Smartphones like N900?
 

N900 seems pretty good when it came out(around 2 years ago). Would you still consider buying it?Are there any other good alternatives where you can load other operating systems besides the default?(Lubuntu,Arch ..ect) .Looking for a powerful portable computer like N900.

As an N900 owner, I'm not sure what I'd replace it with. If I had to make the decision, I feel I might be persuaded that an Android device would be able to mostly replace my N900 but a repeat purchase (If I could get hold of one.) would certainly be on the short list.

If I could I'd buy one in a snap. IMO there's no other like it and it still has a fine couple of years of life (having in mind it can be OC'ed). I pray that before then a successor shows up. There's n950 with meego, but only for devs for now.

I would buy it, if it would be cheaper, those things are still sold for 200€.

I love my N900 and can't find any replacement yet, with the "CSSU" it still gets OS updates :)

I use it to remote control dedicated Linux servers via SSH, watch / record HD videos (Yes, it supports 720p with the CSSU upgrade), check forums and other websites, as navigation system (Sygic with 11Q3 maps) and for instant messaging (Its 24/7 online on all services).

I bought the N900 just half a year ago and my second one just 2 weeks ago. I have never regretted it.

My first one is for personal use and my second one is for experimentation. Its an expensive device, but well worth the money! Its absolutely perfect and even with its aging still one of the most powerful pieces of hardware on the market. its for me both a tablet and the telephone, so for me people who walk around holding their awkward PADS/Tablets just looks ridiculous. Sure, the screen is not huge for watching video, but on the go it is just enough. It has all the functions you could wish for but a much smaller choice of unuseful apps than iOS and Android. so if you are looking for those kind of things(toys), pass on the N900.

the thing that makes the N900 great is the combination of good hardware with awesome software. you can do what you want with the thing, everything from rooting it, to changing settings in /etc, using terminal/console to overclocking!!

I have seen many different telephones and I am of the firm belief that the GUI is the most intuitive and logic on the market. But then again, I use KDE, So I may say that with less objectiveness since the Hildron user interface seems somewhat as convenient and thought though as KDE.

I will when I have some more cash that I dont need buy a third N900 as a backup, just in case one of my two current ones break the next 5-10 years, just so I can be sure to have a great device in 2020.

I've had mine for 2 years. There really is no other phone like it. Best device I ever bought. Android does not even come close to it's awesome openness and hack-ability.

The whole platform has been abandoned by Nokia. So 3rd party apps are limited. CSSU did finally give us some improvements like portrait desktop support. I also use Preenv and Preenv-hd to play some WebOS/HP Touchpad games.

If you can get it cheap. Go for it.

there is still the maemo.org community where people still develop. personally I want to put Libc6 on mine and some GBU tools so that I may install regular debian packages. I will not give up before this is possible.