With better hardware .

I own 5 Nokia devices. 4 of them have "service" add-ons (the N810's GPS, and 3 GSM phones; the one that doesn't have a service add-on is the N800).

Only one of them (Nokia 6301) was purchased with a service _requirement_. So, 1/5 Nokias with a contract. 1/3 Nokia "phones" with a contract.

I think Nokia has a pretty good track record of being able to buy their devices without on-going service required. Even within the tablet family, they didn't make the GPS service a requirement.

Without a SIM card your smartphone is "just" a PDA. Show me the first person who bought a smartphone because (s)he only needed a PDA.

Depends on if the N900 is going be a smartphone, or an internet tablet with cell phone and 3G support.

For example, an iPhone without service isn't a PDA, you can still use it with wifi points. I wouldn't mind buying the N900 is the cost was similar to the n800/n810 and it wasn't locked down. Since I could just use it for the same thing I use my n800 for now (but with more horsepower).

I had considered doing that with an E61. It certainly has some advantages over the NIT.

I have several Palm T3s (I had the chance to buy spares when they stopped making them), a Zaurus, a work cellphone, a private cellphone (boy I wish a cellphone could hold two sim cards at once), a 3G/HSDPA usb modem with a sim card (which I don't use, the connection quality is rubbish). And more older cellphones than I can count, but I've only got those simcards I mentioned.

So I'm privately paying for two different contracts at the moment, maybe you can see why I don't want to pay for yet _another_ one for a new Nxxx device. (And I like my cellphones small, so it's not an option to use something big enough to be an internet tablet as a phone.)

What about energy efficiency?

BTW, people are already providing 3G access with phones in trains. Just like you can get a cut by travelling with someone who has a subscription for train, or giving away a used train ticket (ie. day card, weekend retour).

In 2008 a smartphone can do much more than PIM.

Where did I mention "PIM"?

You mentioned the vague definition "PDA".

The point is that definitions like DAP, PMP, PDA, phone (GSM) are vague. Many DAPs can do more than handling audio, many PMPs can do more than handling video, many PDA can do more than handling PIM, and many phones can do more than phoning. Therefore, it makes sense to combine these features in one device, reducing the need for additional, seperate devices, providing the potention of more value, less space and weight, different point of failure (like triple-play), less batteries.

Exactly. Geez, first of all, there will be tons of changes. Second, this is always the case when you buy a product. Just often the costs are hidden. If I shop for perfume and don't want it wrapped for present I pay for the perfume but because other customers do want it wrapped and because someone has to pay for the wrapping all customers pay for the wrapping including those who opt for no wrapping.

The solution is to vote with your wallet. I'm not using the GPS on my N810. I'm not using the car charger. I'm not using the headset. I'm hardly using the DSP. I'm not using the regular charger. I could have missed the SD card like toothpain. Some motherboards support pre-USB peripherals but many don't use these options anymore. So what? The complete package is either worth it for the price its sold, or it isn't.

I don't think $50 more is a dealbreaker for many, but OK...