N900: The First Impressions Thread - Page 52 - maemo.org

Fargus | # 511 | 2009-12-02, 17:14 | Report

Originally Posted by phi View Post

You asked for it

I try to sync my Google services (contacts, mail, calendar) via Exchange and it fails.

I can sync the contacts & calendar via Exchange occasionally but that means I then can't sync my work email up. (Maemo 5 at the moment does not support multiple exchange accounts)

Gmail via IMAP is incredibly slow. This is due to a bug that if you have a very large Inbox, it tries to process the whole thing.

I'd like to fire up my twitter app and get @ notifications when they come in, but OH WAIT, there IS NO twitter app that would do such a thing.

I'd like to set different phone profiles based on work location & home, and even when I'm asleep except right now there are 2 Profiles. Vibrate or Normal...That's it.

It would also be nice to set specific ringtones for contacts...but wait, I can't do that either.

I got a text message, I'd love to just whip it out and answer the text message with one hand by using an onscreen keyboard with possibly T9....but I can't.

These are what I would consider some normal use cases. Obviously the N900 is a small computer first and phone second. I would not consider it a true mobile device since it doesn't really cater to the fact that you have to have 2 hands to use the device. You can't just be walking down the street, pause, take out your phone with one hand, and do something with it. Nor can it handle things like email that easily, although every other device out there on the market has overcome most of the issues that come from just opening up an email.

Its not a phone, I get it, but its not really a true mobile device beyond the fact that you can sort of stuff it into your pocket.

Multiple profiles would be really useful - not just work but on the train and in the car etceteras. I left the volume on high whilst out walking then when I got in the car and connected to the car kit nearly blew my ears out! LOL.

Specific ringtones for contacts - what about for groups too? This is an S60 feature that I quite miss as well to be honest. Along with other group processing such as only ring for certain groups in certain profiles.

I used to use two hands with my candybar phone but then I had a QWERTY keyboard on that too. Solved a lot of aching thumb joints from the numeric keypad entry days. Understand your desire but think that down to preference really. Not all phones can do this either.

Regarding the email - mine syncs up to just over a 1K mailbox quite happily. Helps if you have folders to organise things though but even a desktop has issues with very large inboxes. Maybe network link being throttled somewhere?

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NSchuyler | # 512 | 2009-12-02, 17:30 | Report

Where I stand on this whole Techie/Noob/casual user is this: This phone is freedom, and it is a challenge. I have just recently begun pursuing Linux. I want to achieve the level of knowledge that some of you have with computers. This phone/computer will give me the opportunity to push myself as far as I want to go into this realm, whereas with other devices it is simply not an option.

This notion is so appealing to me that I am willing to take a wait and see approach to whether or not some of the basic things are eventually provided for. I'm not buying the N900 for MMS or Google applications... would I like to see them on there? Hell yeah, but I am more excited to learn more about linux and see what people I admire can do with this phone (and learn something about how to do things or at least understand what they do).

The N900 is not just for techies, it is for aspiring techies, and people who simply want as much freedom as is available in the mobile handset market at the moment imho.

I know better than to whine about what it lacks (wine?

) and if it lacks something that I cannot bear to live without and I need the money or cannot wait to see it implemented or learn to implement it myself? I'll sell it.

Simple.

Ah, now if only I could get it.....

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Barts | # 513 | 2009-12-02, 17:46 | Report

i'm a complete novice and have no idea what most of you are on about, this phone can do so many things that i would never use and seems to not be able to do things that i can do on my Iphone. But i don't care, i'm buying one anyway, the web in my pocket is all i care about, as long as i cand send texts and recieve/make calls, don't particularly give a damn about custom ring tones or mms, i've used mms about twice in 4 years. I'm really intruiged about the community side of it too, and hopefully i'll get to grips with what the phone is capable of doing, even though i'm no techie/ I have music, video capabilities, camera, full proper web browsing. with a phone (it's only my wife that calls me anyway), what more could you ask for!!, apart from 100,000 apps, of which 98,000 aren't downloaded

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thinh | # 514 | 2009-12-02, 17:51 | Report

oh boy, ur really gonna get flame from the n900 fanboy for calling it a phone so many times lol.

i think u got some really good idea thanks for sharing, i do agree some people here are way to sensitive about the n900 gees....

Last edited by thinh; 2009-12-02 at 18:01.

Bratag | # 515 | 2009-12-02, 17:51 | Report

Originally Posted by Barts View Post

i'm a complete novice and have no idea what most of you are on about, this phone can do so many things that i would never use and seems to not be able to do things that i can do on my Iphone. But i don't care, i'm buying one anyway, the web in my pocket is all i care about, as long as i cand send texts and recieve/make calls, don't particularly give a damn about custom ring tones or mms, i've used mms about twice in 4 years. I'm really intruiged about the community side of it too, and hopefully i'll get to grips with what the phone is capable of doing, even though i'm no techie/ I have music, video capabilities, camera, full proper web browsing. with a phone (it's only my wife that calls me anyway), what more could you ask for!!, apart from 100,000 apps, of which 98,000 aren't downloaded

Welcome to the forums Bart. You are a prime example of what happens when you don't just rush out and buy a device because its "shiny". You have obviously done your research and are aware of the shortcomings/benefits of the device and for you its a good fit.

I think that you will be happy and trust me - dozens if not hundreds of people are busily beavering away to get you those 100,000 apps - even if they are just ports of existing linux apps.

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GeraldKo | # 516 | 2009-12-02, 17:52 | Report

Barts,

I think you're going to have fun. I bought my N800 solely so I could travel abroad with something really small that gave me good web access, an eBook reader, and Skype. I'd never used Linux (though I'm the go-to guy among friends and family for the kinds of problems typical personal computer users have). And I've had a ball for two years learning this and that on the forum and making the N800 do all kinds of things. You have the right attitude to really enjoy it.

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HangLoose | # 517 | 2009-12-02, 17:57 | Report

Boy, you guys are giving me free entertainment...

First of all "God", thanks for the brain link. Was this the place that you found yours? If so I will pass... Your signature gives me bad vibes about your intelligence. (and its not funny)

Didnt know that you needed this "extensive review" to make up your mind... good for you man.

@DaveP1 I didnt say that no one should criticize the device either what I said is that there are PLACES to make constructive criticism in form of bug reports or whatever... And yes, the "I am very happy with my N900 cos..." should also not be posted either. Otherwise, this forum will be just "reviews" and "rants".

And useless posts like "God"'s. Have you met him? Funny guy, not very lucky with da l4dies though.

Laughing Man | # 518 | 2009-12-02, 18:25 | Report

Originally Posted by God View Post

3: It lacks phone functionalities, which normal users look for now a days. So Nokia failed at that aspect, it's just a better N810

Pretty much, hence if your looking for a phone, it's better to look elsewhere now and check in with Maemo once Maemo 6 comes out.

wire-less | # 519 | 2009-12-02, 18:28 | Report

Originally Posted by Rushmore View Post

I love this device and want to adopt it as part of the family, but the freakin' GPRS signal for weaker areas is sucky.

If you live in a good coverage area and do not plan on driving in weak areas, there is no better device.

But the N900 is a netbook with phone function. Not a phone.

I've better Signal with N900. May be it's frequency-dependent.
I use E+ in Germany. I think it's 1800 MHz.

Texrat | # 520 | 2009-12-02, 18:36 | Report

Laughingstock, you bring up a very good point.

Blackberries are more the target for N900 aspirations than iPhones. If the N900 can gain corporate interest and then adoption, local IT staff can insulate average users from the device complexities.

The N900 is more of a step up from Blackberries than iPhones. This thread just drove that home for me.