Following on from my blog post (http://linuxuk.org/the_mobile_market) and the sentiment in the 'N900 specs revealed' thread (http://talk.maemo.org/showthread.php?t=29151) I though it would be wise to extend the discussion here.

Nokia are releasing their next tablet into a market with many good competitors but they are still adamant that we, as a community will see a great influx of new users. My question is, where are these new users coming from? Are they genuine new users that are buying their first Internet capable smart device or are they users jumping ship from one of the other major players? If its the former, then great, we've targeted the 'fence-sitters'. If its the latter, what would it take to convert an iPhone user or an Android user to the new Maemo device? What is it Nokia think they have over the competition?

No clue, sorry!

Lets hope Nokia have a good idea.

I'm losing that hope!

hmmm? Not saying it'll happen, but don't we all know at least a few people we could persuade to be one of those genuine new users or ship jumpers?

I was just thinking about that last week. These devices have an audience that is shrinking simply because most people don't know anything about them. Advertising is sorely lacking.

Then, with projects like Moblin and Ubuntu, Linux has become friendly enough for non-gurus and non-geeks to run and avoid the previous pitfalls of horrible driver support and whatnot.

But why would they support the Maemo devices with a purchase when a netbook, form factor withstanding, does what they need? And upon closer look, why even buy a device like the NIT's?

It doesn't run the newest version of Flash, it doesn't have support of the same app makers that exist on Mac and PC, it doesn't do video messaging, it doesn't even play games from Pogo.com or the like.

Only the Flash personally affects me - also a problem on the iPhone/Touch - but it doesn't have a store or even corporate identity that clearly defines what it does and how it makes your life easier. Some customers need to be told what it does and how it has what they need - see advertising.

As it stands, Nokia has a killer project that seems to be sitting on top of a community movement that they have yet to take advantage of unless you have very specific needs as opposed to more generic and broad needs.

I think Nokia lacks an idea on how to sell this to a normal savvy user. Geek savvy users know more about this platform already.

The competition, imho, is outpacing Nokia.

btw, all of this was typed on my N810.

Good points but I don't think the market is shrinking, I think its exploding but the competitors are all over it squeezing Nokia out. Nokia pioneered this movement with the 770, but it seems, like many a pioneer, they came too early and are now being overtaken, somewhat comprehensively.

Lets take the case study that is Palm. They pioneered, they dominated the market, they got left behind and nearly died from it.

Lets hope Nokia takes a page from Palms book and emerges from the dated looking N810 days to give us their Pre equivalent. Mer is breathing life into the hardware but the hardware is moving forward. At the moment I don't see anything as revolutionary coming from the Nokia camp unless they have something very special they are holding back from us. Lets hope.