How would you change Nokia's N900? (update)
By Darren Murph 
posted March 12th 2010 10:47PM
posted March 12th 2010 10:47PM
Update: Turns out Nokia's conducting a survey of their own. Tell them what you told us, and grease the wheels for better handsets down the road. [Thanks, Michael]
Maemo 5 didn't stand on its own for long before being mashed together with Intel's Moblin, but Nokia's N900 still stands as one of the best handhelds for web browsing. It's hardly the world-beater that Nokia (may have) hoped it to be, but that's not because the internals aren't impressive. We're guessing that only a handful of you made the effort to fork over wads of cash in order to pick an unlocked version up, but if you did, you no doubt have some opinions post-purchase. Is the display living up to your expectations? Are you and Maemo getting along alright? How's that keyboard? We're eager to know how you'd tweak the N900 if you had the keys to the design kingdom, and with MeeGo already being announced, we're forbidding you from suggesting the obvious. Or you can, but we'll be plugging our ears, closing our eyes and humming annoyingly.
@Grusic uncomfortable, rather
@Grusic
So, your complaint is basically "It is too bulky, mainly because of keyboard" ? You are probably looking for something completely different. For my use cases, I couldn't imagine using it without a keyboard.
@Rev Nope, one of my complaints is it's bulky, period. Regardless of the keyboard or not. As keyboards go, I find the N900's to be terrible.
If you read my entire assessment you'll see there was more I disliked about the N900 as a device besides it's bulk. However, I think OS is wonderful.
@Grusic Really, here is a quote from your link...
"I had complained about the design of the N900 and this is a major sticking point for me. It is unattractive, heavy, bulky, thick and slab-like."
Rebrand to N1000?
@mianmian
While rebranding you need to add features, like MMS. Then revrand the N1000mms
@mianmian
its not a re-brand issue it is a lack of competitive functions
the big ticket items that are missing can be viewed here:
http://talk.maemo.org/showthread.php?t=47126
http://talk.maemo.org/showthread.php?t=47134
http://talk.maemo.org/showthread.php?t=47130
Make the keys bigger! Just make it slide out more and the extra real-estate will be there for a bigger keyboard. Either that or make it with easy-press dot-keys so there's less effort needed to avoid the surrounding keys.
Secondly the camera S.U.C.K.S. for such a high-end device. All Nokia phones have the way overdone sharpening, producing images that look more like oil paintings, regardless of resolution. That's either a software issue, a crappy sensor or a combination of the two. Just look at the motorola milestone for what a high-end phone *should* be able to do in terms of stills and video.
On a different topic, 'meamo' is a way better name than 'meego'. 'meego' sounds like some cheap kids walkie-talkie.
How about make it fully usable in portrait mode?
a classier look. like HTC can do. That would be nice.
stay classy san diego
@all
Cap screen and move the audio jack so that when the headphones are plugged in, i can actually use the keyboard. (idiots!)
@Mentat It has MMS. Thanks for playing.
Verizon
I would have had one long ago if it was on Verizon.
@yulebellow I think the likely hood that Nokia would build a CDMA version for the N900 is never going to happen. Verizon needs to upgrade to SIM capable service before Nokia puts efforts into verizon service (IMHO)
@mv
"likelihood"
@mv "Verizon needs to upgrade to SIM capable service before Nokia puts efforts into verizon service (IMHO)"
CDMA allows for "SIM" cards and "SIM capable service" within its specs. it's called a R-UIM (re-usable identification module). just our US providers choose not to use the spec.
but i'm sure you simply meant that Verizon needs to switch their whole network over from CDMA to GSM/EDGE/HSPA so Nokia's best offerings would be compatible.
@oakie SIM cards have nothing to do with CDMA vs. GSM. That's why they are used in things like "smart" cards and laundry payment systems. In phones, they're just a method of moving subscriber data between devices. The only reason US cell carriers don't use them is that lax regulation lets them get away with monopolistic practices in supported hardware, just like the "good ol' days" when you had to buy your telephone from the ONLY telephone company: AT&T. Thanks to lax regulations, enforcement, and re-consolidation it's like deja vu all over again.
@futurerheza
that can already be done, and is quite easy to do
make it a portrait candybar without a keyboard. with capacative multitouch maybe.
@n8equalsd
Second that, no keyboard & capacitive touch.
@Almo
You're talking about an entirely different product at this point.
@Broderbund - Did you happen to read the title of this article?
@pickleJar No, what Broderbund was trying to say that the phone being described in this thread was for a different market, for people with different needs. Its like saying that I don't like a Lamborghini cause the roof is too low so they should change it when in reality you are just not looking at the right type of car for you.
I for one would not have even considered buying this phone if it didn't have a physical keyboard. All the people asking in this thread for a phone with no physical keyboards are looking at the wrong phone, who knows, Nokia will probably make a MeeGo device to match your needs, but its not going to be the successor of the N900.
@Jaysont34 You're about it too hard, what I meant by it was when your friend asks you after he makes you a sandwich and he says "how would you improve that sandwich?" you don't say make it a burrito. They were turning sandwiches into burritos when it should have been about what type of cheese goes on the sandwich.
you dig?
@Broderbund holy shit I'm stoned, you get the jist of it though
@Broderbund Shocking, the high guy is talking about making burrito sandwiches. Or something. I'm also stoned so I don't care what he said, it sounds delicious....
@thenutty1 Who the hell gets stoned and then thinks "yeah, I know what'll be really fun...reading Engadget"? Man, kids these days...don't know how to have fun.
@futurerheza
it can already do that.
Or do you mean natively?
Never change n900, you are the best.
@sinco: It wouldn't hurt if she lost a few pounds...
