noob intro
 

Wanted to say hi to great community/resource.
Just ordered 2 n800's from amazon that should be here in hours. Also I added 2/2 GB Kingston SD for each.
I am a PC guy who codes html and some php, never fooled with any linux OS.
I have high hopes for n800 and expect that my 12 year old child and 14 year old nephew who they are for will enjoy them.
They like ebay, youtube (they have been prepared to pause for buffer) myspace-i know, flash games and the like.
I expect 128 RAM will be perfect for their usage.
Should I allocate virtual memory?
Does anyone know if they will come from amazon with the latest OS?
Could a Skype usb phone work through the miniUSB with the proper adapter?

Thanks for a great place, I feel like I know so much about the n800 before I have it because of sites like this!

Re: noob intro
 

Got my package at 1:00 PM today, ordered it around 5:00 pm yesterday, unreal, go amazon!!! $4.00+2 shipping with the free trial of "prime", they also included my free 2 day shipping memory cards (4) with the overnight order. Buy.com took 5 days to only tell me that they were verifying my address and their security department was unreachable blah, whatever, cancel>go>to>amazon, should have in the first place.

Unboxed one unit and my first thoughts were wow this thing is fast, all around. Easiest wifi setup out of the box. I have messed with ipod touch, windows mobile devices 5.0, 6.0 pro and have many different upnp devices in my network. This thing "wanted" to get online. The range and through-put are unmatched even by my laptops... 512ram/xp and 1g vista.

Re: noob intro
 

When you get the N800s, update them to the latest version of OS 2008 because that will make them run about 20% faster and has lots of other improvements.

OS 2008 is totally free, if you need help with updating the tablets see this tutorial I wrote about the process:

http://tabletschool.blogspot.com/200...-firmware.html

It's a very easy process if you have access to a Windows PC, you just install and run the update wizard, plug in a fully-charged tablet in update mode, and the software takes care of the rest.


I don't think you need to allocate virtual memory, try without it and see how you manage. Personally I never use virtual memory.

I assume you know that the N800 has a built-in Skype app that works without any extra hardware? It works just like a speakerphone, you just put the tablet on a table and talk to it like someone is in the room with you. If you want privacy you can put some headphones in the audio socket.

Re: noob intro
 

Thanks for your reply.
I am updating one unit as we speak. Downloading .net framework.
I was aware that skype worked (seen thoughtfix's video), I wondered if one of those skype phones that plugs in via usb would work with the correct adapter.
BTW I didn't get the Skype 3 month voucher the box promised but oh well no big deal.
I must say these things are unreal, to those who say linux somehow is difficult to use for a newb, nonsense. Even with this older OS they are so much cleaner and faster than I expected.

Re: noob intro
 

Just out of interest, is there any particular reason you want to use a Skype phone with the tablet? I'm not criticising, I'm just curious! :)


Yeah, Linux is fine as long as someone bothers to do a good front end for it. Ubuntu is also easy enough for newbies IMHO.

Linux was perhaps held back for a while because the early adopters weren't the kind of people who needed an easy.to-use interface, so there wasn't as much pressure to make one. Once Linux started appearing in mainstream products such as ready-made PCs and internet tablets, there were a lot more newbies to be catered for, so there was more incentive to make an easy-to-use interface.

Re: noob intro
 

The 12 year old plans to use this as a never had a laptop/laptop replacement. If a usb phone could work then with the igo stowaway keyboard I just picked up, she could have a cute little desktop scenario. She is a girl so talking out louad to a little box won't fly and the headsets aren't very girly so the usb phone hooked into the usb was an idea, not a big one though, I was just wondering if it was possible.

Re: noob intro
 

Erm... I don't quite follow, but you know her better.

You don't have to be holding the box at all though, you can just leave it on the table and talk normally at a distance. It works just like a speakerphone.

This is just my opinion, but I think a speakerphone is far more elegant than having to hold some gadget to the side of your head.



One thing I know would definitely work is a Bluetooth headset, as the latest operating system OS 2008 supports wireless headsets. BT headsets come in all kinds of fashionable styles and colours.

It's not exactly CD quality sound, but good enough for something like Skype.

It would also be a lot more convenient than having to use a wired phone, and it would be more private than the speakerphone.

Re: noob intro
 

I meant she wouldn't use skype as a phone if she had to speak aloud where others could hear (her friends).

Bluetooth is a great idea!

Is ITS your site? If so, it helped me out a bunch.

Re: noob intro
 

Ah, I see what you mean, yeah then the speakerphone isn't a good idea. :)


It would also be good because you could use the same headset with a phone, if you ever wanted to.

I think the N800 and N810 work with headsets that support the Bluetooth "headset profile", aka HSP. Most of them, perhaps all of them, should be compatible. You don't have to use Nokia-brand headsets.

Remember that you have to update the N800 to OS 2008 before it can work with a Bluetooth headset.


Yes it is, glad to hear it helped!

I set it up when a non-techie relative of mine found it easier to use a tablet than a desktop computer. It made me realise the tablets are gadgets for normal people as much as tech fans.

Re: noob intro
 

Well thanks to your vids, which I had been looking at for a week or two now, I have upgraded to OS2008 and installed all the apps I wanted, felt like I had done it a million times, what a breeze.
Now only question left is do I get myself an 800 or 810???

Re: noob intro
 

That's great! :)

I think what helps is when you see someone actually doing it, it makes you feel it is possible. That's why I try to include a video with each tutorial, and tell people to watch it before reading the text.


It's a matter of taste really. They're the same tablet inside, same screen, same processor, same RAM, same OS (if you upgrade) etc. However, here are some differences in the hardware features:

-N810 is slightly more compact
-N810 has a physical keyboard (though you can use bluetooth keyboards with both)
-N810 has a built-in GPS unit (though you can use bluetooth GPS units with both)
-N800 has two memory card slots instead of one, and can use full-size SD cards as well as miniSD and microSD
-N800 has a built-in FM radio (but you have to have headphones plugged in to use it)
-N800 generally costs much less than N810

I think the N810 is much better if you want to write text on the move (emails, forum posts, instant messaging etc), or if you want the convenience of GPS built into the device.

Otherwise there's not a huge amount to choose between then.