Hi all,
I currently use a Windows Phone 7 device (HTC Trophy). This was my first smartphone. I am a cellphone enthusiast and a few years ago experimented with Linux, but stopped because I found myself up against a brick wall most of the time. I love Windows Phone, but at the end of the day I want a phone/device that I can DO stuff on, i.e. spend time on like I would on a regular computer/laptop. With the WP7, it's all very well but not very engaging and interesting once I've got used to it. The whole "glance and go", "get the job done quick" atmosphere etc doesn't really appeal to me, because like I said I want to pay money for a device that will keep me interested.

The device I'm talking about is the Nokia N900. The official Maemo website for this really appeals to me. I just wonder if I would suit the change though, because a new N-device will come out towards the end of the year and the N900 is in general outdated anyway, with lower processor, RAM and apparently inferior touchscreen. It's also got a relatively small screen for what it's supposed to be: mobile computer. I would like to try out Linux again on my PC and maybe this phone will help get my interests up and become more of a "phone" than my current offering is.

Or, is it a better idea to buy a more modern high-end device and install Maemo on that? If possible.

Wait to see what the new Nokia device will be, then make your choice then

go for n900 if u have a lot time in your life, and no other hobbies.... i am really enjoying this...

The touch screen is fine. Whoever decided it was inferior must have a had a bad unit or believes that multi-touch is what separates good touch screens from bad. The N900 registers just about every touch and does it accurately, down to a pencil point area. Wish my N8 was that precise. The N8 is accurate down to a pencil eraser sized area. There is plenty to keep you going on the N900. I've had mine since 12/09 and it is still a fascinating device.

Best touch screen I've seen so far. Zoom right out on any website and you can still get the right link, even with your finger nail.

Thanks for the replies. Yeah I wasn't sure about the touchscreen, looking from Yahoo! Answers people compared it to capacitative touchscreens really badly.

I'm now looking at alternative devices to host Maemo 5 or MeeGo. Or are they specific only to the Nokia N900?

Wait - just realised it's probably only the N900 since some of the hardware is specific to the Linux OS (I think) as I read something about GPU graphics which is associated with Linux. Correct me if I'm wrong. But it would be nice to use a device like the N900 with this software.

It's not clear what exactly the next Linux based device Nokia will release will actually be, or when exactly they will release it. I'm not confident that what they put out will be something I would consider an upgrade so I wouldn't advise waiting, but if you are concerned about the cost of something that is falling further behind the top-end smartphones specwise you may want to consider purchasing 2nd-hand as used N900s can be picked up relatively cheaply.

The touchscreen of my N900 is greatly superior in precision and ease of use to wife's Galaxy Tab. I second retsaw in advicing you to get a 2nd-hand N900; you'll get an excellent pocket computer, with an OS that'still lively in the hands of free developers, and will let you do almost anything you can imagine. Indeed, I haven't understood yet why Nokia did abandon maemo - whether they've been utterly stupid or the thing was too good for them.

And if you get the N900 you get this community and its army of developers for free. Which to me is the phones biggest selling point.

Have a look at this to see what people can do with a resistive screen.