[mdlug-discuss] One more reason

[Ingles, Raymond]

> From: Peter Bart
> > > What about a Nokia? <http://maemo.nokia.com/n900/>
> >
> >  I looked at it, but there's the matter of (a) up-front expense,
> 
> 	Look at it this way. I bought the handset unlocked full price. I
pay
> $10.00/month for unlimited internet access, you will be required to
pay
> a minimum of $30.00/month. The difference is $480 you will pay that I
> won't over the two year contract, and I don't have a contract. I can
> suspend service at any time w/o any ETF.

 I get a discount because of a deal Verizon has with my employer. *And*,
because Verizon is offering a buy-one-get-one-free deal right now, I'm
almost certainly going to have an extra Droid to sell on eBay, where
they appear to be going for >$300, which will offset the data plan
price.

> >  (b) GSM
> > instead of CDMA (which is a hit against the iPhone, too),
> 
> 	It might be a hit against for you, but it's a bennie for me. I
can surf
> and call at the same time with the same handset. You won't be able to
do
> that with a CDMA handset. Coverage, call quality, etc are all very
> similar for my use around the metro area.

 Doubtless, but my family and the bulk of my friends are on a network
that uses CDMA. I approve of GSM in a general sense, especially because
it's available across most of the developed world, but it's not a good
fit personally.

> >  (c) no
> > included GPS navigation software that I know of,
> 
> 	<http://maemo.org/downloads/Maemo5/navigation/>

 Not quite a turn-by-turn system like the mapping app for the Droid, or
the TomTom app I have for my current Treo 650. Nice, useful software,
don't get me wrong, but the Droid can do that stuff *plus* it comes with
the Google Navigation thingie.

> >  Don't get me wrong, it's a helluva unit, and had I a fraction more
> > disposable income I'd go for it. But the Droid has roughly
comparable
> > hardware, is significantly cheaper with carrier subsidies, and works
on
> > the network I'm already on.
> 
> 	I got you, don't worry. Also getting root access is much easier
> <http://maemo.org/downloads/product/Maemo5/rootsh/> and not wiped out
by
> firmware updates, which no longer require flashing. Updates are
> delivered via the application manager. If you're interested I'll try
and
> come to the next meeting so you can play with one.

 Sadly, my wife works at the bakery on Saturdays, and I'd have a heck of
a time corralling four boys at the meetings. I'm going to have to be an
email-only member of MDLUG for a while. :-<

 Sincerely,

 Ray Ingles                                      (313) 227-2317

 Microsoft Windows - The first fully modular software disaster.

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