Re: Proposal for the N900: dock/cover/keyboard/usb port
 

I don't see why video out couldn't be done via usb...

Re: Proposal for the N900: dock/cover/keyboard/usb port
 

All this talk of a N900 makes me nervous, as I just ordered the N800. We probably won't see an N900 for at least 6 months I'm guessing?

Re: Proposal for the N900: dock/cover/keyboard/usb port
 

Longer than that.

Re: Proposal for the N900: dock/cover/keyboard/usb port
 

Hehe, this discussion of the "N900" began 5 days after the launch of the N800 so don't let it put you off buying the N800 :) The N800 should be good for at least 12 months (ie. Jan 2008) and Nokia should have learned by now not to adandon it like they did the 770. I would anticipate a replacement to the N800 in maybe Q3 2008, but that's just a guess on my part - Nokia will want to get their monies worth from the N800. :)

Re: Proposal for the N900: dock/cover/keyboard/usb port
 

Sounds good. I would be happy with 8 months of use before it becomes "obsolete"...with a new model out. So, hopefully it won't be out till at least Jan 08.

Re: Proposal for the N900: dock/cover/keyboard/usb port
 

Thanks Texrat. And of course I don't mind if you pass my ideas down along with your own. :D It will be interesting to see what others come up with as well.

By the way, I came up with those concepts well before the N800 was shown, so I may have some more current ideas to add sometime soon.

Re: Proposal for the N900: dock/cover/keyboard/usb port
 

Good deal DC. Oh, and I added net9 and solid.gold.code to the Links section of ldug.org. ;)

Re: Proposal for the N900: dock/cover/keyboard/usb port
 

Wouldn't that require usb host capability? Now assuming Nokia's working on that, it would also require enough bandwidth to the usb controller. I wonder about this because the display controller interface on the n800 can't handle 30fps vga video. Personally, I would rather plug a 4 ring av cable into the headphone jack like an iPod or camcorder than buy an expensive usb video adapter. Especially since both the omap and the epson display controller both have tv out features.

Re: Proposal for the N900: dock/cover/keyboard/usb port
 

I also asked about docking/keyboard/flip cover thingummy for the Nokia on their forums, no response. There's a guy talking about building a Zaurus successor called the PocketPenguin on the OESF forums at www.oesf.org/forums and I suggested that taking the guts out of an N800 and building it into a clamshell might be a way to avoid too much hardware development.

If considering making such a dock/clamshell oneself, finding a nice small keyboard for crafting such a docking station is tricky, just the right size to cover the N800 but not too small; a simple bezel to allow keyboard to be removed easily and fitted into a custom case...

Of course, the N800 will need USB host, if you're not going to use bluetooth for the keyboard.

I've been looking for a keyboard that's the right size, but so far no luck.