I'll go for the n900, foe me any issue that others may have with the screen size should be ok as an cueently used to a smaller screen, only issue may be the size and 'pocket-ability' but I'm sure I'll get used to this!!
I admire your brand loyalty but if the h/w does not meet your requirements/needs it doesn't matter what OS the device runs.
It has nothing to do with 'brand loyaltyl, I have no particular fondness for Nokia stuff.
To me it matters a LOT what OS the device runs. Maemo is 95% of why I want a N900. It's ALL about the OS. IOW, if the OS doesn't meet my requirements/needs the hardware doesn't matter.
I presently have an HTC Magic, and while happy with it, have been looking for a replacement since the day after I got it (I am perpetually looking for my perfect mobile device).
I fully realize that the N900 is not it, and is in fact very far removed from my perfect device. Which isn't to say there's anything wrong with it, just that it doesn't really fit any of my use cases.
Bizarrely, I'm still really tempted to get one, possibly out of some sort of geek obligation (part of me feels like after suffering through an n800 and n810 I owe it to myself to stick with the platform); or out of just wanting to support the initiative (like how I order a copy of Openbsd every release even though I have no desire to run it on any of my systems).
Maybe I hope that eventually if the platform gets enough traction and success, it'll branch out to include a device which I'd find more useable.
Right now is sort of a weird time for mobile devices. On the one hand, we're in a golden age, as there are several platforms which are just entering maturity and the people have unprecedented power in their pockets. I also feel like, now more then ever, amazing developments are just around the corner. While that's always true for technological development, I feel like we're at more of a crossroads than normal.
So, if by the time the N900 ships, I haven't yet found a more suitable device, then I'll most likely still get one to tide me over until that time comes.
I still have an n900 on pre-order, but have plenty of time to cancel if I see something better. End of November, right?
Trouble is with the best exploration, I can't find anything better. (And yes, I do need to replace soon as my current phone is on its last legs)
For me the primary thing is the careful mix of software/hardware. I know nothing about maemo, but I can see the advantages of open source long term (and the drawbacks short term in terms of available apps), compared with OSs that have been around a while. But I did a 'compare' on capacitive vs resistive screens, and find I hate capacitive as I instinctively use my nails not my fingers. Then I looked at cameras, which is an important feature for me: only nokia and LG use decent lenses, and LG don't make a proper smart phone.
So I'm still looking. Nothing else on the market hits as many of the right spots as the n900. I'm not so dedicated I wouldn't buy something better if it came along. It's just that even with all the activity from all the companies, nothing has so far. Got a few more weeks yet, of course.
It has nothing to do with 'brand loyaltyl, I have no particular fondness for Nokia stuff.
To me it matters a LOT what OS the device runs. Maemo is 95% of why I want a N900. It's ALL about the OS. IOW, if the OS doesn't meet my requirements/needs the hardware doesn't matter.
I actually meant "OS 'brand' loyalty".
Still, I admire the loyalty and passion - as I know I could never buy a hardware device and basing 95% of my purchasing decision on what OS it ran. I first go for specs like cpu speed, memory, size, screen etc...the OS does matter but in my case maybe it's 20% of the purchase decision if I had to put a number on it. 0% if the h/w specs 'fails' for me.
Even with its disadvantages N900 and Fremantle are the best mobile choice available as they provide the right balance between Linux/X11 compatibility, easy of use through touch UI, and convergence abilities due to hardware components.
The unique synergy of Linux/X11 convergence I dreamed about almost 10 years ago is now reality. Is it perfect? No way. Most likely its more than good enough for me, far more usable than either Zaurus or OpenMoko, and it does a lot more than I could imagine.
Besides that, I also support a corporation which is, from a practical viewpoint, behaving the most ethical in this field when compared to competitors such as Google, Apple, and Microsoft.
I'm sure many disagree with above, stating DRM, USB OTG, Lex Nokia, digital compass, MMS, ASR portrait mode, finger touch UI, and what not. We have different priorities, and it is a large sum of + and - which when all accounted for leads me to above conclusion.
5th? That's a new one. I heard 9th, 14th, 15th, 26th and 30th. And my pre-order still says 1st Dec. Peter says 'November' (The Nokia guys can't handle days with number on)
If between us we plump for a different date each, one of us is going to be right, no?
