Hello! I just registered and I'm not sure if it will be a temporary thing because I don't own any maemo device... yet.

I found a N800 tablet online for 20 US$. I talked to the seller several times and, apparently, it's in great working condition, but lacks an Operating System.

From the photos, I assume the owner tried to install something like Nitdroid and it didn't work out that well...



My questions are:
1. Even if the user tried to install Nitdroid and it failed, is there any way for me to install another OS and make it work?
2. If so, how could I do it?
3. Is it worth buying a N800 nowadays, given its low price?

What are your thoughts about this?

1. AFAIK (based on N900 and N9 experiences) flashing is trivial.
2. Wiki. Id est: http://wiki.maemo.org/index.php?titl...re&oldid=17120
3. Considering the price and the legacy of the device: I'd be interested.

Flashing is easy-peasy....once you've got the right info and a couple tiny downloads...take you less than 2 min. ....Tweaking it into your own customized monster...however long your interest and curiosity lasts.
.there are informative step-by-step posts in the n800 and os2008 subforums...any questions or help...just post them there...it saves the moderators time and makes it easier for people hunting for the same answers.
Next to my n900 I use my n800's daily...in my studio..wherever.
Good deal at $20 ....one of the best devices ever made. The things you can do with it are only eclipsed by the n900...and there are still a couple that the n800 can do that the n900 can't.

Tell me. I've bumped into a couple of 'em and all I need to get one is a good excuse! Share.

Having two SD cards comes to mind.
And a better keyboard.

Not sure about anything else, I don't have one.

What exactly? just wondering as i never had a n800.

So, even if the phone doesn't boot, it's still possible to flash it?

OK. To BRIEFLY answer queries here...
A- "flashing" essentially erases whatever was on the device and installs a fresh operating system in it's place.
B- Old , out of date, and cheap are relative terms.
It is important to change the mindset...STOP thinking in APPLE or MICROSOFT age. STOP thinking that unless it has 4 cores and exploding graphics it must be useless.
For those that don't know. The maemo os is a linux platform. Lean and mean...even though it seems you have little to no storage or space for installing apps or programs ...you'll be surprised. As well...newer devices software (if compatible enough) can be "ported" downstream to older devices...making them more current, flexible and beastly in ability...likewise "porting" software upstream to newer devices is a benefit. As well the community runs the maemo line now...hence users finally have control over their own devices...there is no planned obsolescence here. We maintain and run and enhance and write and work on fixes and help each other as best we can. We all are the support centre.
So the n800 may be a decade old but it's usefulness isn't bound by the turbulence of time. The greatest issue that faces the device would be the increasing mounting change by browsers ...and THEIR unwillingness to have a space for devices that don't sport the latest and greatest. That is an irritation but there are still many browsers that determinedly perform wonderfully on the devices.
C- It isn't a phone. It's an internet tablet. you can walk into any wifi area ...make calls with skype (I have a north america unlimited call homephone/cellphone/computer free for $30 a yr.) ...or gtalk ...or gvideo talk. Not too shabby. Not that I endorse it... you can use "pen tools" on this device verrry nicely. So essentially you have wifi wherever you go....to say the least. There is no phone contract or service provider you are chained to.
D- there is a subsection in the downloads bar at the site top...click on that then click on OS2008...there are quite a few programs with subsequent write-ups with them and screen shots....That can give you some small idea of what the n800 can do.
Their are a ton of posts in the n800 forum and the OS2008 forum discussing what the device can do...use the search inside the subforum...it will narrow your results....Read..read ....read...the n770/n800/n810/n900/ and the soon to be Neo900 are hacker's delight. If you want a device to think for you ..for you to have little say in what you wish...android and apple and windows will happily oblige and your privacy/security are the least sacrifice.

Hopefully a Moderator will take this whole thread and put it in the n800 subforum...in case that doesn't happen.. ...let's get you into the subforum where this conversation should be.
Please post any questions inside the n800 subforum...this thread here is going to very easily get buried quickly...and that won't help you...nor anyone else looking for the same answers inside the n800 forum. Post any questions there ...I and other n800 diehards will see you and help as much as we can... I'll fill you in...and others I'm sure will chime in as well if I miss anything.

Thanks, that helps a lot, actually!
I already did that and I must say I like the N800 even more xD

This is exactly what I DON'T want: Those fixed android and iOS schemes with little personalization and little options. They make all phones look the same. The only reason I could see to buy either one is Instagram, which I would gladly try to get into the N800 if I get one...

Not sure about instagram...never bothered with it on n800.