How the Nokia N-series with wimax changed the world
I have an Nokia N770. Definitely not a game changer, but it was the start of a multi-year journey by Nokia and they did not give up.
I have the N800. This device was much beter than the 770, but still so-so, until you put new firmware on it. In fact, the N810 firmware runs on the N800, making it a good and quite useful device, but you are still tethered to wifi.
I have the N810. This device is great. It's big limit is wifi once again. This time, though, a change is coming that will make computing radically different. A model shipping this Spring will have wimax (I've already seen prototypes of it running on wimax and playing video). As wimax rolls out, this device will too. It has cool factor.
The descendents of this device combined with the good wimax coverage that will exist will begin replacing cell phones. The curent N810 with just wifi is already better than any smartphone I have ever used (I have the centro, the Q, the Treo, etc. - remember, I work for sprint) or that is likely to ever come out of Motorola, Palm, or Microsoft. They don't get it and keep putting out somewhat closed systems that don't have a big enough software development base nor the right business model. That's another thing that a linux platform (N810) changes. Scale. Speed. Standards. Freedom. Free software widgets that are useful.
An Internet device all starts (or ends) with the browser. No smartphone has a decent browser, except the iphone (but it is on a slow network). Much of this is caused by poor human factors, small screens, and the like. Nokia has got the N810 right. In fact, my 5 year old uses it to browse and watch videos on youtube. Try that on anything but the iPhone and it will fail.
What about Android? It all comes down to the device. Android, with Linux, Java, and webkit is a serious contender but only if put on a capable touch screen device. Android on a plain GSM phone will be a hit, but not for the internet generation and real data users.
The screen for these next-gen devices has to have the aspect ratio of the web- namely 4:3 (at least) but 1.6:1 (wide laptop and UMPC) is the best. Good for movies, too. This translates to 800 wide by 480 high. (You do have to have good eyesight, but we keep making that better all the time with new surgical procedures, so I wouldn't worry.)
What about the big expensive UMPC's? The OQO, Q1, Sony whatever it is- these cost too much and are not small enough to carry in your pocket, so why bother?
If you have to carry a bag for your Ultra Mobile PC then clearly you are not carrying an Ultra Mobile PC.
Wake up, people! Now a Sony Mylo or Danger Sidekick with wimax would be smart.
