Nokia N800 uses

[spotslayer]

Well guys I have really wanted to pickup a N800 but have just not been sure of what I would be able to use it for.

I would like to ask you guys that have sprung for one, was it worth it? What are some of the unusual uses for one of these? I mean besides browsing the web.

David

[Linc]

Well guys I have really wanted to pickup a N800 but have just not been sure of what I would be able to use it for.

I would like to ask you guys that have sprung for one, was it worth it? What are some of the unusual uses for one of these? I mean besides browsing the web.

David

Well, besides the web there's listening to the radio (built in digital tuner), listening to internet radio, listening to your digital music collections (like an mp3/ogg player), playing videos (I use that a lot), instant messaging, email, PIM, taking notes, games, digital photo frame, great wifi detector, rss feed reader, pdf reader and convenient little xterminal. Now if all that doesn't sound good enough, these days you can do practically anything on the web, and this thing really shines there. The web browser (opera) works well and fast. I use it for everyday things like online banking (real convenient to be able to carry your bank in your pocket), quick google searches looking up directions, price comparisons, etc, etc, etc..

[spotslayer]

Linc, Man they really sound cool. Have you tried streaming video? I have been interested in the GPS. Have you tried that at all? Or has anyone else? Is the GPS accurate? Where I live in South Texas it is a long drive to anywhere and I use my thinkpad with a Garmin GPS antenna and software. It has saved my bacon more than once. I really like the idea of a small portable one. Damn I wish I was a millionaire. Or at least a thousandaire.

D

[jaz]

I believe Skype is being ported to it so you could use it as a Internet phone as well. I use mine just for Internet use at the library (free public Wifi) to download the newest Linux stuff. No possibility of broadband at my house so I can't live without it. It is pricey so I would not recommend getting one unless you have a use for it. For me it was a no-brainer since every time my wife spends big bucks on her horses I am allowed to buy a wickedly cool gizmo toy to keep the peace

[Linc]

Linc, Man they really sound cool. Have you tried streaming video? I have been interested in the GPS. Have you tried that at all? Or has anyone else? Is the GPS accurate? Where I live in South Texas it is a long drive to anywhere and I use my thinkpad with a Garmin GPS antenna and software. It has saved my bacon more than once. I really like the idea of a small portable one. Damn I wish I was a millionaire. Or at least a thousandaire.

D

I haven't streamed video on it, but I believe Allan said he has. As for the GPS, I am not sure that they have released it here in the USA yet, but if not, it won't be long. I know I'll be looking hard at the GPS stuff once it's released here in the US too.

[snarkout]

I only have a 770, not an n800, but so far I've found it useful for recording lectures (yes, I'm 34 and in school - L!) and for keeping PDFs and other how-to style documents on.

Occasionally I use the shell on it to ssh to other boxen, but it's really pretty clumsy so this is pretty rare. I imagine it would be a lot more useful if I admined a large campus or something where I wouldn't have access to a machine easily and would find a lappy too difficult to carry around.

The video playback is fairly constrained, but if you encode things correctly it does a good job as a minimalist PMP/PVP device. Canola looks very promising, but it's very beta still - I really hope they keep develloping it though! I keep it leaded up with things for my kid to watch so he has something to do if we get stuck somewhere hr'll get bored and obnoxious.

The major problem with the 770 is that it doesn't replace any of my existing devices, and honestly the last thing I need is another gizmo to lug around. I have found it convenient to have the internet in my pocket once or twice, but it's really the exception rather than the rule. I'm sure the extra horsepower and extra ram in the n800 will address some of this, but I'll wait until the next iteration before I think about upgrading. I'm pretty damn disappointed about the lack of clamshell, and their excuses are basically bullshit. I think they were hoping to open a 3rd party opportunity or something, but so far all of the solutions I've seen have been a far cry from the awesomeness of the clamshell. The idea that "everyone was losing their clamshells" or that somehow it was harder to meet demand for clamshells than it was to meet demand for 700s is absurd. If it's not, it's still a poor excuse to axe possibly the single best physical feature of the line.