I don't anticipate moving to a new device until next year but when I do, OS will be down on the list of things I will consider. I am interested in what the phone can do which means that I will focus on screen size, keyboard, processor speed and apps. Unfortunately for the N900, new products with bigger screens and faster processors are being announced (most notably the Sony X10) but none with keyboards (the Droid has the keyboard but the rest of the specs are similar to the N900).
The question I have is what the app store(s) will offer in six months. I'm hoping the developer community can port a number of substantial apps to the N900, especially if developing for it is as easy (comparatively) as people here say.
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?
FWIW, when I was in London begin October, I asked the clerk at Regent Street Nokia Store. He said week after mainland Europe gets it because they're usually later in UK.
Quite funny, how the clerk looked like a nerd, surrounded by 2 security bulldogs ..but that is also a different story.
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?
Someone went to Nokia Chicago meeting last night and they said that Nokia guys said will try for november but before the year end is certain...
Oops, you did it now. How long before the blogosphere picks up the March date?
I can see it now: "Sources at maemo.org are now predicting major delays in the shipment of the N900, originally scheduled for October, with some saying it will be delayed until mid-March. Nokia declined to comment on these reports."
I was very excited about Android at one point as well, but when I started looking into Maemo I found that it beats Android hands down where it matters, and that it is able to give me all I was looking for and much, much, more. I feel that Android apps development is going to be restricted by the fact that they all have to be written inside a Java virtual machine. Also, so far Android devices have too little room for applications, too little application memory, and do not multi-task as well (or maybe even at all in some cases). Maemo, as presented in the N900, does not have those problems. So what I foresee happening is that Maemo applications, while fewer, are going to be a lot richer in functionality than Android's, and in many cases, with better offline capabilities. I fully expect my N900 to finally allow me to stop lugging my laptop every where I go. And, I hope to write at least one Python app for the cause. Something I don't think I could do on Android.
PS: And don't talk to me about how long you have had to wait for this device. I have been using a paper based PDA since May.
Not bad. If only it had audible reminders and allowed me to sort my data by different fields.
PS2: Oh, and as far as the thickness goes, I have no problem with it at all. I think it looks manly (sorry girls ;-). And, I am going to get a good pouch with a belt clip as I did for most of my old Palm PDAs any way. I don't know which one yet, but I hope to find a good leather case with a metal belt clip (from experience, plastic clips don't do well with me).
I wasn't really looking for a smart phone but a PDA, something to replace my old Palm TX.
I replaced my Palm TX this summer (the screen died) with the N810 for many hundreds of dollars less than the N900. With GPE Calendar and Erming (to sync with Google Calendar) I am basically content other than It's noticeably heavier in my shirt pocket. The main things missing are a good to do list (it may exist, I just haven't found it yet) and HandyShopper.
OTOH, the idea of replacing my PDA and phone holds some allure which is why I'm eagerly awaiting the arrival of the N900 in brick and mortar stores so I can see it for myself.
Guy Fawkes Night (pop reference).
..but that is also a different story.
