Re:N900/Maemo 5 review

On Thursday 20 August 2009 23:23:16 Mark wrote:
> I personally am growing very weary of
> non-hot-swappable slots in devices. There really is no justification
> for that PITA. It's just one of many reasons I'll never give up my
> N800 for an N810.

The N810 has a fully hot swappable slot, it will even automatically (un)mount
the device if you open/close the microSD card lid.

On Thursday 20 August 2009 23:29:21 Peter Flynn wrote:
> It doesn't look like the camera can be used backwards like the N800's
> pop-out one. That was crippled by lack of software; presumably this one
> is usable with Skype etc, but a pity if it can't be used as a webcam.

Based on the preview, the device likely has two cameras. A forward facing
5Mpix camera, and a backwards (user) facing webcam (probably VGA res, but no
solid details on that one, yet). If the 5Mpix main camera is indeed the same
module as on the N97, it should also able to do VGA video. If you're thinking
using either for Skype, note that there is still no version of Skype mobile
that actually does video, so don't hope too much.

On Thursday 20 August 2009 23:42:55 Attila Csipa wrote:
> The N810 has a fully hot swappable slot, it will even automatically
> (un)mount the device if you open/close the microSD card lid.

Sorry, that was supposed to be miniSD. But it's definitely hot-swappable
regardless of that :)

On Thu, Aug 20, 2009 at 3:42 PM, Attila Csipa<maemo@csipa.in.rs> wrote:
> On Thursday 20 August 2009 23:23:16 Mark wrote:
>>  I personally am growing very weary of
>> non-hot-swappable slots in devices. There really is no justification
>> for that PITA. It's just one of many reasons I'll never give up my
>> N800 for an N810.
>
> The N810 has a fully hot swappable slot, it will even automatically (un)mount
> the device if you open/close the microSD card lid.
>

Let's see... one miniSDHC (not micro, meaning you need a micro- to
miniSD adapter for it to really be useful) compared to - count 'em -
two full-sized SDHC slots, both accessible without removing the
battery...

Mark

On Friday 21 August 2009 00:33:54 Mark wrote:
> Let's see... one miniSDHC (not micro, meaning you need a micro- to
> miniSD adapter for it to really be useful) compared to - count 'em -
> two full-sized SDHC slots, both accessible without removing the
> battery...

Don't change subjects. You said one of the reasons you'll never give up your
N800 for a N810 is because of its non-hot-swappable slot(s). The N810 has a
fully hot-swappable slot, and it does not need the battery removed (or it's
cover, for that matter) to swap cards. Say you prefer 2 slots over 1+1, full
SD over micro/mini, that's OK, but don't imply or spread misinformation.

On Thu, Aug 20, 2009 at 5:19 PM, Attila Csipa<maemo@csipa.in.rs> wrote:
> On Friday 21 August 2009 00:33:54 Mark wrote:
>> Let's see... one miniSDHC (not micro, meaning you need a micro- to
>> miniSD adapter for it to really be useful) compared to - count 'em -
>> two full-sized SDHC slots, both accessible without removing the
>> battery...
>
> Don't change subjects. You said one of the reasons you'll never give up your
> N800 for a N810 is because of its non-hot-swappable slot(s). The N810 has a
> fully hot-swappable slot, and it does not need the battery removed (or it's
> cover, for that matter) to swap cards. Say you prefer 2 slots over 1+1, full
> SD over micro/mini, that's OK, but don't imply or spread misinformation.

I said _one_ reason. I never said the N810 wasn't hot-swappable (I
knew perfectly well that it is), but because it is that uncommon and
rapidly-fading miniSD format and only 1 slot, that alone is enough for
me to give it a pass.

I guess it wasn't clear the way I said it, because I started off
talking about non-hot-swappable devices then went on to say why the
N810 isn't an option for me. I didn't mean for it to seem like I was
lumping the N810 in with that particular category. Another angle is
that even if it is technically hot-swappable, if the slot isn't
externally accessible without opening a major panel it's still a PITA.
Yes, the N810 is still externally accessible and from the photos it
appears so with the N900 as well, but many other devices these days
are putting the microSD slot under the battery. Grrr...

Mark

On Fri, 2009-08-21 at 01:38 +0200, ext Mark wrote:
> many other devices these days
> are putting the microSD slot under the battery. Grrr...

for the very same reason why the SIM is located there in the vast
majority (all?) of phones: to prevent hot swap and simplify its
management.

If you were to connect the battery somehow (wires?) so that the SIM
could be swapped with the phone on, interesting things would happen.

It also means that the products can be cheaper since there is no need
for the extra sensor to detect the swap.

--

Cheers, Igor

---

Igor Stoppa
Maemo Software - Nokia Devices R&D - Helsinki

On Thu, Aug 20, 2009 at 5:45 PM, Igor Stoppa<igor.stoppa@nokia.com> wrote:
> On Fri, 2009-08-21 at 01:38 +0200, ext Mark wrote:
>>  many other devices these days
>> are putting the microSD slot under the battery. Grrr...
>
> for the very same reason why the SIM is located there in the vast
> majority (all?) of phones: to prevent hot swap and simplify its
> management.
>
> If you were to connect the battery somehow (wires?) so that the SIM
> could be swapped with the phone on, interesting things would happen.
>
> It also means that the products can be cheaper since there is no need
> for the extra sensor to detect the swap.
>
> Cheers, Igor

Preventing SIM hot-swap is reasonable: how many people actually have a
need to *ever* swap their SIM. The only time I've ever removed the SIM
from my phone is when I've got a new phone and transferred the SIM.
There's also a significant security aspect to SIM cards. But generic
memory cards are an entirely different matter, especially with devices
that can take and view photos and other media.

Mark

Gary,

your response suggests that the initial release of the N900 will not
support HSDPA.

If that is the case then it would seem that the N900 will have poor
network performance due to a bandwidth limitation when the device is
used on mobile networks. I must be misinterpreting your remarks and I
find it hard to believe that Nokia would in late 2009 release a product
that does supports neither HSDPA nor EVDO.

Also is there any built in capability to use the N900 as a tethering
device (modem) between, say a netbook (Nokia;s own netbook product
perhaps) and a mobile broadband data service such as I have today with
my trusty old Windows Mobile handset and my RIM/blackberry.


Best Regards,



John Holmblad



Acadia Secure Networks, LLC

* *




Gary wrote:
> Jason Edgecombe wrote:
>
>> I prefer Verizon's coverage area, but they don't do GSM, :(
>>
>
> Not yet. They're already working on a hybrid EV-DO/HSPA modem
> (http://tr.im/nX3C) and are moving fast on building out their HSPA
> buildout (http://tr.im/nX47). I've also read that some test markets will
> be in place by the end of this year (http://tr.im/nX5z). How else can
> they expect to have the iPhone next year?
>
> It's nice that the N900 has an internal SD card slot for the larger
> capacity cards but an easily accessible microSD card slot would
> probably make me and a lot of other folks happy.
>
> -Gary
>
>
>
>
>

2009/8/30 John B. Holmblad <jholmblad@hotmail.com>

> Gary,
>
> your response suggests that the initial release of the N900 will not
> support HSDPA.
>
> If that is the case then it would seem that the N900 will have poor
> network performance due to a bandwidth limitation when the device is
> used on mobile networks. I must be misinterpreting your remarks and I
> find it hard to believe that Nokia would in late 2009 release a product
> that does supports neither HSDPA nor EVDO.


I would say that N900 will have HSDPA support. I cannot even imagine the
contrary...


--
Salut,
Sebas