N810 Stuff Options

[Capn_Fish]

My N810 came today (), so here are some first thoughts/comparisons to the Zaurus:

-It's smaller
-Its screen doesn't seem quite as nice (seems similar to a ThinkPad LCD, not so much like a touchscreen)
-The keyboard is OK, worse than the Z's. You need to hold your thumbs parallel to the screen's long sides to type on the top row.
-Keymap is NOT set up for standard Linux use (/ is a key combo?!?)
-Poky doesn't work with the touchscreen (), Angstrom results with a normal image soon.
-It appears to be difficult to brick (no restore menu, but other detects USB on boot, can flash it from there)
-The battery door feels flimsy when removed from the device, solid otherwise

More to come!

[nilch]

On the software note - from a user perspective and not a hackability perspective, I am actually happier with the OS2008 on N810 than the Zaurus.
The N810 allows me to do more in terms of daily life usage , than the Z in these areas
Skype/Gizmo
Chat online
Connect to Internet by 3G thru BT for constant internet access
Podcast support and listening and downloading - all in one device - on the Z it was a bit more difficult to do all .
Good Video and media player
Very good browser support and flash support - plus support for mobile versions of sites (and iPhone versions)

On hackability and tweaking perspective, the Z did allow more to be done. But again I always want to use my device first and then tweak and hack. The same was true on my Zaurus C1000. In that useage sense, I do like the N810 and what is provides right now.

Of course, I do miss many other aspects of the Zaurus , and do now and again fire up my Z.

[speculatrix]

On the software note - from a user perspective and not a hackability perspective, I am actually happier with the OS2008 on N810 than the Zaurus.
The N810 allows me to do more in terms of daily life usage , than the Z in these areas
Skype/Gizmo
Chat online
Connect to Internet by 3G thru BT for constant internet access
Podcast support and listening and downloading - all in one device - on the Z it was a bit more difficult to do all .
Good Video and media player
Very good browser support and flash support - plus support for mobile versions of sites (and iPhone versions)

On hackability and tweaking perspective, the Z did allow more to be done. But again I always want to use my device first and then tweak and hack. The same was true on my Zaurus C1000. In that useage sense, I do like the N810 and what is provides right now.

Of course, I do miss many other aspects of the Zaurus , and do now and again fire up my Z.

You've highlighted things the Z will probably never have: Skype and Flash.

Skype could be a make or break deal for some; the SIP/VOIP clients on Zaurus, especially for Cacko, have not been magnificent, not sure if latest Ekiga or similar on Angstrom are good.

I've had bluetooth networking via PAN, and also using a 3G phone working just fine, it's just PPP over RFCOMM over BT!

There was a nice shoutcast client for QT; I think Quasar addressed many weaknesses.

The Nokia also has working sat nav, whereas the Z only has it using a hacked-up tomtom application.

[nilch]

You've highlighted things the Z will probably never have: Skype and Flash.

Skype could be a make or break deal for some; the SIP/VOIP clients on Zaurus, especially for Cacko, have not been magnificent, not sure if latest Ekiga or similar on Angstrom are good.

I've had bluetooth networking via PAN, and also using a 3G phone working just fine, it's just PPP over RFCOMM over BT!

There was a nice shoutcast client for QT; I think Quasar addressed many weaknesses.

The Nokia also has working sat nav, whereas the Z only has it using a hacked-up tomtom application.

Very true and a good point you bought up about the GPS. Actually as a in-car device and in-pocket too the N810 doubles up pretty good.

In the car GPS and media player come in handy (am looking forward to Canola Car edition).
Actually for the Zaurus I invested in a Wifi Card, but held back from the BT card. True the Zaurus did offer this with the add-ons.
IN fact while I was a loud mouth supporting separate add-on expandability paradigm of the Zaurus, but now with the built-in wifi and BT on the N810, I am spoilt and feel foolish about my earlier stance. Makes you realize how viewpoints change with different perspectives.

On the promise of better things to come for the Nokia IT, I am looking forward to better QT support on the IT with Nokia purchase of Trolltech.
Also the noBounds project looks promising... and the supposed developments of Diablo (OS2008 revision) should stir up a few things.

And yes, I should mention, there is already a kernel hack to get rotation supported on OS2008. In fact Canola using this hack supports portrait mode media player too (don't know why Nokia left this out, all modern handheld OS's should support rotation).

BTW Capn_Fish, getting root access is as easy as installing one software (becomeroot) from the repositories. I didn't really find it that hard (except that its not in-built, maybe as a security concern).