Okay... the N800 is perfect for me- on the go. That niche has been filled. I have a computer for my lap, for my office, for my pocket. Now here's what I want next. A "Stay At Home" internet tablet. Maybe the size of a standard legal pad. I want all the functionality of my N800, plus any hardware that needs to be installed for television remote control. I want it to remotely access all my music- and play it through my stereo via bluetooth. I want to be able to hand it to friends who can page through a virtual photo album. I want to be able to read my morning paper on it- comfortably.

I want to be able to use it in the kitchen as a secondary television, video phone, internet browser, security camera viewer.

Someone needs to start thinking about a device for the home- rather than something for the pocket. This market- it would seem to me- would be great for the aging tekkie population.

I don't know if Nokia's the right company to make that leap... but I have a feeling that Archos, Apple, Microsoft (with the surface), and others could make a fortune. Thoughts?

is there something like this (sub $1000) that's available?

Maybe one of the Samsung UMPCs, or perhaps an Eee?

The whole UMPC/tablet-laptop market is pretty saturated.

Pepper Pad was pretty close to that, though expensive.

http://www.hanbitamerica.com/

IRiver is working on a pretty nifty little, er, contraption, called the Unit2. Sounds like just what you want! No idea when / if it will ever come to be, though.
http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/11/v...it-2-hands-on/

That Iriver Unit2 is slick... that's exactly what I want. The pepper pad is also nice... but I'd prefer something that's just one big touch screen. I envision it being like a coffee table book... something that just sits there, is instantly ready to be picked up and handled- even by completely computer illiterate folks.

I could see it default to an app like Canola, big buttons, simple interface.

Thanks guys.

Yeah, I've been waiting for something like you're talking about for about 6 years now...

Why does everybody keep wanting a Newton?

Newton wasn't big enough, etc, for what I'm wanting. Letter (or A4) sized would be ideal. Heck, it could just be a portable client touch-tablet that wirelessly controls my desktop...

The HTC Magnum?

Couldn't resist...

Cut the Magnum (if it were an actual product) in half... and it's the right form-factor.