Android and Maemo are really headed in different directions. Maemo is (or at least has been) trying to keep as much of the existing linux tools and applications available as possible, while Android seems to be Google trying to rewrite the world(not that it's a bad thing, just different). The last Maemo device(Nokia N810) can run lots of applications you would not normally consider for a handheld device. I've seen everything from Emacs to FreeCiv to irb and the Closure REPL(although the N810 is rather shy of memory).
I think they real problem with these devices is that for the same price you could just buy a netbook and call it a day. The only place where I have benefited from the internet tablet form factor is while riding the T.
edit: more programs I use on a daily basis; mplayer and evince
I think they real problem with these devices is that for the same price you could just buy a netbook and call it a day.
Except then you'd have to carry a netbook around, and you'd still have to carry a phone. I want to carry as little as possible, but I still want to have a computer handy when I need one while out and about. My G1 filled this need just adequately, and it sounds like the N900 might be considerably better at it.
One of the downsides to carrying just a small device is screen size, reading PDFs on a tiny screen is tedious. You also have to deal with the limited keyboard, luckly you can remap some of the meta keys to include []{}<> and the all mighty pipe.
The n800 is great for reading most pdf's. The resolution is more than sufficient, and it has zoom buttons just above the screen.
The only exception are the occasional pdf's which have a smaller than normal amount of whitespace on the sides. PDFs generated from scanned images were also unpleasant (due mainly to the weak processor/memory of the n800).
I'm really looking forward to the n900. I'll probably switch to T-Mobile to get it.
Interesting, thanks. One of the things I liked about my G1 (sadly, stolen) was a terminal app that used all of the space on the screen; that picture makes the xterm look a little cramped.
I got an n800 back in 2007 for about $250 on ebay. Of course this was before netbooks really took off. It is great for video chat, web browsing with flash, and accessing my Windows desktop via RDP. And it fits in a pocket (if you wear baggy jeans!)
Awesome, can't wait until it comes out. I love my N800, and I've been using it to manage lists for my GTD routine. It kind of sucks to also have to carry a phone though. It should be a great alternative to the iPhone.
I guess my only question is: can I replace my cell phone with this? I'm not terribly voice-heavy on my phone (a 3G), but I don't want to have two devices. Can I leave skype running to receive calls in the background? Is there another/better way?
Yes, you can replace your cell phone with this, especially if you're not a heavy user. Maemo multitasks apps as well as runs services in the background, just like any computer. As the article points out, Skype specifically is fully integrated: Cellural calls, Skype calls, Google Talk calls, SIP calls all use the same phone user interface.
Just to clarify, the person reporting is a member of the Maemo Community Council. The council is elected to represent the community around Maemo, mainly towards Nokia. http://wiki.maemo.org/Community_Council
