Apparently my complaints about repositories being down were unfounded. It now appears to me that the problems with updating have to do with the kernel upgrade.

I have just been in contact with Nokia support. The level 2 tech I spoke to indicated there have been a number of complaints about inability to access a number of repositories, primarily repository.maemo.org and repository.maemo.org/extras, folllowing a kernel upgrade to 2.1.

Not reassuringly, I was told Nokia's computer system is down and may not be back up until tomorrow (1/3/7). If I get any more information I will post it here.

I was also experiencing these problems
1) dependency hell - some packages wanted libgdbm3, which I couldn't find anywhere
2) reports of bad CRCs in GPG signatures of the official repositories
3) random crashing
4) Gizmo stopped working immediately after the first upgrade

In frustration, after reflashing 2.1 three times with no joy, I downgraded to 2.0. Everything works - Gizmo works again, the maemo.org repositories respond, and I was able to update.

But of course the system doesn't recognize my 2GB Kingston card . . .

Update, 1/3/7

After a half hour delay I am connected to Nokia support, level 2. After carefully explaining my problems with Mistral and Scirocco, I am told:
"We don't know anything here about the difference between those two version. All we can help you with is installing or upgrading the software".

They were unfamiliar with the version numbers of their own software, and frankly appear to know less than zero about any kind of Linux, much less that installed on the device they sell.

In otherwords, CYA and backpedal.

They promised to connect me to someone who could answer my questions, but I was disconnected.

More later.

Update 1/3/7:

Reflashed Scirocco for the fourth time. This time everything works: repositories, Gizmo, Maemochron, python-related packages, everything.

Whew!

Regards,
burque