@Butler
Definitely a little thick around the edges.
It needs a faster processor. I found it too slow. I switched to the HD2 and haven't looked back.
@drewx2 I am not making this up, a friend of mine has the N900 and he said he tried using the HD2 also but it didn't feel as snappy as the N900. Maybe you had a defective unit or weren't using it properly?
On topic to the article, would probably have been nice to have multitouch on it (keep resistive on it so I can use the phone with gloves on), and if I really want to be picky, a better camera (the pictures of higher res camera would look very nice on the N900 screen, beautiful screen btw).
Someone below me also mentioned an AMOLED would've been a plus, it would have been nice, but the N900 screen is definitely awesome as it is so I'm really not bothered by the absence of an AMOLED.
@Jaysont34
nope... the ARM Cortex is definitely a bit sluggish. On my N900 you can always feel it beginning to get bogged down when you try to multi-task, especially when you have flash. It really kills the poor CPU. Also start up is relatively slow especially when you have multiple little widgets running in the back. It really hogs a lot of the resources.
Quite honestly though I doubt a snapdragon would do the trick. As soon as they get some quad cores or even dual cores in phones, thats when the Maemo or soon to be Meego will start taking off in the mobile world.
@wako, Maemo on Snapdragon would be almost unusably sluggish - don't forget that all the graphics is handled by a GPU, not the CPU itself. Snapdragon might be running on a higher clock (although ARM Cortex-A8 can run on 800MHz but then the heat becomes a problem) but if you'd put all the graphic effects that Maemo have it would absolutely kill it. What next MeeGo device needs is not a Snapdragon but a dual core ARM, or even an Atom if they could lower its power consumption, with a tad-bit better GPU. As it is, N900 actually has a better powerhorse behind it than the HD2, it just isn't enough... MOAR juice!
@drewx2
Please. We must be using different hardware because the hd2 is an inferior device.
@incognito
Throw in a Tegra 2 (for mobiles), should do the trick, no?
It's still a bunch of ARM's, but it's more energy sufficient, and gives you sort of a multiple core experience, since it has a few different ARM processors to offload stuff...
@wako
a) Snapdragon is an ARM Cortex A8 arch processor.
b) It contains a GPU core just like the chip in the iPhone or in the N900.
It is not a "sluggish" chip. Nokia's software obviously needs a LOT of polishing, that's all.
Put in a N86's CMOS sensor (or better), and a Super AMOLED screen, then I'd be happy!
Give it a larger screen like the HTC HD2 & NO physical keybaord
I would make it into a striking implement to ward off people from trying rob my prized gadgets.
Give it a Touch Pro2-esque keyboard, capacitive screen maybe? Other than that, woo for the N900
lighter better keyboard and form factor
Why is it so god damn thick? Nokia seems to be making all of their phones far too thick to consider, for me personally that negates the Maemo (Debian) OS
Played with one at a local Fry's for a bit. It needs a better keyboard like the HTC Touch Pro2. The N900's keyboard is way too cramped. I'd like to see more keyboards like the TP2. Portrait mode for EVERY screen would also be nice.
I would alter the N900 in the following ways:
I would keep the operating system as open as possible, so apps like aircrack-ng will run properly.
I would change the mediocre 3 row keyboard, to the best keyboard in the industry (now this would really make it a Mobile Computer), this best keyboard award belongs to the HTC Universal pictured here:
http://mobileroar.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/htc_universal_twist.jpg
I would increase the screen resolution to 854x480
I would increase the screen size to a minimum of 4.3" (like the Touch HD2) or above, the largest size that will comfortably fit in my pocket.
I would make sure battery power is not compromised, or that there is an option for a double capacity battery for us folk who want a long battery life.
I would make sure the 3.5mm audio jack, and other major features such as bluetooth, wifi, HSPA etc are all retained.
RAM and processing speed should only go up not down
Other features should only go up and not down.
I understand with all these features, its impossible to make it a lightweight phone, that doesnt bother me. Just make it as light as you can, as battery adds significantly to weight make sure there is an option for a double capacity battery for people like me who would prefer a heavier device and longer battery life.
Make sure the touchscreen is retained.
To be a true Mobile Computer make sure it has the aforementioned huge 6 row HTC Universal keyboard and a large 4.3" 854x480 touchscreen!!!!
@theone2000 The only thing that I would disagree with you is on the keyboard. The N900 may not have the easiest keyboard to use, but I believe Nokia did a good job implementing it without making the phone too big. The keyboard in the image you linked to seems way too large for me, that phone seems to be aiming for a different market.
I am currently using an E71 (love showing to my friends using iPhones how I can listen to music, chat on Skype, browse the web, and edit a spreadsheet all at the same time :P ) and I can say that its the best keyboard I have used compared to any phone. I really hope they keep an actual hardware keyboard and not just a onscreen keyboard in their next device, I will never own a phone that doesn't have an actual keyboard.
@Jaysont34
Quote: [I will never own a phone that doesn't have an actual keyboard.]
...Until you do and swear you'll never go back to non-touchscreen.
We've all said the same, been down that road, tried it and realised how incorrect we were...
Just sayin'.
@theone2000 good comments
@Almo Hey, sorry, I think I said it wrong. I actually love touch screen phones, but I just would not consider buying a touchscreen phone that didn't also have a dedicated physical qwerty keyboard. I tried using the iPhone for about 3-4 months and I was never able to match the speed and accuracy of typing when comparing it to my E71. Who knows, maybe I will find a onscreen keyboard that I will like one day, but I really highly doubt it since on a physical keyboard you can feel the keys and not get lost on the keyboard when not looking like on an onscreen keyboard.