I posted this to the Maemo User's mailing list, but thought I'd post it for discussion here, as well:

I just had an odd thought. I was playing with xbdbthid (an app for the
770 and N800 that lets your IT act as a bluetooth keyboard for some
other device: http://www.mulliner.org/bluetooth/xkbdbthid.php ). I say
I was playing with it, instead of using it, because for some reason it
doesn't quite interact with the Mac properly (supports Boot mode only,
whatever that means, and that's apparently not good enough for OSX).

So then I thought "what other computer do I have that I could use this
with". And then I thought "hm... wonder if I had two ITs, could I use
one as the keyboard for the other". This fits right in with the thought
I've had about using the N800 to make a micro-laptop, using a Freedom
Input "Slim" keyboard, which is a credit card sized bluetooth keyboard,
once they release it. I just need to find a case that would hold it
appropriately.

So, instead of using that device, I could have 2 N800s, and a case that
held them appropriately ... where one N800 served as the bluetooth
keyboard for the other N800. (or one of them could be a 770, or something).

So then I thought "that'd be a waste to only use the 2nd device as a
keyboard... I wonder what OTHER things I could do with it". So, I'd use
one for running keyboard oriented apps (xterm, even some web stuff can
be keyboard intensive, things like that), while the other IT would be
for running xbdbthid and non-keyboard apps. I could also use the 2nd IT
for a little bit more storage and transfer files back and forth via
bluetooth.

What I'm leading to is:

1) has anyone else thought about doing something like this?

2) which apps would you put on which IT? Call one the "display IT"
(runs xterm and web), and call the other one the "input IT" (runs
xbdbthid). Which apps would you think would go on which IT?

3) What other sorts of uses could you see for using two ITs together
like this? I'm not envisioning a pocket beowulf, but I am looking for
other uses for a pair of N800's (or an N800 and a 770, since the 770
works for running xbdbthid, and they're pretty cheap lately).

4) What kind of case do you think would be best for housing these two
devices into a micro-laptop? Hopefully something whose hinge can be
locked into appropriate angles for convenient use.

Hah.. There is no justification for buying two n800's for that reasoning. Like, of all the things you'd burn your money on...

Anyways, save your money, the next tablet is a slider with a querty keyboard. http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/10/i...he-nokia-n800/

Yeah, but that's supposedly not coming out until June 2008. And if I can find one of the $140ish deals on a 770, that's only a little bit more expensive than buying a $100 slim keypad from Freedom Input (which keeps getting bumped back a month, every month).

Plus, the monstrosity in that article is hopefully not going to be the final version of the next tablet. I'm hoping for buttons on the face instead of the dpad on the slide-out, and a more centered and full-width keyboard. Plus, I have a small hope that it'll have the HTC Kaiser ability to tilt up the keyboard (for laptop like angle between keyboard and screen).

But, yeah, I'm not looking forward to THAT being the next gen tablet. And even if it is, it's 9 months away.

Instead of waiting for the Freedom keyboard, why don't you get yourself a Frogpad? Search this forum for details.

I very VERY much doubt that we will have to wait for the next tablet until june.

There already is a next tablet mentioned by the FCC (rx-44) . Nokia doesn't do that if the device isn't released soon. next tablet will be before Christmas or the beginning of new year at the latest. (my bet is that it will be released before Christmas, because nokia said that they target it at a more mainstream audience)

I've considered it. But it really seems more like something I'd use to replace my desktop keyboard than something I use in conjunction with my N800. It's seems a bit bigger than the 8 mini keyboards from Freedom Input (mini, mini duo, and slim). And I'd really like something that's going to have a similar size to the n800 itself.

Plus, I really like the idea of something that can be used in a manner similar to a micro-laptop. With the freedom mini keyboards, I can probably find a case or make a holder that will accomplish that. With the frogpad, it's not really going to fit that form factor. I have a feeling I'd have the N800 a little further away from me than I'd want, unless I buy that arm strap for the frogpad and hold the n800 in one hand.

My Frogpad is the same horizontal width as the N800 and about 3/4 inch longer in the vertical dimension. But you know best what you're striving for and can achieve. Good Luck.

A release date has been published? Where?

Exactly what I was wondering.

I think it is a very valid excuse to get another tablet..., and a good justification for the bang for the buck