Literally, too! The host chats with Adam Curry about the N800 at http://geekbrief.tv

Cali also made mention of the N800 in her latest show. She highlighted one little problem inadvertently - requiring another device to get an internet connection. Why didn't Nokia put in a data-only GSM/3G/whatever-other-standard SIM card slot? This is one aspect of the iPhone that rocks. When you are in range of a wifi hotspot, it uses wifi. Otherwise it switches to the mobile phone network instead for data. I don't think it would cannibalise phone sales, just increase tablet sales.

Nokia believe (probably quite rightly) that they would then need to have the Internet Tablet certified and tested with every mobile network in every country where it will be sold, however by leaving out the phone component they can bring it to market more quickly with reduced certification/testing.

Not to mention omitting the phone component reduces the cost of the device and avoids any potential issues that could exist between Nokia and network operators.

And lets face it, we all have a mobile phone with us when we're out these days so pairing the 770/N800 with a phone is no big deal, and the 770/N800 will use a mobile phone whenever WiFi isn't available - it's just not an automatic feature (or is it, I can't remember - maybe it should be).

I also appreciate the ability to upgrade my phone independently of the 770/N800. Since Nokia don't have to worry about supporting the various network standards that exist around the world, you'll find the 770/N800 is compatible with all the standards available today, and even standards not yet invented! GSM, CDMA, HSDPA, GPRS, EDGE, EVDO etc., the 770/N800 works with them all! My N800 uses GPRS today, but I may upgrade my phone to an HSDPA model in March and my N800 will be the better for it.

If Nokia added a phone component to the 770/N800 they'd need two models to support CDMA and GSM networks, or go with GSM only and lose potential sales.

And finally, few people would want to pay the extra for a second SIM to put in their N800 if it were data-only, so ultimately it would have to be full voice+data to be a practical option. However, as outlined above there's already a lot of reasons why a SIM should be omitted entirely - it's just not worth the hassle or expense.

All in all, leaving out the phone/SIM functionality was a very smart move in my opinion.

I guess for the rest of the world where the N800 is not sold, its a bit of a moot point :-) I have an email from Nokia themselves stating that there is no plans to sell the N800 to the Asia/Pacific region :-( Just sour grapes on my behalf!

Did anyone else watch the webcast when Nokia announced the n800?

Less that a minute after the n800 was pulled from the Execs pocket he was talking about the platform hosting Nokia's first WiMAX device. The next Maemo device will have WiMAX.

If you think about it, it does make alota sense. Most operators have spent millions on 3G licences that its not cost efficient to deploy WiMAX at the moment (Point to note: Nokia produce WiMAX network hardware). So the majority of WiMAX customers (for Nokia) are not traditional mobile operators, also the traditional mobile operators do not want a competitive wireless technology in the terminals they range (ie a nSeries multimedia computer with WiMAX will not get ranged by a mobile operator without WiMAX). The company's deploying WiMAX are more from the broadband and cable supplier background, this poses a difficult challenge for Nokia: WiMAX terminals - What devices can these untraditional mobility providers issue to there users to push there services and internet access?

There is also another point to note, developing country's. They are going to get WiMAX before they get a fixed or GSM/3G network (which needs more investment and hardware, less coverage etc etc), they will simply skip a generation (or two) in the wireless internet evolution. Take Africa or India for example, there are not many "fixed" internet access points (I mean home PC's), the Meamo open source platform is perfect for those users, its relatively cheap (as you are not paying to any o/s licence fees and the majority of software) and gives virtually flawless web experience.

Just imagine - Internet browsing, IPtv, Digital Radio, Voice & Video communications along with Biometric security for Banking, Shopping & Gambling all on one device (based on Linux) wirelessly in a remote region of Africa or India...

For some people around the world the internet will be experienced for the first time from a device like the n800 through WiMAX - FACT

I have been working with terminals in telecoms industry for about seven years and when people started talking about Linux being the next big thing in mobility I used to laugh and respond with something like "Linux will never beat or outsell Microsoft, Symbian or Palm", Since the n800 has arrived and I start to look deeper at the Nokia strategy for WiMAX deployment in developing country's - I completely agree.

A new WiMAX equipped internet tablet from Nokia would be an interesting device, but I don’t think would be a device for developing countries. These countries will not get WiMAX before GSM/3G. In fact most countries in Africa already have GSM/GPRS networks and simple WAP based internet services are very popular in these countries. WiMAX networks will not be cheaper than GSM/GPRS, at least not if you plan to introduce a service with reasonable coverage. The cell size is much smaller in a WiMAX network which makes it more complicated to build the network - especially in a country with limited infrastructure.

Ok - Maybe I should have compaired WiMAX to fixed broadband before mentioning GSM/3G. Fixed WiMAX speeds are equal (depending on the spectrum frequency used) to advanced european HSPA networks. Also, WiMAX is cheaper at blanketing areas compaired with 3G - Can you really see companys laying copper in developing countrys? The cost of wireless far out weighs the cost of wireless deployment.