you can make all calls in portrait mode cant you? open phone app then from there contacts and its all in portrait. or am i missing something?

yeah i dont get what he means by the phone not in potrait, but the power issues , jeas its horrible.

Yes. but in order to "open" the phone app. you have to get through the "landscape" menu or have it placed on the desktops. Now if you were at a diff desktop. then you'll have to awkwardly go thru desktops holding the phone upwards while all the shortcut icons are facing the wrong way.

Yes. there is an option to have the app launch automatically when you hold the phone upright. but it's slow and sometimes if you don't do it right, the phone wont launch at all. the lack of frontal buttons is not helping either.

I understand the possibility of a global portrait mode is not strong for Maemo 5. it seems to be a Maemo 6 planned feature.

And we cannot claim we didn't see this coming. The N900 Logo IS PRINTED on the phone in Landscape after all.

But how about a compromise?

We just need the following things to be Portrait. That's all. atleast for me.
1. Menu for launching stuff.
2. SMS/Conversations
3. Email
4. On-Screen Portrait Keyboard.
5. Browser

Just give me those 5.
Using the Braek glitch, the browser works just fine in Portrait. so we're like almost there.

@Corso85: Power button, swipe, power button, phone. Very easy to do with phone physically portrait with one hand.

Not really. If one is right handed. that places the power button to bottom right corner. You'll have to loosen your grip a little to allow your thumb to hit the power button twice. Not a good thing to do while on the go.

It's more of a work around than a solution. However, it's too late to talk hardware now. I have no probs with the phone app. I was just explaining the other persons frustration/point of view.

The issues with portrait I have are listed above.

The power button in the center? I have no problem reaching it and I'm right handed.

so it still not ready to view desktop in portrait ? anyone know when this update will be available ?

it will be handy with 1 hand

Umm... when the unicorn is no longer a mythology beast.

i think, the user for n900 needs to set their expectation right. they should know the limitation of n900 before decide to purchase it. it is an internet tablet first, a phone second. hence the limitation in phone functionalities. but i believe those limitation can be resolved thru firmware update..

just my 2 cents.

It IS handy with 1 hand!

When I first had my N900 I found it baffling and dissimilar to what I was used to.

You need to download some brilliant yet simple-to-install apps and widgets (browse the repositorys/application catalogues, but BE CAREFUL when downloading from Extras-Testing and Extras-Devs - these apps are still works-in-progress, despite their finished 'look')

When browsing, I use the thumbs of both hands to snap open the slide, quickly tap out a query on my desktop google search (landscape), snap the slide closed and palm the device (portrait) in my right hand to scroll the page from there on.

To make a call from standby (when holding phone portrait) I hit the power key with my right thumb, then drag the screen-slider with my right thumb. The phone browser opens by default in portrait if it was the last app I used, or I do a long tap on the camera button to activate it.

I can then scroll single-handed in prortrait through all my contacts, select and tap to call, just like any other phone.

I don't think any of this could be any easier...

I have one of my FOUR homescreens CUSTOMISED with ten contacts. Each contact has a picture so I can easily recognise who's who (even in portrait when the contacts are on their side). Each contact has manifold options for numbers, text, email, or IM. Although you view them all side-on in portrait, it still works fairly easily.

If I want to text, email or use any other app, it is EASIER and FASTER in landscape because you can use two hands (thumbs, in my case).

Look at all the latest phones - Microsost Kin, Nokia C6, etc - the phone world is going LANDSCAPE 'cause it's easier!

Enjoy!