Re: N900 specs revealed
 

I realized you need to take all these varied opinions with a grain of salt when peter@maemo referred to the N95 as the "the great N95." I hated that overpriced phone.

See http://talk.maemo.org/showpost.php?p...&postcount=130

Re: N900 specs revealed
 

Well, yes. But (unless you're good with LaTeX) try taking notes in any subject using calculus in a text editor.

The sketch program, of course, is really abysmal.You could tell this by the fact that Nokia developed it. ;) Seriously, though, it's a (very rudimentary) raster graphics program -- which is exactly wrong for taking notes. You want vector graphics, and if possible extra stuff like inserting text (to take advantage of the speed of text input for the parts of your notes that don't need geometric layout). Xournal is the best I've used, although liqbase comes close.

So comparing Xournal to some real text editor like joe that might be used for text-only note-taking would be more fair, and I at least find Xournal highly usable. 3.5" screen? Almost the same usability, because I can't write on the whole screen -- I have to rest my hand on the bezel, so I can only effectively write on the right 2/3. With the smaller screen, I'll be able to see less (without zooming) but I'll be able to write essentially the same increment between scrolling the page.

For me (for some types of use*), the 'default' method of use is to have the stylus already between my fingers -- hence no thought-train-breakage. (I tend to use a soft-plastic mechanical pencil, with the lead retracted. Full length makes an unimaginable improvement in stylus utility, which is one reason I'm not too keen on the guitar-pick. I can always hook a mechanical-pencil-stylus on a strap if I want; since it's not in the device, why should it be small?!)

*I don't like speaking up in these things -- afraid it'll turn out like the guy who walked out into a Civil War battlefield with a grey shirt and blue trousers. I use stylus for some things, and fingers for other things, and randomly use whatever I was last using for the majority. I'd hate it for either one to go away, which is why I want a screen with capacitve touch and active digitizer....

Re: N900 specs revealed
 

And you can touch-type on the keyboard? I find hunting for those letters distracting. Sure, on a standard-sized keyboard I can type 70 wpm without looking down. Not on my tablet.

On the other hand, I find using a stylus more -- intuitive. I can certainly write a note without looking down.

Re: N900 specs revealed
 

Touch type (meaning "type without looking") ... almost. And I can type pretty fast that way... on my G1. With the N810's keyboard? no, not even a little. But that's not because of "physical keyboard vs stylus", that because of "keyboard with amazingly bad ergonomics". But, either way, it is less of a cognitive shift to look down and watch what I'm typing, than to change my mode of input.

As for stylus, to me, the stylus is a specialized input device, for when I need precision. For all other touch screen control, I prefer using my finger. Even when I had my stylus pre-placed in my hand, I still found it to be a cognitive interruption to switch input modes for using it.

Whereas, with the NIT held firmly in both hands, I could use my thumbs for everything (slide closed, thumb around on the screen, slide open, type, slide closed, thumb navigate, slide open, type, hit the dpad some, etc.). I don't find those operations to be a cognitive interruption at all.

Re: N900 specs revealed
 

I can. I type faster on my N810's hardware keyboard than I ever did on my N800's stylus keyboard. I even prefer the N810's keyboard to my Bluetooth Stowaway keyboard.

Re: N900 specs revealed
 

I agree with preferring the N810's physical keyboard over all of the soft text entries on Maemo (handwriting, thumb keyboard, stylus keyboard).

I'm not sure I'd agree with preferring the N810 keyboard over a full size one though. The Stowaway didn't impress me, but I got a Mathias folding USB keyboard that I bet I'd love, if I had it on my N810. (I use it with my Samsung Q1 Ultra, and my Dell Mini-9/Vostro-A90)

Re: N900 specs revealed
 

So does the N900 no longer use a stylus? Since if it didn't I think that'd be a deal-breaker for me... I can't imagine how painful it would be to do things like browse the web, or play games like Wargus, OpenTTD, Exult, Eboard, Numpty Physics, ScummVM games, etc, etc. using just my fingers, bleh. :(

Re: N900 specs revealed
 

it's just another phone. you don't do such things on phones, anyway, stylus or not. go get a decent portable computer. i'm gonna start looking for one. (the market's not exactly flooded, is it?)

Re: N900 specs revealed
 

No it's not... I guess I better start looking, do you have any suggestions for good alternatives? I'm trying to find something that combines open software with pocketable size and stylus-driven touch screen. I've been looking around, Pepper pad is too big, the OQO is too bulky and expensive, iPhone/touch is too proprietary, Palm's offerings are too limited, the ARCHOS are too proprietary, netbooks and UMPCs are usually either too large and or expensive. Surely there is something out there!? The Pandora console seems the best compromise I've found, but even at that it's not really want I want... gah. :(

Re: N900 specs revealed
 

OQO is dead. PepperPad hasn't had an update in ages - I could be wrong on this one, not even worth my attention any longer.

Palm... WebOS is way too similar to iPhone/Touch version of OS X.

Pandora... I'm excited by it, but only because I want something that will allow me to play games.

And above all, I'm not too enthusiastic about this direction from Nokia either. Guess since this is step 4 out of 5... I'll be waiting for step 5 then.