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The N900 is now 15 years old! (9)
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2009-12-29
, 13:51
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Posts: 3,524 |
Thanked: 2,958 times |
Joined on Oct 2007
@ Delta Quadrant
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#62
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Originally Posted by gesperon
This is an interesting case. I've noticed that users that are idealistic moving from iPhone specifically have a tendency to be disappointed with the N900. Now my observations could be incorrect, but to add my personal experience to the argument, I recall similar idealism when purchasing the N810. But realizing that I'm not nearly as much a tinkerer that I thought, I would ultimately be disappointed with it.
Well, I was in the market for a new phone for quite a while since I messed up my iphone screen. I wanted to get away from apple's phone because all the restrictions they impose, the phone works fine, has a lots of apps, good size, etc etc... Everything is good with the iphone except I had to jailbreak it in order to do anything I wanted and I feel I should have the right to do whatever I want with a phone that's mine.
For me the decision to go N900 was the openness, the freedom to do whatever I want, a very nice GUI so my device won't look 10 years old, a lot of good hardware built-in (it's a freaking laptop!, the display is awesome, etc), development potential given the openness, plus some really nice features Ex. VoIP/IM integration, amazing browser, facebook/pixelpipe/etc sharing and the possibility to do video chat (Come on Nokia!!!)
I know Android based phones are a little more mature than the N900 at this time, but that can change really quick. With Maemo you don't have any limits to what you can do, you want to build a new kernel module, you want to install any OSS, build your own.. anything, just go ahead. I was even thinking about installing NetBSD the other day just for the sake of it LOL.
So even if it depends on Nokia, the market, etc... I decided to put my money where I think it could be a brighter future.
I'm now more weary about choosing the N900 for what it *could* be, and more focused on my needs. For example, my time is largely allotted in other pursuits that do not involve developing for a handset or working with it, so the idea of superlative openness, while nice, is something that I'm not going to enjoy.
I'm very interested to see if you are indeed pleased with your N900 purchase. If you have it already, I'd be interested for your feedback.
}:^)~
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2009-12-29
, 14:26
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Posts: 3,428 |
Thanked: 2,856 times |
Joined on Jul 2008
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#63
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Maybe that's the difference Capt'n.... I loved the N810 and got many months of joy out of making it do things no other handheld device (at the time) could do. In that time it kind of showed me what Maemo and these arm devices are capable of.
If you were disappointed with the N810.. it's quite likely you won't be as impressed with the N900 as some of the rest of us. Mostly, it's just an upgrade with limited phone capabilities.
If you were disappointed with the N810.. it's quite likely you won't be as impressed with the N900 as some of the rest of us. Mostly, it's just an upgrade with limited phone capabilities.
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2009-12-29
, 17:32
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Posts: 42 |
Thanked: 12 times |
Joined on Dec 2009
@ Kuopio, Finland
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#64
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http://www.silobreaker.com/gartner-s...40472722472989
"Gartner's Research Director for Enterprise Mobility Robin Simpson says that the new Google phone is nothing more than internal prototyping."
"Gartner's Research Director for Enterprise Mobility Robin Simpson says that the new Google phone is nothing more than internal prototyping."
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2009-12-29
, 17:32
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Posts: 3,524 |
Thanked: 2,958 times |
Joined on Oct 2007
@ Delta Quadrant
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#65
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Originally Posted by fatalsaint
I think you're right.
Maybe that's the difference Capt'n.... I loved the N810 and got many months of joy out of making it do things no other handheld device (at the time) could do. In that time it kind of showed me what Maemo and these arm devices are capable of.
If you were disappointed with the N810.. it's quite likely you won't be as impressed with the N900 as some of the rest of us. Mostly, it's just an upgrade with limited phone capabilities.
Disappointed is a strong word and perhaps I should have chosen a better one. I do use the N810 on a daily basis, and am thankful for a multi-purpose device. However, I had an expectation that I would be a tinkerer, and it turns out that I wasn't. Additionally some of the key apps that I used were lacking and didn't receive updates and the alternatives that I tried were also lacking in different ways. In short, there was a mismatch between my expectations and what I got.
Wouldn't it be ironic if this happened again?
Of course, this time, I'm trying to be less idealistic and more investigative to find the optimal device for me and what I know of my usage patterns.The N900 looks like a solid piece of hardware, and were it not for the modern alternatives (N1 + X10), I would likely buy it. Sadly it's superficial things like capacitive touch, thin frame, OLED screen, app market, etc, that tip the scales for me in the favour of the competition. In short, I'm guessing based on what I've read that the N1 will provide a better overall user experience for me.
}:^)~
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2009-12-29
, 17:40
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Posts: 3,524 |
Thanked: 2,958 times |
Joined on Oct 2007
@ Delta Quadrant
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#66
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Originally Posted by trotor
I seriously doubt this based upon the information released and the first-hand testimonial of credible sources.
http://www.silobreaker.com/gartner-s...40472722472989
"Gartner's Research Director for Enterprise Mobility Robin Simpson says that the new Google phone is nothing more than internal prototyping."
I guess we'll see.
}:^)~
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2009-12-29
, 17:55
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Posts: 4,672 |
Thanked: 5,455 times |
Joined on Jul 2008
@ Springfield, MA, USA
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#67
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Originally Posted by fatalsaint
Don't forget the HUGE jump in price! Having the cellular radio increased the overall price of the system by a few hundred more dollars as compared to what you paid for your N800 or N810.
If you were disappointed with the N810.. it's quite likely you won't be as impressed with the N900 as some of the rest of us. Mostly, it's just an upgrade with limited phone capabilities.
