Mar 2007 @ East Gowanus	#42

For the kind of people that need convincing show them xterm and executing stuff from command line. If someone has hacked and rooted their droid/iphone they too are using mobile computers. I have a feeling Nokia designed the N900 to do this and Google and Apple did not

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	Benson	2010-09-15 , 21:44
	Posts: 4,930 \| Thanked: 2,272 times \| Joined on Oct 2007	#43

Originally Posted by terryowen

IMO, the notion that the N900 is a computer is almost beside the point. As I was reading the thread, I couldn't think of anything that the N900 can run that iOS or Android can't. And both of those can run tons of things not available for the N900.

Offhand, I'd expect that they have fewer emulation options for x86 and PPC, but of course I don't really know -- I don't use either of them, so I don't care enough to look for such obscure oddities.

Originally Posted by SavageD

You misunderstood me when I said that i would ignore any other reply to that particular post...because i meant simply that, I would ignore any other reply to that "particular post." In fact I'm ignoring "allnameswereout" right now because of that. It does not mean that I would not read the replies to it.

PROTIP: Stating that you are ignoring something makes humans laugh at you and (fictional) primitive AIs sieze up ala "this sentence is a lie".

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	JohnLF	2010-09-15 , 22:21
	Posts: 551 \| Thanked: 507 times \| Joined on Feb 2010 @ North West England	#44

Can other phones multi-boot OS's? Surely a "phone" able to run Maemo, Ubuntu, Android (Nitdroid), DOSBox, Win95 etc etc is more a computer than a phone?

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	AMLJ	2010-09-15 , 22:35
	Posts: 226 \| Thanked: 59 times \| Joined on Sep 2010 @ Mierlo, Netherlands	#45

You don't have to convince others, just tell them: "Yeah, you are right. iPhone is a better choice for you. N900 sucks!"
The less stupid people we have around, the better.

And also, I suggest you quit to care about what others think so much, there are more important things you can do instead of trying to convince others, or starting a thread like this. (No offense meant, just a suggestion.)

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	AMLJ	2010-09-15 , 22:42
	Posts: 226 \| Thanked: 59 times \| Joined on Sep 2010 @ Mierlo, Netherlands	#46

Originally Posted by JohnLF

Can other phones multi-boot OS's? Surely a "phone" able to run Maemo, Ubuntu, Android (Nitdroid), DOSBox, Win95 etc etc is more a computer than a phone?

How can you run Ubuntu on it?

Do you mean Debian?

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	imperiallight	2010-09-15 , 22:52
	Posts: 857 \| Thanked: 362 times \| Joined on Feb 2009 @ London	#47

An iPhone or Samsung Galaxy S isn't a smartphone either.

The Nokia N900 provides some unique features in regards to peripheral: VGA output, FM transmitter, full BlueTooth stack (with a little of tweaking). None of these features requires 3G. For some people that means the device is a lot more valuable, for many others its just a gimmick.

Iphone has VGA output. It has full BT functions with "a little tweaking as well". A miniature FM transmitter can be added.

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Game Gripper now available for n900 emulators and games

Last edited by imperiallight; 2010-09-15 at 23:41.

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IsaacDFP	2010-09-15 , 23:23
Posts: 435 \| Thanked: 197 times \| Joined on Feb 2010	#48

Originally Posted by TiagoTiago

What is the best way to convince people when i show them my N900 that it's not a smartphone?

Just quote the old movie about Annie:
Anything your phone does mine can do better, My phone can do everything better than yours.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JY7Hh5PzELo

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	ysss	2010-09-16 , 02:06
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"Help! I need you to help me tell others why I'm better than them!!"

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