A non-Android, 'real nerd' phone?

vbuggy

Golden Member
Nov 13, 2005
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I miss the :wub:N900:wub:.

What's the nearest new equivalent today or soon?
 

VashHT

Diamond Member
Feb 1, 2007
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I still have my N900, it was a pretty cool phone. The only thing that may be similar is that jolla sailfish phone coming out, based on meego.
 

poofyhairguy

Lifer
Nov 20, 2005
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Aren't the Nexuses the official "real nerd" phone?

I mean, if a Nexus isn't nerdy enough for you stock you could always throw some Ubuntu on there.
 

WelshBloke

Lifer
Jan 12, 2005
32,904
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Hmm, maybe an Ubuntu phone if they start shipping later this year.


Yeah, in an early build of that wasn't the UI basically just a command prompt?

Thats about as nerdy as it gets really. :biggrin:
 

vbuggy

Golden Member
Nov 13, 2005
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@Welshbloke Yeah - maybe not that nerdy.

Nerdy with a certain je ne sais quoi, should I say.

Which rules Android out entirely :p
 

vbuggy

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Nov 13, 2005
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It's kind of hard to put into words. I guess you've got to have used the N900 (in particular, but it could also apply to the other non-Symbian N's) and been part of Maemo to know it. I think ex-users can relate to the 'in-depth nerdery with a certain style' that isn't quite part of e.g. the Android DNA and definitely isn't there in iOS and WP.
 
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Crono

Lifer
Aug 8, 2001
23,720
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It's kind of hard to put into words. I guess you've got to have used the N900 (in particular, but it could also apply to the other non-Symbian N's) and been part of Maemo to know it. I think ex-users can relate to the 'in-depth nerdery with a certain style' that isn't quite part of e.g. the Android DNA and definitely isn't there in iOS and WP.

I had a Maemo internet tablet way back (Nokia 770) so I get it.

Ubuntu/Linux phones will have full GUI when they come out, but will also be more Linux than Android phones have been (terminal will be present at the very least, though you don't have to use it obviously).

1671742-inline-inline-ubuntu-101.jpg
 
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jaqie

Platinum Member
Apr 6, 2008
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IMO: the traditional blackberry phone.

I own a curve 9350 and love it!
 

BladeVenom

Lifer
Jun 2, 2005
13,365
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Oh well if that is what its about then the answer is the Nokia N9.

The phone Nokia wanted to kill since it uses MeeGo which was better than Windows, and they were going to go exclusively with MS. So they only released it in limited markets. Despite being a 2 year old phone, and a dead OS, they are still selling for $200+ on ebay.

On the horizon:
There's Tizen which is going to be Samsung's new Linux OS.

Sailfish is made by some of the people who made MeeGo.

There are also going to be Firefox and Ubuntu phones.

For Android, how about the Asus FonePad, a 7" phone.
 

Ravynmagi

Diamond Member
Jun 16, 2007
3,102
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Using "real nerd" and "non-android" in the same sentence makes me want to hit someone. :p

Just for that, I'm saying you should get an iPhone. :D
 

Crono

Lifer
Aug 8, 2001
23,720
1,502
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Using "real nerd" and "non-android" in the same sentence makes me want to hit someone. :p

Just for that, I'm saying you should get an iPhone. :D

If he wants to be an old-school nerd you can always go back to Windows Mobile. :p It's like Android before Android was... but on crappier hardware.
 

AFurryReptile

Golden Member
Nov 5, 2006
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Are you avoiding Android just because it's popular now?

Maybe "hipster" is the word you're looking for.
 

vbuggy

Golden Member
Nov 13, 2005
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Are you avoiding Android just because it's popular now?

Maybe "hipster" is the word you're looking for.

No, Android's always felt to me to be a poor man's iPhone (though not in monetary terms especially when you buy several flagship handsets SIM-free a year like me). What goes on in both user communities is pretty much alike in the end, but with the presumed openness (thought you could argue that point once both handsets are rooted) of Android.
 

vbuggy

Golden Member
Nov 13, 2005
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If he wants to be an old-school nerd you can always go back to Windows Mobile. :p It's like Android before Android was... but on crappier hardware.

Exactly. Which is why I always disliked Windows Mobile. It's got the same 'elegance' in contemporary terms as Android has.
 

vbuggy

Golden Member
Nov 13, 2005
1,610
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The phone Nokia wanted to kill since it uses MeeGo which was better than Windows, and they were going to go exclusively with MS. So they only released it in limited markets. Despite being a 2 year old phone, and a dead OS, they are still selling for $200+ on ebay.

On the horizon:
There's Tizen which is going to be Samsung's new Linux OS.

Sailfish is made by some of the people who made MeeGo.

There are also going to be Firefox and Ubuntu phones.

For Android, how about the Asus FonePad, a 7" phone.

In terms of market success (even the very limited numbers we're seeing so far) Windows Phone is 1000% better than any Maemo/Meego implementation. It was the right decision, though some would say Nokia would be better going Android (doubt it, cuz of Samsung now).

In terms of a nerd phone though, it was a sad loss.

I'm thinking due to it's genesis Sailfish might be the best bet as I guess it might drag a lot of the Maemo-Meego guys with it. It will depend on the execution of the phone of course though as well.