I have an N800 and for the past year, I was waiting impatiently for a new replacement. Sadly, the N900 is not it. I really don't want my portable computer to also be my phone--since I like to hack around at it (as I often do with any general computing device).
On the other hand, I've had my cell phone since 2004 and really needed an update. If I'm going to buy a device to use as my primary cell phone, I'd rather buy something that was DESIGNED to be a cell phone from the ground up--so I bought a DROID. I'm happy to say that I'm not disappointed and I've found myself using my N800 less and less even as a computing device--but I don't feel that the DROID fully replaces it as kind of "pocket sized Linux laptop" the way the N800 performed.
To sum up, I think the N900 is a misfit. It's too expensive and the cell radio is pointless--it doesn't perform as a phone or nav unit very well at all and I feel that the DROID easily eats it up on that front. On the other hand, it COULD have been an excellent portable computing tool for individuals and corporations to use (compare it to, say, those crazy bulky portable registers that Verizon stores use--imagine if Nokia actually had the balls and intelligence to corner the mobile market for non-cellular devices in addition to being a cellular company). As-is, the price with the cellular radio quashes the N900's ability to make in-roads into these kinds of markets and its lackluster stability and features make it a lousy phone to rely on.
My two cents, anyway.
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2009-12-29
, 18:16
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Posts: 44 |
Thanked: 24 times |
Joined on Dec 2009
@ San Francisco
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#68
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Originally Posted by Capt'n Corrupt
Alas, that is what Nokia seems to be missing out on.
Sadly it's superficial things like capacitive touch, thin frame, OLED screen, app market, etc, that tip the scales for me in the favour of the competition.
The iPod became the preeminent MP3 player not because of great hardware, but great integration with a source of content, even with strong players like Creative Labs and Microsoft in the fray. The iPhone (and, to some extent, Android) has been able to establish and extend market share because "There's an app for that" available. My wife can literally take a photo of the front and back of a check with her iPhone and have it deposited to her USAA bank account with funds available in a minute. Google Maps on either platform runs circles around the basically-useless OVI Maps (ignoring the N900's inability to gain a GPS fix).
Unless Nokia can straighten out the services part of the business fast, the N900 will be nothing more than a great "nerd" phone.
The N900 is my current choice because I regularly use ssh and VNC, not because it is a generally competitive phone. It is a year or two late to the party. I haven't seen Nokia stock prices improve a lot with the N900's general public release.
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2009-12-29
, 18:19
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Posts: 3,524 |
Thanked: 2,958 times |
Joined on Oct 2007
@ Delta Quadrant
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#69
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@dan
Don't you think the cellular radio extends the devices mobile usefulness?
Even if the N900 were an internet tablet, I would still like to be able to be able to connect to the internet away from home or work especially considering that it's a highly mobile device.
}:^)~
Last edited by Capt'n Corrupt; 2009-12-29 at 18:24.
Don't you think the cellular radio extends the devices mobile usefulness?
Even if the N900 were an internet tablet, I would still like to be able to be able to connect to the internet away from home or work especially considering that it's a highly mobile device.
}:^)~
Last edited by Capt'n Corrupt; 2009-12-29 at 18:24.
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2009-12-29
, 18:23
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Posts: 36 |
Thanked: 16 times |
Joined on Dec 2009
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#70
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Originally Posted by Capt'n Corrupt
I understand what you saying and It make sense. Generally speaking I am satisfied with the N900, more than I ever was with the iPhone, but then, I am a tech person too.
This is an interesting case. I've noticed that users that are idealistic moving from iPhone specifically have a tendency to be disappointed with the N900. Now my observations could be incorrect, but to add my personal experience to the argument, I recall similar idealism when purchasing the N810. But realizing that I'm not nearly as much a tinkerer that I thought, I would ultimately be disappointed with it.
I'm now more weary about choosing the N900 for what it *could* be, and more focused on my needs. For example, my time is largely allotted in other pursuits that do not involve developing for a handset or working with it, so the idea of superlative openness, while nice, is something that I'm not going to enjoy.
I'm very interested to see if you are indeed pleased with your N900 purchase. If you have it already, I'd be interested for your feedback.
}:^)~
What I see the N900 is missing is functionality given by apps and some code from Nokia (Ex. the VIdeo call). That's just a minor problem for me, in exchange I have some other features I appreciate a lot more (Ex. VoIP/IM integration).
Worse case is no development around the N900, I doubt that'll be the case but it's possible, then I would have just to deal with it and get my hands dirty to implement something I want.
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I agree re: the FM transmitter. It's an awesome addition and tremendously useful as a built in device. Thankfully, though there are many devices that can connect to mobiles or to the car that provide this functionality and they are very inexpensive. There's one that plugs in via the lighter socket and connects to the mobile via a2dp for audio. Others, use the 3.5mm jack. But these are less convenient than having a device that has the functionality built in such as is the case with the N900.
Yes, the 32GB is a compelling spec. Since I have a tendency not to hold video on my device (the screen is too small to enjoy watching something for a long time), this storage is really great for audio (especially uncompressed audio -- which I enjoy with certain tracks).
The one spec that will have a HUGE bearing on the device that I eventually choose is the camera! The N900 has a good camera, and I'm waiting to see what the competition has to offer. If the N1 has a poor camera (like the droid), then it's a deal-breaker for me. My main concern is overall value which I try to guage based on my needs and longevity. For example, the X10 has a wonderful camera (rumored) but the price of the device and the OS are less than encouraging. The droid is a wonderful bit of hardware (sans keyboard pour moi), but the camera is quite bad which takes it out of the running. Here's hoping the N1 has a good camera.
Being in Canada, it's nearly impossible to test these devices, so I'm trying to be careful in my selection by compiling as much information as possible.
}:^)~