Hi everybody!
First, apologies in advance if this ought to be in the noob forum, but the question is very specific to the N810, so here goes...

I just sent back to the vendor a new HP iPaq 210. I thought I could stand Windows Mobile 6.0, and I might have, but the stylus pressure problems drove me mad, so I abandoned it. Plenty of Googling has led me to the N810, and it seems perfect, but for a couple of concerns:

* The lack of a PIM application. I'm migrating from an old Palm Zire that has a beautiful syncable PIM, but little else. I'm hoping that the pimlico app (already out for the N770) will be ported soon to the N810. Any guesses?

* Worries about WiFi - I'm the Network Manager for a very large network (~ 40,000 nodes, 100 sites, > 1500 Cisco access points). We currently do a combination of WEP at some sites (Open authenticaiton with PSK, hidden SSIDs, no 802.1x), and WPA-PSK at others (again, no 802.1x). In the near future we will migrate to WPA-2 and drop the PSK when we enable 802.1x.

Because wireless connectivity is essential for the N810 to be worth the ~ $400.00 price tag, it has to work well and be highly configurable.

I really want to whip out my credit card and order an N810 - today if possible! The thought of having Linux on my PDA is exciting. I'm just nervous about the PIM and WiFi parts - any reassurances would be great.

Thanks!

Steve

It's not so specific as you might think...

Pimlico is here for some months now, but OS2008 issues are the same among 3 out of the 4 internet tablets, and related to the 770 (with OS2008HE).

As for the wireless; since you seem to be discussing software side, that's identical between 3 of 4 as well. (Antennae are probably slightly different, but I've never heard of a side-by-side test to check range.) I can't speak to WPA of various sorts; but it works fine with WEP, and generally is good WRT range. The main issues I've heard with it: it doesn't support packet injection (aircrack users, mainly), and it has issues with WEP-EAP (apparently a number of universities)...

Thanks, Benson!

I had been to the pimlico and os2008 sites, in addition to calling Nokia tech support, and I guess I'm just confused. I had gleaned that there were PIM apps for the N800, but not for the N810, and that the port to the n810 was "not quite" ready. (Nokia tech support told me less than 2 hours ago that there were no PIM apps for the N810, only for the N800)

Do I understand you correctly that pimlico *is* ready for the n810? If so, this is very good news - my credit-card hand is really twitching now!

I just finished reading a fascinating post that explained how to setup multi-boot parts and get a version of KDE running. This is exactly the kind of stuff I'm hoping to do with the N810 - things that would be impossible (or horrible) with Windows Mobile 6.x+

Steve

Yes, pimlico is available for the N810; the OS for N800 & N810 is identical (flashed from the same firmware image). Software issues generally are the other way around: some software "works" on both, but is only useful on the N810, because it needs a keyboard. AFAIK, pimlico is cool on both. (I don't use it.)

WRT multi-boot; I'm running a quad-boot right now... OS2008 on the internal flash; OS2008 (with stuff grabbed from the SDK to build software), pre-release Diablo (an upcoming release we ganked off an unguarded repo; the release is due "in second quarter of 2008".), and Debian Lenny on the SD. And I still haven't touched KDE... not that I plan to. While it's cool, the lower-spec WMs are more practical. I intend to build fvwm2 when I get time.

If that's the kind of stuff that trips your trigger, buy it! But don't toss your Zire yet; even the available PIMs (pimlico and GPE) are said to be rather below Palm's level, and a number of users keep a Palm just for PIM. I don't use any PIM, so I don't know. Just saying...

I think that if you're a heavy PIM user you'll find that to be the weakest thing. I hear about all kinds of solutions but nothing that comes close to a dedicated PIM device.

WiFI however should work fine. I use WPA without any trouble. I have 3 APs with overlapping zones and the N8 will roam between them rather well. WiFI is one of the strong suits on the N8. Not perfect but as good or better than any laptop I've tried.

I use a Blackberry for the PIM and the nokia n800.

Honestly if you need to sync with Outlook or Lotus Notes the Palm or Rim are much better.

That said if you are ok with a Web based PIM it rocks. A poor mans version is google address book or google docs. I export my contacts now and then to a gnumeric spreadsheet or a text file and keep it on the device. Use Unison sometimes to sync files.

As a network admin you have to check out all the network tools for linux (nmap/traceroute/netcat)- they rock.

Here is a partial list
http://home.mminternet.com/~delaroca/

^are you sure this is your first post here? One of the best 1st posts, an answer instead of a question. wow.

Wow ...

I am very impressed by the polite, cogent, quick responses on this forum! I just talked to my Director, and she has agreed to buy one with company $$ - so I can try it risk free!. Whoo-hoo!

Thanks again to everyone for being nice to a noob. In a few weeks I will have it in my hands and I'm certain I will have more questions (and praise) then.

Bye for now,

Steve

The wifi is excellent, the PIMs are pretty much useless by comparison with Palm, Mac or Windows unless you are ALWAYS connected and use the Google stuff.
Nokia support hardly exists. There's a person on here who is delighted with Nokia because they dealt with his faulty machine after 2 years!
I'd say the N810 is an entertainment machine at root. I love mine but I really need a Palm AND the Nokia.
There is very little choice of software for the Nokia by comparison with other platforms. What there is is mostly free but I'd prefer to pay and have a choice.
To sum up, for fun, YES. For business purposes, NO.

That really shouldn't be taken out of context. Particularly as it had absolutely nothing to do with US support.

That really depends on your business.